This brass t2o-piece interlocking officer’s sword belt plate is a pattern that started about 1830 and was very popular among pre-Civil War militia officers, some of whom wore them into service during the war. This one retains portions of its original leather belt and on the central disk bears the U.S. eagle with raised wings, US shield on its chest, and clutching arrows and olive branch, cast and chased on a finely lined field. The wreath portion is plain, as are the belt loops, and the reverse of both portions of the plate are relatively unfinished, showing a casting flaw and the granular surface left from the sand casting.

For parallels see O’Donnell and Campbell, particularly plates #306, #310, and #311, though those all have floral motifs of a wreath actually cast and chased on the outer ring, where this one is plain, and the latter two also show floral motifs on the side bar loops of both elements. The pattern became originated ca. 1830 and remained popular for many years. O&C date this particular pattern 1850-1858 on the basis of the 31 stars surrounding the eagle and note that sturdy, less expensive versions like this began circulating especially in the 1850s to meet burgeoning demand from militia organizations, with a variety of designs and detailing available from dealers in military goods. For details and other examples of this pattern see O’Donnell and Campbell p. 187 ff.

This still retains portions of its sword belt that show it to have been a good quality belt of typical folded leather construction with a bound edge. On one side the belt loop is fixed in place. On the other the belt passes through the loop and loops back to attach to a frame buckle with tongue to adjust the fit. This comes from the collections of the Texas Civil War Museum has a small, inked inventory number on a gray background on the reverse.  [sr] [ph:m]

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