Most of the specimens described in this study were struck from steel dies; how- 

 ever — despite the relative wealth of knowledge on the striking of coins — little is 

 known of the exact process, especially prior to the appearance of the punch press 

 in the 1830's. Several insignia dies dating as early as the War of 1812 period and 

 a number dating in the 1840's do exist, however. All of these examined were found 

 to be female dies, with the design in intaglio rather than in relief. The design was 

 worked into the die — the art generally termed "die-sinking" — in the same basic 

 manner as in coin dies. The die sinker first softened the steel to suit his particular 

 taste and then incised the design, using a succession of small chisels. The steel was 

 then retempered to withstand high impact pressures. Although there is no docu- 

 mentation on the subject, manufacturing techniques of the period indicate that the 

 following process was probably employed: the die was locked in place at the base 

 of a drop press, similar to a guUlotine, so that it could be struck accurately from 

 above; a piece of pure lead was then affixed to the bottom of the weighted drop and 

 allowed to strike the die a sufficient number of times to completely receive the impres- 

 sion of the die and become, in effect, a male counterpart; lastly, a thin sheet of brass, 

 copper, or pewter was placed on the female die and struck with the weighted lead 

 male, receiving the desired impression but without the excessive stretching and result- 

 ant cracking that a steel-on-steel strike might have produced. Examination of 

 finished products in the national collections bears out this theory of production; 

 few if any of the specimens show evidence of having been struck with a steel male die. 



With only a few exceptions, all specimens have been photographed on a 1-inch 

 grid. All references to right and left are made according to heraldic usage; the 

 heraldic right is always on the left as viewed. 



During the months this work has been in progress, many people and institutions 

 have generously assisted in many ways. It is a pleasure to thank them for their 

 help. 



Mr. Detmar Finke of the Office of the Chief of Military History, Department 

 of the Army, reviewed the Regular Army portions of the manuscript and made 

 many valuable suggestions. Mr. Frederick P. Todd, director of The West Point 

 Museum, graciously answered many questions relative to both Regular Army and 

 Militia insignia. Through the courtesy of Mr. James Koping and Miss Elizabeth 

 Ulrich of the Pennsylvania State Library, The L'^.-S'. Military Magazine of Huddy and 

 Duval was made available for unlimited use. 



Thanks are also given to the following, who furnished photographs of specimens 

 in their collections: Mr. Waverly P. Lewis, Devon, Connecticut; Mr. William E. 

 Codd, Monkton, Maryland; The Filson Club, Louisville, Kentucky; The West 

 Point Museum; The Fort Sill Museum; Old Fort Erie Museum, Ontario, Canada; 

 The Niagara Historical Society Museum, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada; 

 The Washington County Historical Society Museum, Fort Calhoun, Nebraska: the 

 Valley Forge Chapel Museum, and Dr. John Lattimer, New York City. 



Mr. Michael Arpad of Washington, D.C., was especially helpful in matters 

 pertaining to the techinques of chasing and die sinking. 



J. Duncan Campbell 

 Edgar M. Howell 

 March 7, 1963. 



