has been found. It is probable that he worked during 

 the Civil War period when there were many such 

 contractors. 



WAIST-BELT PLATE, INFANTRY, 1839 



USNM 604399 QS-K 546). Not illustrand. 



This plate is identical to those above except that 

 the rever.se is stamped with the inakcr's name. "H. .\. 

 Dingee." 



WAIST-BELT PLATE, INFANTRY, 1839 



USNM 604m {S~K 544). Figm-e 92. 



The reverse side of this plate is fitted with the 

 rather rudimentary wire fasteners similar to those on 

 shoulder-belt plates of the 1812-1821 period. In 

 other respects the specimen is identical to the 

 preceding ones of 1839. 



^ The 1839 regulations specified a bayonet-belt plate 

 "round, brass, with eagle." The 1841 ordnance 

 manual was more exact, specifying the plate to be 

 "brass, circular, 2.5 in. diameter, with an Eagle," 

 and then stating: "The bayonet belt is about to be 

 discontinued . . . ." Although not so authorized at 

 the time, this plate, so familiar during the Civil War 

 period, was switched over to the shoulder belt support- 

 ing the cartridge box. Such plates were manufactured 

 in gi-eat quantities and in many variations of the 

 original design by a dozen or more contractors durino 

 the period 1861-1865. 



CARTRIDGE-BOX-BELT PLATE, 1839 



USNM 60m-M (^S-K 94). Figure 93. 



This circular plate, with raised rim, is dominated 

 by an eagle of refined design that is very similar to 

 the eagles appearing on the War of 1812 plates. 

 The eagle has its wings drooped, head to the left, 

 three arrows in the right talon, and an olive branch 

 in the left talon. This specimen can be dated with 

 the earliest cartridge-box plates because of its back- 

 ing and the type of fasteners. Whereas the backs of 

 the later models were lead-filled, this plate was 

 struck in thin brass over tin and the edges of the 

 obverse crimped to retain the backing. The fas- 

 teners are of the bent-wire type typical of the 1812- 

 1832 period and are not the "2 eyes of iron wire" 

 called for in the ordnance manual of 1850. None 

 of the later examples of this design evidence any of 

 the refinement of the original. At least eight varia- 

 tions are represented in the national collections. 



CARTRIDGE-BOX-BELT PLATE, 1839, DIE SAMPLE 

 USNM 60m-M {S~K 95). Not illu.^trated. 



This is a die sample, struck in copper, of the plate 

 described above. 



SWORD-BELT PLATE, 1 85 1 



USNM mi7. Figures 94, 95. 



The 1851 regulations prescribed this plate for all 

 officers and enlisted men. It was specified to be 

 "gilt, rectangular, two inches wide, with a raised 

 bright rim; a silver wreath of laurel encircling the 

 'Arms of the United States' ; eagle, scroll, edge of 

 cloud and rays bright. The motto, 'E Pluribus 

 Unum,' in silver letters upon the scroll; stars also 

 of silver; according to pattern." ''' 



This plate has had a longer history than any other 

 similar Army device. It was authorized for all per- 

 sonnel until 1881 when it was dropped as an item of 

 enlisted equipment. It was retained for officers, first 

 for general wear, then for dress only. It was worn 

 with officers' dress blue uniforms until 1941, but was 

 not re\i\ed when blues reappeared after World War 

 II. .\ plate of the saine general size and pattern, al- 

 though gilt in its entirety, was prescribed for senior 

 NCO's of the Marine Corps until about 1950 or 1951. 



The buckle appears in many variations of design, 

 at least 12 being represented in the national collec- 



FiGURE 92 



Rtgiilatiuns for the I'liijorm and Dress, pi. 21. 



47 



