Figure 162 



ation. It is bclie\ed to be a cockade eagle because 

 of its form and size, but it may well have been used 

 elsewhere on the person as a piece of uniform insignia. 



CHAPEAU COCKADE, STATE FENCIBLES (PENNSYL- 

 VANIA), C. 1840 



USNM 60259-M {S-K W). Figure 167. 



The State Fencibles of Philadelphia were originally 

 organized as "Sea Fencibles" in 1812 for duty at the 

 port of Philadelphia. This cockade, with brass eagle, 

 was first worn about 1840 and it continued in use for 

 many years thereafter. Dates incorporated as parts 

 of devices are generally the original organizational 

 dates of the units concerned — as is the case in this 

 instance — and bear no necessary relation to the age 

 of the badges. Some Militia cap plates bear the date 

 "1776," and there are waist-belt plates bearing 

 organization dates of 100 years earlier than the dates 

 at which the plates were made. 



Figure 163 



^ The transition to composite plates in the late 1830"s 

 was a tremendous step forward in the field of military 

 ornament. Handsome insignia could be manufactured 

 less expensively and individual units were able to 

 ha\e plates distinctive to themselves at relatively low 

 cost; however, only gold and siK-er colors could be 

 used. In the mid-1 840's there was introduced a 

 new manufacturing technique which opened this 

 field even wider. In this innovation, various stock 

 patterns were struck w'ith a round center as a part 

 of the design. In either the initial strike, or a second, 

 this round center w'as punched out, leaving a hole. 

 Then pieces of colored leather or painted tin — carrying 

 distinctive numerals, letters, monograms, or other 

 de\ices were affixed to the reverse of the plate, in 

 effect filling the hole. Although this added a step 

 in manufacture, it permitted the incorporation of 

 bright colors, which added zest and sparkle to the 

 finished product. Such plates remained popular until 

 the 1890's, and a few are still worn on the full-dress 

 caps of some units. This type of insignia came into 

 use at the time when many of the independent com- 



83 



