Notes

Figure 234

The 31 six-pointed stars in the outer ring of this cast-brass plate bearing the central elements of theCalifornia State seal indicate that it was made after statehood was granted in 1850 but before 1858 when Minnesota became the 32d State. Actually, this design for the arms of the State was adopted in anticipation of admission to the Union, on October 2, 1849.[140]The ornate design of this plate is more characteristic of the 1840's than later, indicating that it was made very early in the 1850's.

USNM 604224-M (S-K 380). Figure 235.

Figure 235

The palm tree, standing alone, although sometimes mistaken for the palmetto of South Carolina, is representative of the State of Florida. Thus, this plate is ascribed to Florida Militia, about 1850. The late Richard D. Steuart, of Baltimore, Maryland, an outstanding authority on Confederate equipment and accoutrements, was firm in asserting that this pattern should be ascribed to Florida.

USNM 604124-M (S-K 280). Figure 236.

Figure 236

While cast-brass plates of this type were first made in the early 1850's, their use continued for 20 years or more after that decade. The principal device on this specimen is taken from the arms of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The form of the plate is identical to the pattern of the eagle-wreath plate adopted by the Regulars in 1851.

USNM 604244-M (S-K 400). Figure 237.

Figure 237

The star device was used by the Militia of both Texas and Maine, as well as by volunteer units located in other states; thus, this plate cannot be ascribed to any particular geographical area. Plates such as this, with the silver wreath of laurel and palm, are patterned directly after the basic plate prescribed for officers of the Corps of Engineers in 1841. They would have been stock items for general sale.

USNM 604242-M (S-K 398). Figure 238.

Figure 238

This cast-brass officer's plate, a pre-Civil War product of American manufacture, would have been appropriatefor wear by Texas Militia. Obviously a stock pattern, it would also have been sold to Militia organizations in other parts of the country. As in the case of most round plates, the outer ring is of a standard design; variation in pattern would occur on the inner ring.

USNM 604125-M (S-K 281). Figure 239.

Figure 239

This brass-struck rectangular plate carries the arms of the State of New York[141]with its familiar eagle-on-half-globe device. The whole is superimposed on a sunburst background. The plate originally was made for Militia, but it is conceivable that such a plate may have been worn by early uniformed police.

USNM 60487-M (S-K 243). Figure 240.

Figure 240

This brass-cast plate with its letters "S N Y" for State of New York is copied directly from the 1836 plate for noncommissioned officers of the Regular Establishment. The example is the oldest known use of the letters "S N Y" for New York Militia. In later patterns, the letters "S N Y" and "N Y" were placed on rectangular plates and on oval plates worn on the waist belt and on cartridge boxes just prior to and during the Civil War. Small square plates with silver, Old English letters "NY" are included in the 1900 catalog of the Warnock Uniform Co. of NewYork as regulation pattern that year for National Guard officers.

USNM. 604141-M (S-K 297). Figure 241.

Figure 241

This cast-brass plate bears the arms of the city of New York superimposed on an almost full sunburst. The surrounding wreath of laurel is taken directly from the plate authorized for general and staff officers of the Regular Establishment in 1832. While this is thought to be the plate for the New York City Guards, for whom a matching shoulder-belt plate is known, there is the possibility that it was also worn by uniformed police of the 1850's.

USNM 604393-M (S-K 340). Figure 242.

Figure 242

A stock pattern, this cast-brass and gilded plate would have been appropriate for any of the several organizations called "National Guards" or "National Greys" that existed in a number of states. The letters "N G" do not connote the National Guard as we know it today.

USNM 604136-M (S-K 292). Figure 243.

Figure 243

The center piece applied to this cast-brass plate with wire fasteners bears an early form of the arms of the State of Ohio.[142]The plate proper has holes in it other than those needed to apply the present device, which indicates that it was a stock part, or possibly that the present center device is not original to the plate.

USNM 604130-M (S-K 286). Figure 244.

