Figure 175 



Shoulder-Bel t and Waist-Beit Plates 



WAIST-BELT PLATE, 1ST MARINE ARTILLERY, I8I3 



USNM 60m~M QS-K 79'). Figure 177. 



Undoubtedly one of the most interesting of all the 

 Militia plates of the War of 1812 period is this rectan- 

 gular one worn by John S. Stiles of (as indicated by 

 the engraving) the "First Marine Artillery of the 

 Union." Engraved in brass, it bears an unusual com- 

 bination of military and naval devices — the familiar 

 eagle-on-cannon of the Regular artillery and the 

 eagle with oval shield that appears on naval officers' 

 buttons of the period.'-'' Actually, the devices 

 befit the character of the organization. The following 



I-* Johnson, vol. 1 , pp. 40, 74. 



Cjuotation from Niles Weekly Register of Baltimore, 

 June 26, 1813, tells something of the unit: 



The First Marine Artillery of the Union, an association of 

 the masters and mates of vessels in Baltimore, about 170 

 strong all told, assembled on Sunday last and proceeded to 

 the Rev. Mr. Glendy's church in full uniform, where they 

 received an address suited to the occasion; which, as usual, 

 done honor to the head and heart to the reverend orator. 

 We cannot pass over this pleasant incident without observ- 

 ing that the members of this invaluable corps are they who, 

 of all other classes of society, feel the burthens and privations 

 of the war. 



Obviously, this organization was one of the state 

 fencible units enlisted for defense only, l)ut little 

 else is known about it. In 1814 there was in Balti- 

 more, a Corps of Marine Artillery commanded by a 

 Capt. George Stiles. The roster of this unit, however, 



