the uniformed Militia units of the 1840's and 1850's 

 were Garibaldi Guards, German Guards, and Gray 

 Guards. This piece could have been the device of any 

 of the three. The letters are aflfLxed with wire fas- 

 teners, and a safety pin is soldered to the rear of the 

 plate proper for decorative attachment. 



SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. 1850 



USNM 604363-M (J"-K 519'). Figure 2(>4. 



This oval brass plate with the wirc-aflixcd siKcr- 

 on-copper letters "ag" is unidentified, but it might 

 well have been worn by the American Guards, or 

 by a uniformed company from some city as Atlanta 

 or Albany, with the letter "g" representing "Grays," 

 "Guards," "Grenadiers," or the like. It was attached 

 to the belt with three simple wire fasteners. 



Figure 264 



SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. 1850 



USNM 604B5-M QS-K 491). Figure 265. 



The white-metal device on this brass plate comprises 

 elements of the arms of "New Amsterdam" topped 

 by the crest of the arms of New York State with 

 supporting figures representing the original Indian 

 owner of Manhattan Island and the mariner who 

 became the first white settler. The specimen is 

 belie\ed to ha\e been worn b\' the New York Citv 



Figure 265 



Guard. The device is affixed with three staples 

 originally intended to be reeved through with leather 

 thongs, although now bent over. The means of 

 attachment of the plate proper are missing. 



SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. 1850 



USNM 604364-M QS-K 520). Figure 266. 



The letters "k l g" forming the white-metal mono- 

 gram on this brass plate indicate that it could well 

 have been worn by the Kentish Light Guard of Rhode 

 Island. The monogram is attached by means of 

 two staples with thongs reeved through, and the 

 plate proper is fitted with four similar staples. The 

 reverse bears the hallmark of William H. Horstmann 

 and Sons, well-known military outfitters of Phila- 

 delphia. 



SHOULDER-BELT PL.\TE, C. 1850 



USNM 604336-M QS-K 492). Figure 267. 



The white-metal letters "sg" on this brass plate 

 lend themselves to so many interpretations that no 

 identification is attempted. The applied device has 

 two staples for attachment, and the plate proper is 

 fitted with a safety pin on the reverse. 



119 