Figure 244

This plate bears another variation of the Ohio State arms. Here, the arms lie within a wreath as prescribed for Regular general and staff officers in 1832. The entire specimen is cast in brass; the wreath, sun, arrows, canal wall, and hull of keelboat are silvered.

USNM 60474-M (S-K 230). Figure 245.

Figure 245

Officers of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia wore plates of this type in the 1850's, although most werediscarded in 1861 when Pennsylvania troops went into active Federal service. The outer ring, with floral wreath design, has been modified to give the appearance of a solid rectangle. Another plate in the national collections bears the letters "P V M" with the conventional outer ring.

USNM 60480-M (S-K 236). Figure 246.

Figure 246

Just prior to 1850 there were two Militia units in Philadelphia using the letters "P G" to indicate organizational designation—the Philadelphia Guards and the Philadelphia City Greys. This brass-cast plate is believed to have been worn by the Philadelphia Guards, whose buttons were marked "P G." The buttons worn by the Philadelphia City Greys carried the three letters "P C G."[143]

USNM 604147-M (S-K 303). Figure 247.

Figure 247

The letters and device on this rather unusual brass plate make its identification easy. The letters stand for the Providence [R.I.] Marine Corps Artillery; the date 1801 is the unit's original organization date. The crossed cannon indicate Militia artillery. The letters and numerals are of white metal and brazed to the plate. The brass crossed cannon are affixed with wire fasteners. The reverse is fitted with a broad tongue and two wire hooks for attachment.

USNM 604455-M (S-K 602). Figure 248.

Figure 248

Although this specimen is not so old as the similar South Carolina plate described previously (fig.162), it is believed to date about 1850. The plate proper is of rolled brass, and the applied device, which comprises well-known elements of the arms of South Carolina, is struck in brass and attached by means of two wire staples and leather thongs.

USNM 604253-M (S-K 409). Figure 249.

Figure 249

This plate, carrying the Virginia seal, was made about 1850 for wear by officers. Similar plates made by British manufacturers during the Civil War tobe run through the blockade are generally distinguishable by their unusually sharp, clean die work. The center device of this specimen is struck in brass and brazed in place; the remainder of the plate is brass-cast.

USNM 60489-M (S-K 245). Figure 250.

Figure 250

The unit for which this plate was made cannot be precisely identified. It is reasonable to assume that there were several Militia organizations called "Gray Guards." The central "G" probably indicates "Company G." The whole is cast brass.

USNM 60490-M (S-K 246). Figure 251.

Figure 251

This plain brass plate of unusually fine manufacture is very definitely a stock pattern which could have been sold without ornament or, as was more likely, with a center device added by soldering or brazing. The plate was cast in three pieces, with the round center brazed to the belt attachment. It was bench-fitted, as indicated by the numbers on the reverse of the inner and outer rings.

USNM 60498-M (S-K 254). Figure 252.

Figure 252

This is a typical stock pattern with the company designation "E." Other specimens in the national collections have the letters "D," "F," "K," and "R." Although rather crudely cast in brass, this piece has been bench-fitted and then gilded.

USNM 60492-M (S-K 248). Figure 253.

Figure 253

This is another stock pattern with company designation. In this case, the numeral "1" has been applied with wire fasteners rather than cast integrally with the two portions of the plate. The national collections also contain similar plates with the numerals "2," "26," and "36."

USNM 60468-M (S-K 224). Figure 254.

Figure 254

This is another typical stock pattern with the eagle-on-shield device surrounded by 13 5-pointed stars as the center ornament. It is cast in brass in two pieces. An example of this plate, on a belt, formed part of a cased Sharps rifle outfit displayed at the 1960 National Rifle Association meeting in Washington, D.C.

USNM 60499-M (S-K 255). Figure 255.

Figure 255

The musician's lyre has never been strictly a military ornament, being widely worn by civilian bands; thus, this plate cannot precisely be identified as military or nonmilitary. Unlike most plates of this type and period, the entire piece is struck in brass rather than cast.

USNM 60485-M (S-K 241). Figure 256.

