Need HELP identifying a Shako Badge??

[mfleishman]

Hello,

I am not a civil war expert but I acquired a few shako badges from an estate recently. 2 of them were relatively easy to identify but I'm having a hard time with this one. I know it's New York as it has Excelsior with the New York seal, but the regiment number (11) is on the top and the Eagle is a lot smaller than the shako badges I found online. I've included a pic of the front and back.

Does anyone know what this one is from and why it's different from the other 'standard' ones online?

Thank you,

Michael

 

[AndyHall]

Welcome to CivilWarTalk from Wet Texas!

 

[GELongstreet]

Just a guess - the 11th Massachusetts Infantry was part of the Excelsior Brigade for some time. It would reason the 11; and as it wasn´t a New York regiment it could be a reason to display something more neutral instead of the eagle ... like that laurel wreath.

 

[UCVRelics]

Welcome From The Heart Of The Frozen South. What are the measurements on the one pictured. I'm not an expert on Indian War period hat badges but I believe that you have 2 different versions as one is for the Shako hat and one is for the 1880 or 1902 dress helmet.

 

[mfleishman]

Thanks for the reply. It is roughly 3.25" high and 2.25" wide at the base.

Michael

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Hello Michael.

Welcome to CivilWarTalk.

I think @ucvrelics.com may be correct.

Compare your plate to this one:

Excelsior Brigade M8881 Officer's Dress Helmet

https://new.liveauctioneers.com/item/38423781_excelsior-brigade-m8881-officers-dress-helmet

 

[mfleishman]

So would that mean that my plate is civil war from the Shako hat vs. the ones that are from the Dress hats?

Thanks,

Michael

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

That I don't know. I'm only speculating.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge can help identify exactly what you have.

 

[UCVRelics]

So would that mean that my plate is civil war from the Shako hat vs. the ones that are from the Dress hats?

Thanks,

Michael

The one you posted is Indian War here is a similar one from the Indian war period that is the same design. The numbers are applied.

 

[Package4]

So would that mean that my plate is civil war from the Shako hat vs. the ones that are from the Dress hats?

Thanks,

Michael

Unfortunately, no, your plate is post war, considered Indian War timeframe, but is very close to the regulation militia cap insignia 1858 Pattern for NY State Militia. The difference being that the eagle sits upon a small dome or globe atop the sunburst/canton. The large cap plates were discontinued in 1863, but the smaller, "officer's version" was adopted for all enlisted where applicable.