American Military Insignia 1800-1851 Part 14

This plate has had a longer history than any other similar Army device. It was authorized for all personnel until 1881 when it was dropped as an item of enlisted equipment. It was retained for officers, first for general wear, then for dress only. It was worn with officers' dress blue uniforms until 1941, but was not revived when blues reappeared after World War II. A plate of the same general size and pattern, although gilt in its entirety, was prescribed for senior NCO's of the Marine Corps until about 1950 or 1951.

The buckle appears in many variations of design, at least 12 being represented in the national collections. Many of these variations are the result of the plate being produced in great numbers by many different contractors during the Civil War. The original design itself is interesting. The 1851 description called for an "edge of cloud and rays" and the official, full size drawing in _Regulations for the Uniform and Dress of the Army_ includes the "edge of cloud" and pictures the eagle with its head to the heraldic left. At least 50 of these plates were examined by the authors, but only this specimen had the "edge of cloud," silver letters and stars, and the eagle with its head to the left. In most specimens the plate proper is bronze, in one piece, and with the wreath silvered or left plain; in a few specimens the wreath is in white metal and has been applied after casting. This particular specimen is of an early issue. It is cast in heavy bra.s.s, with the wreath applied, and has the narrow bra.s.s tongue for attachment on the reverse (fig. 95), typical of the early types.

SWORD-BELT PLATE, 1851, DIE SAMPLE

_USNM. 60342-M (S-K 98). Figure 96._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 96]

This is a sample struck from a die which apparently was not approved for the 1851 pattern plate. The eagle has wings upraised (2 inches tip to tip), head to right, shield on breast, scroll with "E Pluribus Unum" in beak, three arrows in right talon, and an olive branch in left talon. Stars are intermixed with "edge of cloud" and rays.

The specimen leads to the interesting speculation as to the weight given to correct heraldic usage at this period. The significance of the clouds, or lack of them, is unknown, but it should be noted that in all but the earliest specimens the eagle's head is turned to the right, or the side of honor, and the olive branch is placed in the right talon, indicating peaceful national motives as opposed to the three arrows, signs of belligerency, in the left talon. In this respect, it is interesting to note that until 1945 the eagle on the President's seal and flag carried its head turned to the heraldic left.

_Insignia of the Uniformed Militia_

Cap and Helmet Devices

HAT ORNAMENT, INDEPENDENT DRAGOONS(?), c. 1800

_USNM 14978. Figure 97._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 97]

This silver ornament is one of the most unusual pieces of military insignia in the national collections. Obviously military, it is just as obviously of Militia origin. Although hardly artistic in design, it has a rather attractive simplicity and has been made with considerable care. The eagle is of the "frogleg" design that first appeared on b.u.t.tons of the post-Revolutionary Army and, later on, of the Legion.

In its right talon the eagle is grasping what appear to be rather stylized thunderbolts, and in its left, arrows. The arc above the eagle's head is comprised of sunrays, an edge of clouds, and 16 6-pointed stars. If the number of stars is of significance, the piece would date prior to November 1802 when the 17th state, Ohio, was admitted to the union. The "frog-legged" aspect of the design would tend to confirm such dating, and the thunderbolts in the right talon, symbolic of a belligerent att.i.tude, could be attributed to the national temper during the "quasi war" with France, 1798-1800. The "ID," in delicate floriated script on the eagle's breast, quite out of consonance with the design and execution of the piece proper and obviously the work of a talented engraver, is interpreted as "Independent Dragoons." Too small for a hat frontpiece, it was probably worn as a side ornament on a dragoon helmet.

LEATHER FAN c.o.c.kADE, C. 1810

_USNM 60257-M (S-K 15). Figure 98._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 98]

The leather fan c.o.c.kade became a part of the uniform in the late 18th century, having evolved from the cloth c.o.c.kade adopted early in the Revolution.[100] Enlisted men's c.o.c.kades of the early 19th century were of leather, as were those of line officers.[101] This c.o.c.kade, of black tooled leather with painted gold fan tips, was a common form of the period and was worn with an eagle in the center or possibly on the upper fan. It is a.s.signed to the Militia because of the gold ornamentation.

[Footnote 100: FINKE, pp. 71-73.]

[Footnote 101: TODD, "Three Leather c.o.c.kades," pp. 24-25.]

CAP PLATE, C. 1810

_USNM 60275-M (S-K 33). Figure 99._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 99]

This grenadier-type plate, which is untrimmed and thus may be a die sample, is a rare example of the use of coiled snakes as a military device after 1800. A familiar motif of the Revolution, coiled snakes were not revived as a popular military symbol during the War of 1812.

This specimen is struck in bra.s.s and is believed to have been made for a specific independent Militia organization, designation unknown, for wear prior to 1812.

c.o.c.kADE EAGLE, 1812-1815

_USNM 60361-M (S-K 117). Figure 100._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 100]

The eagle-on-clouds design, which first appeared on coins on the 1795 silver dollar, was popular on insignia during the period 1812-1821.

The heraldic significance of the clouds, if any, is unknown. Somewhat larger than most c.o.c.kade devices, this eagle is struck in bra.s.s and silvered and has two simple wire fasteners soldered to the reverse. A very similar badge is shown by Rembrandt Peale in an oil portrait of Col. Joseph O. Bogart of the 3d Flying Artillery.[102]

[Footnote 102: Reproduced in _Antiques_ (July 1947), vol. 52, no. 7, p. 16.]

c.o.c.kADE EAGLE, C. 1814

_USNM 60379-M (S-K 135). Figure 101._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 101]

This eagle, of the general design first seen on the 1807 half-dollar, is very similar to the one on b.u.t.tons ascribed to staff officers, 1814-1821.[103] The eagle, struck in bra.s.s, has wings upraised and the familiar hooked beak; it stands on a wreath of the colors. The wire fasteners on the reverse are of a somewhat unusual type and may not be contemporary.

[Footnote 103: JOHNSON, specimen nos. 101-105.]

-- Die work for cap, shoulder-belt, and waist-belt plates was expensive, and many Militia organizations found it expedient to purchase devices "ready made" from existing dies. By varying the tr.i.m.m.i.n.g and adding borders of various designs, the same dies could be used to strike all three types of plates. Such badges are called "common" plates.

The common plates that follow were very popular during the period 1812-1835 and, although relatively rare today, were made in considerable quant.i.ty and in many die variations for the Militia in every part of the country. They are known in bra.s.s, copper, and silver-on-copper. It is possible that specimens such as these may have been worn by some officers of the Regular Establishment between 1814 and 1821.

CAP PLATE, 1814-1825(?)

_USNM 60263-M (S-K 21). Figure 102._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 102]

This is a typical example of the common plates of the 1814-1835 period. The piece is struck in bra.s.s and has an edged and stippled border. The design is dominated by an eagle with wings outspread, head to left, arrows in right talon, olive branch in left talon, and with the national motto on a ribbon overhead. The whole is superimposed on a trophy of arms and colors with an arc of 13 6-pointed stars above. A plume socket, apparently original, is soldered to the reverse, as are two looped-wire fasteners. The fasteners are of a later period.

CAP PLATE, 1814-1825(?)

_USNM 60264-M (S-K 22). Figure 103._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 103]