Figure 178. — Specimen in Campbell collection. 



plates were locally made, as was this one, and ex- 

 amination of a number of specimens gives reason to 

 believe that many were made by rolling out large 

 silver coins into thin ovals, which were then engraved 

 and fitted with fasteners on the reverse. The fasteners 

 on all pieces studied indicate that the plates were 

 intended to be ornamental rather than functional. 



In the Pennsylvania State Museum there is a similar 

 oval plate that was worn by Col. Philip Spengler of 

 that State's Militia in 1812-1816. Ornamented with 

 an eagle, with the initials "ps" within an oval below, 

 it generally follows the construction of the illustrated 

 plate, differing only slightly in size. Since plates of 

 this general type were made locally by hand, each is 

 unique in itself. Identification must depend upon an 

 interpretation of the devices engraved on the face. 

 The initials of the officer for whom the plate was made 

 are often included. 



SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. I8I2 



USNM 604310-M (S--K 466). Figure 179. 



A second example of a Militia officer's plate is this 

 engravedbrass specimen with the design placed along 



Figure i 79 



the longer axis of the oval. Since there probably were 

 many "Volunteer Rifle Companies,'" it is impossible 

 to determine precisely which one wore this plate. 

 The initials of the officer may be read either "i. B." 

 or "j. B.," for many of the early-19th-century en- 

 gi-avers used the forms of the letters "i" and "j" 

 interchangeably. The two small hooks on the reverse 

 indicate that the plate was for a shoulder belt rather 

 than for a waist belt, and that it was ornamental 

 rather than functional. 



SHOULDER-BELT BUCKLE, C. I8I2(?) 



USNM 60325-M (S-K 81). Figure 180. 



This brass buckle, obviously made for a sword 

 hanger, has an eagle in flight above, a 13-star flag 

 below, and four 5-pointed stars on either side. The 

 spearhead on the pike of the flag is definitely of 

 military design, and, in the absence of nautical devices 

 in the engraving, the buckle must be considered an 

 army item. 



ORNAMENTED WAIST-BELT PLATE, I8I2-I825(?) 



USNM 604122-M (S-K 278). Figure 181. 



Cast in silver and then carefully finished, this 

 rectangular plate with beveled edge is one of the most 

 ornate and beautiful known. In the center is an 

 officer's marquee with an eagle, wings spread, perched 

 on top. In front of the marquee are a fieldpiece 

 with bomks, cannon balls, and drum; the whole on 

 grassy ground and superimposed on a trophy of 

 colors and bayonetted muskets. The canton of one 

 color has, instead of stars, an eagle with a shield on 



90 