Figure 256

The letters "T C B" on this brass-cast plate open wide the doors of conjecture as to interpretation. Possible combinations range from Trenton City Blues (if such a Militia organization ever existed) to Troy Cornet Band, a nonmilitary unit. Plates such as this can seldom be positively identified.

USNM 60478-M (S-K 234). Figure 257.

Figure 257

As in the case of the preceding plate, the letters "H R" on this specimen cannot be specifically identified. Similar unidentified plates in the national collections have the letters "S O I" and "P B."

USNM 604167-M (S-K 323). Figure 258.

Figure 258

This plate is known both in heavy metal stamping and in thin, cheap brass. Examples of the latter type appear to have been struck in the period of the 1890's from a die then 50 years old. A plate similar to this one has been excavated from a Civil War battlefield site. A stock pattern, the design was obsolete forissue to Militia before the Civil War, but it is known to have been continued almost to the end of the century for use by groups such as secondary school cadet corps.

¶ The shoulder-belt plates worn in the 1850's were little changed from those of the preceding decade. In the Regular Establishment the shoulder belt and plate for officers had been discarded in favor of the waist belt for carrying the sword, but Militia officers—bound by no regulations—continued to wear the shoulder belt. Enlisted personnel wore at least one shoulder belt, and in many cases used two belts, which crossed, one belt carrying the cartridge box and the other the bayonet and scabbard. Mounted Militia sometimes wore the saber on a waist belt and the carbine cartridge box on a shoulder belt. It is interesting to note that the custom of using elements of state seals on waist-belt plates was not followed to any great extent in the embellishment of shoulder-belt plates except in the Southern States.

USNM 604451-M (S-K 598). Figure 259.

Figure 259

In size and pattern this plate is exactly like that prescribed for the Regular Establishment in 1841, substituting the arms of South Carolina for the eagle. It possibly may date as early as 1845. Made for South Carolina Militia, plates similar to this were worn during the Civil War and several have been recovered from battlefield sites. The specimen is struck in brass and the reverse filled with lead. It has three bent-wire fasteners imbedded in the reverse, which indicates that it was decorative rather than functional. A similar plate with elements of the Virginia State seal is known. Modern reproductions of both are being sold.

USNM 604446-M (S-K 593). Figure 260.

Figure 260

A popular stock pattern of the 1850's, this design with the silver numeral "1" on a rectangle of rolled brass was worn for at least half a century after it first appeared. Similar plates are known with all numerals through 9 and a few higher numbers. Other plates of the same general type are known with company letters "A" through "M." The plate proper is fitted with two brass wire hooks and a medium width tongue, indicating a functional use. The numeral is attached by means of two staples with leather thongs reeved through on the reverse of the plate.

USNM 654360-M (S-K 516). Figure 261.

Figure 261

This rolled-brass plate with its silver "TC" monogram is presently unidentified. In the nationalcollections there is a Militia helmet with the same device used as part of the cap plate; also known is another insignia, comprising the monogram alone, that was used as a cartridge-box device.New York Military Magazinefor July 17, 1841, refers to the elegant armory of the Troy [N.Y.] Corps where the Light Guard of New York had been visitors. This plate may have been an insignia of that organization. The monogram is affixed with staples and leather thongs, and the plate proper carries a large safety pin soldered to the reverse for purely decorative attachment. It is unknown whether the safety pin fasteners are contemporary with the plates to which they are attached. Rudimentary safety pins were known in Egypt before Christ, but they apparently did not appear in America until the 1830's and 1840's. Walter Hunt patented the first American safety pin in 1849.[144]

USNM 604361-M (S-K 517). Figure 262.

Figure 262

Several Militia organizations of the 1840's and 1850's were called "Republican Guards," and this silver "RG" monogram on a rolled-brass rectangle would have been appropriate on shoulder belts of so-named units. The monogram is affixed with wire fasteners, but the means of attachment for the plate proper are missing.

USNM 604362 (S-K 518). Figure 263.

