This is the M1839 oval U.S. belt plate made for the narrow 1.5 inch U.S infantry waist belts of the Mexican War period, but carried over into the early Civil War by many state volunteers. Like the standard Civil War versions, these are made of rolled stamped brass with a raised “U.S.” and a lead solder filled back securing the fastening hooks, but use just a single brass arrowhead stud to secure it on one end of the belt, along with the hook on the other end to fasten and adjust it.

This is a good example, showing some age darkening with traces of gilt showing along the edges of the raised letters. Both hooks are in place in the gray lead-solder fill on the reverse. The face shows some light dings on the middle of the “S” and at bottom center between the two letters. The edge shows one narrow ding at lower left. The reverse shows one narrow bit of loss to the fill near the edge below the arrowhead stud.

These were first made with iron wire hooks that were found to break too easily and the brass hooks were introduced in 1844. Early on, the waist belt simply retained the shoulder belts for the bayonet and cartridge box but by the time of the Mexican War the bayonet had been moved to the waist belt, which, though narrow, was sufficient to carry the weight, along with the cap box when the army finally got around to general issue of percussion arms. In the meantime the larger plate was also used, but for the dragoon saber belt and the light infantry rifleman’s belt, if they were carrying cartridge boxes on the waist belt rather than shoulder slung powder flasks and ball bags.

This would fit nicely in a Mexican War, Civil War, or U.S. military belt plate collection.  [sr][ph:L]

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