/ 



infantry officer during the period 1814-1821. The 

 cap is of the style first issued in October 1813, with the 

 front rising above the crown. ^' 



The plate, of silver on copper, is rectangular with 

 four scallops top and bottom. A floral border, f^^ 

 of an inch wide, that surrounds the whole, strongly 

 suggests that it was an officer's plate. Within a cen- 

 tral oval an eagle, with wings outspread, is super- 

 imposed upon a trophy of arms and flags; above, on a 

 ribbon, are "e pluribus unum" and 15 5-pointed 

 stars. It is possible that this plate is a Militia item, 

 but the fact that it appears to be original on a leather 

 cap of the type worn by Regulars makes it more 

 likely that it is another example of officers' license in 

 the matter of insignia during this period. Its attach- 

 ment to the cap is a variant method: two hasp- 

 like metal loops, affixed to the plate, have been run 

 through holes in the hat and a leather thong threaded 





y/ 



u 



Figure 13 



is marked for clipping. W'ithin a raised oval an eagle, 

 very similar to that on the 1812 plate, carries an olive 

 branch in its beak, three arrows in its right talon, and 

 thunder bolts and lightning in its left talon; below, 

 there is a trophy of stacked muskets, drum, flag, and 

 shield. Although this specimen is struck in brass, the 

 plate in used specimens is known only in silver on 

 copper, despite the fact that there was considerable 

 talk of issuing it in brass.*" 



CAP PLATE, INFANTRY OFFICER, I8I4-I82I 



USNM 604747 fJ-K 892). Figure 14. 



This plate, which is original to the hat to which it 

 is affixed, may well have been worn by a regular 



'" Letters in Records AGO: Irvine to James Calhoun (Deputy 

 Commissary General of Purchases, Baltimore), January 14, 

 1815; Irvine to General .Scott, January 13, 1815; Irvine to 

 George Armitage, July 10, 1815. 



Figure 14 



" See McB.\RRON, "The 18th U.S. Infantry," pp. 48-49. 



16 