Figure 263

The silver letters "GG" on this rolled-brass plate present several possibilities for identification. Amongthe uniformed Militia units of the 1840's and 1850's were Garibaldi Guards, German Guards, and Gray Guards. This piece could have been the device of any of the three. The letters are affixed with wire fasteners, and a safety pin is soldered to the rear of the plate proper for decorative attachment.

USNM 604363-M (S-K 519). Figure 264.

Figure 264

This oval brass plate with the wire-affixed silver-on-copper letters "AG" is unidentified, but it might well have been worn by the American Guards, or by a uniformed company from some city as Atlanta or Albany, with the letter "G" representing "Grays," "Guards," "Grenadiers," or the like. It was attached to the belt with three simple wire fasteners.

USNM 604335-M (S-K 491). Figure 265.

Figure 265

The white-metal device on this brass plate comprises elements of the arms of "New Amsterdam" topped by the crest of the arms of New York State with supporting figures representing the original Indian owner of Manhattan Island and the mariner who became the first white settler. The specimen is believed to have been worn by the New York City Guard. The device is affixed with three staples originally intended to be reeved through with leather thongs, although now bent over. The means of attachment of the plate proper are missing.

USNM 604364-M (S-K 520). Figure 266.

Figure 266

The letters "K L G" forming the white-metal monogram on this brass plate indicate that it could well have been worn by the Kentish Light Guard of Rhode Island. The monogram is attached by means of two staples with thongs reeved through, and the plate proper is fitted with four similar staples. The reverse bears the hallmark of William H. Horstmann and Sons, well-known military outfitters of Philadelphia.

USNM 604336-M (S-K 492). Figure 267.

Figure 267

The white-metal letters "SG" on this brass plate lend themselves to so many interpretations that no identification is attempted. The applied device has two staples for attachment, and the plate proper is fitted with a safety pin on the reverse.

USNM 604338-M (S-K 494). Figure 268.

Figure 268

Many volunteer companies used the designation "Rifle Guards," and this plate with the initials "C R G" probably falls into such a category. The"C," of course, cannot be identified. The monogram is of pewter and has three round lugs fitted through holes in the plate proper for attachment with pins. The plate itself has a safety pin soldered to the reverse for attachment.

USNM 604347-M (S-K 503). Figure 269.

Figure 269

Although this plate bearing the profile of Gen. Winfield Scott is very similar in design and construction to several bearing the head of Washington and dated much earlier, it is believed to postdate the War with Mexico when Scott's popularity was at its zenith. There were several volunteer units called "Scott Legion" during this period. The piece was struck, with a tin backing applied, and the edges of the obverse were then crimped over. It is fitted with three wire staples for attachment.

USNM 604327-M (S-K 483). Figure 270.

Figure 270

This is a stock pattern in cast brass. It is oval with raised edges and has a white-metal "F" applied with simple wire fasteners. Although the piece has the appearance of a waist-belt plate or cartridge-box plate, the wire fasteners on the reverse indicate that it was intended for shoulder-belt wear. In the national collections is a similar plate with the letter "I," indicating that the letters designate companies of larger units rather than a unit itself.

USNM 604356-M (S-K 512). Figure 271.

Figure 271

This rolled-brass plate with a wire-applied silvered "A" and pile of cannon balls topped by the hand die-struck motto "ALWAYS READY" is unidentified beyond the fact that it was worn by a member of Company A of a Militia unit using a popular motto. Similar specimens in the national collections have center letters "B," "D," and "E." The plate was attached to the shoulder belt by means of two flat brass fasteners soldered to the reverse. The fasteners are almost as wide as the plate itself.

USNM 60409-M (S-K 165). Figure 272.

Figure 272

The baldric is a highly ornamented wide sash normally worn by drum majors and sometimes by band leaders. During at least part of the Civil War, baldrics were worn by some aides-de-camp, and the 1902 uniform regulations specified them for Signal Corps officers. This specimen and the one that follows are the earlier of several examples in the national collections; they fall in the early 1850's. The shield, suspended from a lion's mouth by small chains, carries an eagle with a shield on its breast. The stars and edge of clouds, above, are somewhat similar tothose on the 1851 regulation waist-belt plate. The whole is superimposed on a three-quarter sunburst. Both the lion's head and the shield are fitted with simple wire fasteners for attachment.

