Figure 234 



California State seal indicate that it was made after 

 statehood was granted in 1850 but before 1858 when 

 Minnesota became the 32d State. Actually, this 

 design for the arms of the State was adopted in 

 anticipation of admission to the Union, on October 2, 

 ;[ 349 140 -pj^g ornate design of this plate is more 

 characteristic of the 1840's than later, indicating that 

 it was made verv earlv in the 1850's. 



WAIST-BELT PLATE, FLORIDA, C. 1850 



USNM 604224~M (S-K 380'). Figure 235. 



The palin tree, standing alone, although sometimes 

 mistaken for the palmetto of South Carolina, is 

 representative of the State of Florida. Thus, this 

 plate is ascribed to Florida Militia, about 1850. The 



Figure 235 



'"ZlEBER, p. 114. 



110 



Figure 236 



late Richard D. Steuart, of Baltimore, Maryland, 

 an outstanding authority on Confederate equipment 

 and accoutrements, was firm in asserting that this 

 pattern should be ascribed to Florida. 



WAIST-BELT PLATE, MASSACHUSETTS, C. 1850 



USNM 604124-M QS-K 280). Figure 236. 



While cast-brass plates of this type were first made 

 in the early 1850's, their use continued for 20 years 

 or more after that decade. The principal device on 

 this specimen is taken from the arms of the Common- 

 wealth of Massachusetts. The form of the plate is 

 identical to the pattern of the eagle-wreath plate 

 adopted by the Regulars in 1851. 



WAIST-BELT PLATE, C. 1845 



USNM 604244-M {S-K 400] 



Figure 237. 



The star device was used by the Militia of both 

 Texas and Maine, as well as by volunteer units located 

 in other states; thus, this plate cannot be ascribed to 

 any particular geographical area. Plates such as this, 

 with the silver wreath of laurel and palm, are pat- 

 terned directly after the basic plate prescribed for 

 officers of the Corps of Engineers in 1841. They 

 would have been stock items for general sale. 



WAIST-BELT PLATE, C. 1850 



USNM 604242-M (I-K 39*)- Figure 238. 



This cast-brass officer's plate, a pre-CivLl War prod- 

 uct of American manufacture, would have been ap- 



