This Confederate, solid-cast CS belt plate still retains part of its original leather belt under the fastening prongs on the back of the plate. The plate is generally rectangular, but with noticeably rounded corners, hence one of the nicknames. The raised surfaces of the plate face, that is: the border and the serifed block letter “CS,” are light green, matching the reverse, though with some dark stains on the letters, and a dark, pebbled ground, the remnants of a black paint or enamel to highlight the lettering. Both the border and the letters show very sharp detailing and care in manufacture. Both prongs and the belt hook are present and in very good condition. The bases of the former are concealed by the remnants of the leather. The base of the latter clearly shows the circular depression and spin marks of being turned on a lathe after the plate was cast, to remove the rough edges of the hook, hence the other popular nickname for the pattern.

This was recovered at Fort Blakely, Alabama, besieged by Union forces in the Mobile campaign from April 2, 1865, to its capture in an assault on April 9- coincidentally just hours after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. The Union 13^th and 16^th Army Corps under Edward Canby had moved up the east shore of Mobile Bay and besieged Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely beginning in late March. Capture of Spanish Fort on April 8 allowed concentration of Union forces against Ft. Blakely, a few miles north, and the fort was taken by assault the next day with Confederate loss of about 75 killed and nearly 3,000 captured at a cost of about 800 Union killed and wounded. Over the next few days other Confederate defenses were abandoned and Mobile itself was taken on April 12.

These belt plates are associated with the western theatre and often particularly with sites associated with the Army of Tennessee: Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas, basically following the course of Confederate forces opposing Sherman. Mullinax rates then as a “6” on his rarity scale. They are certainly an attractive pattern and of quality workmanship with the detailing, finishing and highlighting of the letters. The find-location, one of the last large battles of the war, and in the view of some, the last large battle, adds to this one’s attractiveness.  [sr] [ph:L]

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