USNM 66622-M. Figure 273.

Figure 273

The device is attached to a red, gold-edged-embroidered baldric worn by the drum major of the 72d New York Militia during the Civil War but believed to ante-date 1861. The brass shield, with ebony drum sticks, is suspended from an eagle of the 1834 Regular Army pattern for wear as a cap device. The shield, convex with beveled edges, is very similar to waist-belt and shoulder-belt plates of about 1850.

¶ Few Militia gorgets are known, and this scarcity leads us to believe that few were made and worn, despite the Militia's love for the "gay and gaudy." Still, some units did adopt them, and officers of the Portland [Maine] Rifle Corps were still wearing themin the late 1850's.[145]As a military symbol for officers, the gorget passed its zenith in the late 18th century. Gorgets were worn during the War of the Revolution by both American and British officers, and the British also gave them to Indian chiefs as marks of authority. Officers in at least one regiment of the Regular Establishment wore them as part of their regulation dress about the turn of the 19th century, but they were not a part of the prescribed uniform during or after the War of 1812.

USNM 60311-M (S-K 67B). Figure 274.

Figure 274

This gorget, of gilded brass, is of 2-piece construction. The eagle-on-clouds, very similar to cockade eagles worn in 1808-1821, is attached by four wire fasteners rather than brazed. The engraved edging on the gorget proper is rather crudely done. Although composite insignia did not come into general use until the mid-1830's, it seems reasonable to assume that this particular design of the eagle device applied to the chapeau might equally have been applied to a gorget. A similar specimen in the national collections has a silver-on-copper eagle instead of a brass one.

USNM 60310-M (S-K 67A). Figure 275.

Figure 275

This gorget is of 3-piece construction, the specimen proper being of brass and the wreath and eagle of gilded brass applied with wire fasteners. Although the eagle is of the early "on-clouds" design, the feel of the piece is later, and this, together with the rather wide crescent indicate that it belongs to the period of the 1830's and 1840's.

USNM 60309-M (S-K 66). Figure 276.

Figure 276

This brass gorget, with wreath and letters in applied silver, is an example of one of the latertypes worn by Militia. The letters "S F" are interpreted as "State Fencibles," and the "Excelsior" buttons on the ends of the crescent identify the origin of the unit as New York State. Fencibles were basically troop units organized for home defense only. There was a volunteer Militia company called the "State Fencibles" in New York City as early as 1800. It apparently lost its identity as such in 1847 or 1848 when the organization split, half entering the 8th Regiment and half entering the 9th Regiment of New York State Militia.[146]

