"c," of course, cannot be identified. The monogram 

 is of pewter and has three round lugs fitted through 

 holes in the plate proper for attachment with pins. 

 The plate itself has a safety pin soldered to the reverse 

 for attarhment. 



SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, SCOTT LEGION (?) , C. 1850 



USNM 604347-M QS-K 503). Figure 269. 



Although this plate bearing the profile of Gen. 

 W'infield Scott is very similar in design and construc- 

 tion to several bearing the head of Washington and 

 dated much earlier, it is believed to postdate the War 

 with Mexico when Scott's popularity was at its zenith. 

 There were several volunteer units called "Scott 

 Lcs;ion" during this period. The piece was struck, 

 with a tin backing applied, and the edges of the 

 obverse were then crimped o\er. It is fitted with 

 three wire staples for attachment. 



SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. 1850 



USNM 604327-M QS-K 483}. Figure 170. 



This is a stock pattern in cast brass. It is oval with 

 raised edges and has a white-metal "f" applied with 

 simple wire fasteners. Although the piece has the 

 appearance of a waist-belt plate or cartridge-box 



Figure 270 



plate, the wire fasteners on the re\'erse indicate that 

 it was intended for shoulder-belt wear. In the na- 

 tional collections is a similar plate with the letter 

 "i," indicating that the letters designate companies 

 of larger units rather than a unit itself. 



SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, ARTILLERY, C. 1850 



USNM 604356-M (J-K in}. Figure 271 . 



This rolled-brass plate with a wire-applied silvered 

 ".\" and pile of cannon balls topped i)y the hand die- 

 struck motto "always re.-\dy" is unidentified Ijcyond 

 the fact that it was worn by a member of Company A 

 of a Militia unit using a popular motto. Similar 

 specimens in the national collections have center 

 letters "b," ■"d." and ""e."' The plate was attached 

 to the shoulder belt by means of two flat brass 

 fasteners soldered to the reverse. The fasteners are 

 almost as wide as the plate itself. 



Figure 271 

 BALDRIC DEVICE, C. 1850 



USNM 60409-M (J-K 165'). Figure 171. 



The baldric is a highly ornamented wide sash 

 normally worn by drum majors and sometimes by 

 band leaders. During at least part of the Civil War, 

 Ijaldrics were worn by some aides-de-camp, and the 

 1902 uniform regulations specified them for Signal 

 Corps officers. This specimen and the one that 

 follows are the earlier of several examples in the 

 national collections; they fall in the early 1850's. The 

 shield, suspended from a lion's mouth by small chains, 

 carries an eagle with a shield on its breast. The stars 

 and edge of clouds, above, are somewhat similar to 



121 



