WAIST-BELT PLATE, ARTILLERY NONCOMMISSIONED 

 OFFICER, 1833 



USNM 604384 QS-K 53i). Figure 81. 



This is the belt-plate assembly designed for cai ryins: 

 the short •'Roman pattern" NCO sword. The plate 

 is of two round pieces joined by an S-hook that is 

 open on one end for unbuckling. Each round piece 

 has a flat loop for attachment to the white buflf belt. 

 The right-hand round piece has an eagle with head 

 to the left, wings drooping, three arrows in the risjht 



Figure 8a 



Figure 8i 



talon, and an oli\'e branch in the left talon. The left- 

 hand piece has crossed cannons and the letters "U.S." 

 The whole is cast in rough bronze. 



Assemblies of this type were popularly known as 

 "Dingee" belts, because one of the primary contrac- 

 tors for them was Robert Dingee of New York City. 

 The eagle on this plate is very similar to the one on 

 Dingee's contract rifle flasks of 1832.'" 



Figure 83. — Specimen in collection of William 

 E. Codd, Towson, Maryland. 



stacked muskets and drum replaced by the letters 

 "us" alone (fig. 83). This pattern apparently was 

 intended for wear by NCO's other than those assigned 

 to the infantrv. artillerw or dragoons. 



WAIST-BELT PLATE. INFANTRY NONCOMMISSIONED 

 OFFICER, 1834 



USNM 604111 (S-K 267). Figure 82. 



This plate and belt are identical to the artillery 

 specimen above except that the left-hand round 

 portion exhibits three stacked muskets and a drum 

 instead of crossed cannon. 



f NCO belt plates similar to the two above also 

 appeared in what might be called a staff or branch 

 immaterial pattern, with the crossed cannon and/or 



'•' See P.^TTERSON, p. 8. 



WAIST-BELT PLATE, DRAGOON OFFICER, 1833 



USNM 5664. Figure 84. 



This plate, which formerly belonged to Gen. 

 William S. Harne>- when he commanded the 2d 

 Dragoons in 1836, is identical to the general and staff 

 officers' plate of the 1832 regulations except that the 

 letters "u.s." have been replaced by the letter "o" 

 in Old English, as prescribed.'^ 



9' General Order No. 38, Headquarters of the .\rmy, May 2, 

 1833 (photostatic copy in files of the division of military 

 history, Smithsonian Institution). 



43 