U.S. Government Printing Office: 1963

1:Parkyn'sShoulder-Belt Plates and Buttonscontains a wealth of information on British regimental devices.2: For history of the organization of the Army, seeAmerican Military History, 1607-1953;Mahon, "History of the Organization of the United States Infantry"; andJones, "History of the Organization of the United States Field Artillery."Unfortunately, there is no single, completely satisfactory source on the militia system of the United States. The following works, however, contain sound information and, when taken together, provide an excellent background on the subject:Todd, "Our National Guard";Mahon, "Citizen Soldier";Lundeberg, "History of the North Carolina Militia";Ansell, "Legal and Historical Aspects of the Militia";Gronert, "First National Pastime in the Middle West"; andRiker,Soldiers of the States.3:Writings of George Washington, vol. 27, p. 222.4: Ibid., pp. 256-258; also letter dated January 3, 1784, from Henry Knox, Commander in Chief of the Army, to President of the Continental Congress (in Knox papers).5: Journals of the Continental Congress, vol. 27, p. 524; also,Upton, p. 69.6: Act of March 3, 1791 (Military Laws, pp. 90-91).7: Act of March 5, 1792 (Military Laws, pp. 92-94).8:American State Papers, pp. 40-41.9: Act of May 9, 1794 (Military Laws, p. 104).10: Act of May 30, 1796 (Military Laws, p. 114).11: Act of April 27, 1798 (Military Laws, pp. 119-120).12: Acts of July 16, 1798, and March 2, 1799 (Military Laws, pp. 127-128).13:American State Papers, p. 137.14: Acts of February 20 and May 14, 1800 (Military Laws, pp. 139, 141); also,American State Papers, p. 139.15: Act of March 16, 1802 (Military Laws, pp. 141-149).16: Act of April 12, 1808 (Military Laws, pp. 200-203).17: Acts of January 11, April 23, and June 26, 1812 (Military Laws, pp. 212-215, 222-223, 230).18: Act of January 1813 (Military Laws, pp. 238-240). There is some confusion as to just how many infantry regiments were organized and actually came into being. The Act of January 29, 1813, authorized the President to raise such regiments of infantry as he should see fit, "not exceeding twenty." It seems that 19 were actually formed, made up partly of 1-year men and partly of 5-year men. There are 46 regiments listed in the Army Register for January 1, 1815, and it is known that several volunteer regiments were designated as units of the Regular Establishment and that a 47th and a 48th were redesignated as lower numbered units when several regiments were consolidated because of low recruitment rate. Mahon (in "History of the Organization of the United States Infantry") is not clear on this point. There is an organizational chart of the Army for this period in the files of the Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army.19: Act of February 10, 1814 (Military Laws, pp. 251-252).20: Act of March 30, 1814 (Military Laws, pp. 252-255);Jones, p. 58; "History of the Organization of the United States Cavalry."21: Act of March 3, 1815 (Military Laws, pp. 266-267).22: The reorganization of 1815 is treated byMahon"History of the Organization of the United States Infantry" (pp. 11-12),Jones"History of the Organization of the United States Field Artillery" (pp. 59-60), andWike, unpublished study.23: Act of March 2, 1821 (Military Laws, pp. 303-309).24: Acts of April 5 and June 15, 1832 (Military Laws, pp. 322-323, 325-326).25: Act of March 2, 1833 (Military Laws, pp. 329-330).26: Act of May 23, 1836 (Military Laws, pp. 336-337).27: Act of July 5, 1838 (Military Laws, pp. 341-349).28: Act of May 19, 1846 (Military Laws, pp. 371-372).29: Act of February 11, 1847 (Military Laws, pp. 379-382).30:Mahon, "History of the Organization of the United States Infantry," p. 16.31: Official Army Register, 1848.32:Upton, p. 223.33: General Orders, March 30, 1800 (Records AGO).34: Standing Order Book, folio 1, October 1, 1801.35: Records AGO.36: Records AGO.37: General Order, Southern Department, U.S. Army, January 24, 1813 (photostatic copy in files of division of military history, Smithsonian Institution); also,American State Papers, p. 434.38: Specimen no. 156 inJohnson, vol. 