This original Confederate Civil War artifact, worn by Joseph C. Clayton of Alabama, is his identified russet leather sword belt that retains its brass two-piece belt plate together with one of its attached sword straps. Joseph Clayton was one member of a prominent family of Claytons from Barbour County, Alabama who served the Confederate cause. The history of the Alabama Claytons traces their lineage from Delaware, Georgia and North Carolina during the first half of the 18th century.

This branch of the family in 1827 gave rise to Henry Delamar Clayton, who became a Confederate Major General during the Civil War and later was president of the University of Alabama. State and county historical archives show Henry D. and Joseph C. Clayton, sons of prominent Alabama plantation owner Nelson Clayton, listed on the 1850 and 1860 census records for Barbour County, AL. In 1861, Henry was chairman of the State's military committee and organized the initial grouping of volunteer companies into the 1st Alabama Infantry of which he was subsequently elected its Colonel. His older brother, thirty-six year old Joseph Clayton, enlisted in Henry's 1st Alabama Infantry regiment on Jan 18, 1861 at Eufaula, AL as a private in Company "I" for a period of 12 months. Upon expiration of the 1st AL regiment's service, both Clayton brothers mustered out. In May 1862, Henry Clayton organized the 39th Regiment, Alabama Volunteers for three years and became its Colonel while Joseph Clayton joined the same regiment as a Captain in Company "H". Henry Clayton led the regiment through the Kentucky Campaign and was wounded at Stone's River, Murfreesboro, TN in December 1862 but survived the battle. Hard-fighting Henry went on to become a respected Major General in the CS Army and upon the war's end, he studied law, became a successful planter, renowned lawyer, government statesman and distinguished educator at the University of Alabama. Unfortunately, Henry's brother, Joseph, was dangerously wounded in action from a gunshot while fighting at Murfreesboro on Dec 31, 1862. Joseph was captured and died on Jan 15, 1863 as a Confederate prisoner within the Federal lines.

In very good overall condition, Joseph's leather sword belt rig is constructed of strong russet leather and measures 38" long by 2" wide and exhibits a pleasing plum-brown coloring. Belt is identified by two handwritten inscriptions in black ink, one marking on the interior surface of the belt reads "______ Clayton, Capt. / ___ H 39th ALA". The belt's leather sword strap interior surface reads "J.C. CLAYTON / Co H 39th". Entire belt surface exhibits light to moderate cracking and crazing with areas of scuffing but it is remarkably strong and supple. The long, single leather sword strap measures some 30" in length and is double looped through a brass oval ring that in turn is sewn to a leather suspension tab stitched to the belt. A second suspension tab is still sewn to the belt but its short sword strap is missing. The brass waist belt plate is a Georgia style militia, two-piece tongue and wreath device that has a rough cast, high dome, speckled tongue mated to a rough cast oak leaf wreath. Both the tongue and wreath are devoid of benchmarks, as are the crudely cast brass belt loops. Most interesting on the belt plate device is that a large, 1862-dated copper cent has been shaped, buffed and soldered directly to the tongue's curvature and features a unique series of cutouts that read "5 / N C C" (or N C G). We have been unable to ascertain the specific meaning of this alpha/numeric designation on the tongue but it most likely attributed to the various districts and their colloquial militia unit nicknames common in the State of Alabama at the time.

The Clayton family of Alabama is owner to a long and distinguished history in America and copies of both Henry Clayton and Joseph Clayton's military records from the National Archives in Washington DC accompany Joseph's leather sword belt. Numerous other document copies including state and county historical records for the Clayton family are also included. This identified Confederate leather sword belt rig bears a wonderful provenance to Captain Joseph C. Clayton and the well-known Clayton family of Alabama during the Civil War. It would certainly enhance any Civil War Confederate soldier collection or Alabama-focused display.