1, p. 43, vol. 2, p. 9.39:Todd, "Three Leather Cockades," pp. 24-25.40: General Order, March 30, 1800 (Records AGO).41: "Statement of Articles of Clothing, 1802," in papers of Purveyor of Public Supplies (Records AGO).42: General Order, Southern Department, U.S. Army, January 24, 1813 (photostatic copy in files of division of military history, Smithsonian Institution); also,American State Papers, p. 434.43: Engraved by Robert Scott after a design by Gilbert Stuart.44:Todd, "Notes on the Dress," p. 10. Also, receipts from George Green and Son, and letter dated August 6, 1808, from J. Smith (Commissary General at Washington) to Tench Coxe requesting "brass letters U.S.R.R." (Records AGO). George Green is listed in Philadelphia directories of the period as a "brass founder and gilder."45: Letter dated July 8, 1812, from J. Burn to William Eustis (Secretary of War) and letter dated July 9, 1812, from B. Mifflin (Deputy Commissary General of Purchases). Both letters are in Records AGO.46: General Orders, January 24, 1813 (Records AGO).47: Letter dated March 30, 1812, from Coxe to Eustis (Records AGO); McBarron, "Regiment of Riflemen," p. 100.48: Bill dated February 24, 1812, from William Crumpton (Records AGO).49: Letter dated August 31, 1812, from Eustis to Irvine; General Order of January 24, 1813, Southern Department; letter dated March 31, 1813, from Irvine to Amasa Stetson (Deputy Commissary General of Purchases, Boston); and letter dated July 13, 1813, from Irvine to M. T. Wickham. This material is in Records AGO.50: Letter from Irvine to Wickham dated July 13, 1813, and bill from William Crumpton dated February 24, 1812 (both in Records AGO).51: Statement of purchases for September 1813, by Stetson (Records AGO).52: Bill dated February 24, 1812, from William Crumpton (Records AGO).53: Letter dated November 8, 1812, from Irvine to Colonel Simonds (Commanding Officer, 6th Infantry); letter dated November 3, 1812, from Irvine to Colonel Pike (Commanding Officer, 15th Infantry); and letter dated November 23, 1812, from Irvine to Armitage. These letters are in Records AGO.54: Letter from Irvine to Simonds cited in preceding note.55: Letter in Records AGO.56: "A Bit of U.S. Mint History," pp. 45-50; andChamberlain, pp. 588-592.57: Letter in Records AGO.58: Letter from Secretary of War to Irvine (Records AGO).59: Letters in Records AGO.60: Letters in Records AGO: Irvine to James Calhoun (Deputy Commissary General of Purchases, Baltimore), January 14, 1815; Irvine to General Scott, January 13, 1815; Irvine to George Armitage, July 10, 1815.61: SeeMcBarron, "The 18th U.S. Infantry," pp. 48-49.62: SeeJohnson, vol. 1, p. 45, and vol. 2, p. 10.63: SeeJohnson, vol. 2, specimen nos. 183, 184, 210-213.64: Letter dated February 26, 1812, from Irvine to Secretary of War (Records AGO). In clothing returns for 1812 of light artillery companies stationed at Williamsville, N. Y., "caps and plates" are listed as being "on hand" (Records AGO).65: Letter in Records AGO.66: SeeKuhn, pp. 263-267, andDavis, pp. 13-14 and pl. 3.67: Act of February 10, 1814 (Military Laws, pp. 251-252).68: Letter dated January 12, 1814, from Irvine to Secretary of War (Records AGO).69: SeeKivett, p. 59.70: A letter dated July 29, 1817, from Irvine to Secretary of War describes the device; a letter dated August 4, 1817, from the Adjutant and Inspector General (Daniel Parker) to Irvine authorizes the plate but gives no description. Both letters are in Records AGO.71: SeeMcClellan, pp. 25, 44.72:General Regulations, pp. 154-162.73: Letter dated January 4, 1822, from Secretary of War to Irvine (Records AGO).74: General Order No. 38, Headquarters of the Army, May 2, 1833. (Photostatic copy in files of division of military history, Smithsonian Institution.)75:Townsend and Todd, pp. 1-2.76:General Regulations for the Army of the United States, 1847, pp. 192-193.77: A detailed description is given inMilitary Collector and Historian(June 1952), vol. 4, no. 2, p. 44.78: A partial republication of this work appears inMilitary Collector and Historian, vol. 10, no. 1 (spring 1958), pp. 16, 17; no. 2 (summer 1958), pp. 43-45.79:Lewis, p. 64.80: Act of May 19, 1846 (Military Laws, pp. 371-372).81: General Order No. 18, June 4, 1846, War Department (photostatic copy in files of division of military history, Smithsonian Institution).82: Insignia of the riflemen are discussed by Townsend and Todd, pp. 2-3.83: General Order No. 2, February 13, 1850, War Department (photostatic copy in files of division of military history, Smithsonian Institution).84: General Order, Southern Department U.S. Army, January 24, 1813 (photostatic copy in files of division of military history, Smithsonian Institution).85: Letters from Irvine in Records AGO: To Colonel Bogardus (Commanding Officer, 41st Infantry), February 16, 1814; to James Calhoun, January 14, 1815; and to General Scott, January 31, 1815.86: Letter to the Purveyor of Public Supplies in 1808.87: Letters from Irvine in Records AGO: To Colonel Bogardus, February 16, 1814; to James Calhoun, January 14, 1815.88: Detailed descriptions of this sword are given byHarold L. Peterson, pp. 193-194, andBelote, pp. 30-31.89: Mr. Michael Arpad, well known and highly regarded silversmith, of Washington, D.C., has called this specimen "an exquisite piece of work by a master craftsman."90:General Regulations for the Army, pp. 154-162.91:General Regulations for the Army of the United States, p. 222.92:Regulations for the Government of the Ordnance Department, p. 64; andHarold L. Peterson, pp. 42-43.93: SeePatterson, p. 8.94: General Order No. 38, Headquarters of the Army, May 2, 1833 (photostatic copy in files of the division of military history, Smithsonian Institution).95:U.S. Military Magazine(April 1841), illustrations for "United States Infantry, Full Dress" and "United States Artillery (Captain)."96: SeeMilitary Collector and Historian(June 1950), vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 29-30.97: Letter dated June 29, 1813, from Irvine to Secretary of War (Records AGO).98: The cavalry waist-belt plate is actually specified to be 3.6 inches by 2.2 inches.99:Regulations for the Uniform and Dress, pl. 21.100:Finke, pp. 71-73.101:Todd, "Three Leather Cockades," pp. 24-25.102: Reproduced inAntiques(July 1947), vol. 52, no. 7, p. 16.103:Johnson, specimen nos. 101-105.104:U.S. Military Magazine(March 1839), p. 4.105: April 1839, pl. 5; June 1839, pl. 11.106:U.S. Military Magazine(March 1839), p. 3 and pl. 2.107:U.S. Military Magazine(October 1841), p. 32.108: SeeU.S. Military Magazine(February 1840), pl. 29.109: SeeZieber, pp. 141-144.110: Illustrated inLefferts, pls. 4, 7, 21.111: In the collections of the Morristown National Historical Park. The Morris Rangers was one of three uniformed Militia units in Morris County, New Jersey, at the outbreak of the War of 1812; it saw service at Paulus Hook in 1814 (Hopkins, pp. 271-272).112: Illustrated inMilitary Collector and Historian(1951), vol. 3, no. 3, p. 59.113: SeeU.S. Military Magazine(April 1839), pl. 5.114: May 1839, pl. 7.115:U.S. Military Magazine(February 1840), pl. 28; (November 1840), unnumbered plate.116:U.S. Military Magazine(May 1841), unnumbered plate; (March 1841), unnumbered plate.117: Illustrated inU.S. Military Magazine(January 1840), pl. 26.118: Illustrated inU.S. Military Magazine(August 1839), pl. 15.119: A volunteer Militia company known as the Republican Blues was organized in Savannah in 1808. From notes filed under "Georgia National Guard" in Organizational History and Honors Branch, Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.120: Depicted inU.S. Military Magazine(November 1839), pl. 22.121:Barnes, p. 106 and pl. 2(14).122:U.S. Military Magazine(August 1841), unnumbered plate.123:New York Military Magazine(June 26, 1841), vol. 1, no. 3, p. 45.124:Johnson, vol. 1, pp. 40, 74.125:Swanson, pp. 253, 382.126: The national collections contain several such Militia colors.127: SeeWall.128:Johnson, vol. 1, pp. 61.129:Johnson, vol. 1, pp. 161, 162.130: The spelling of "Grays" may or may not be significant. A Huddy and Duval print of the Washington Greys inU.S. Military Magazine(April 1839, pl. 5) used "Greys" in the title and "Grays" on an ammunition box in the same print.131:Old Print Shop Folio, p. 216.132: April 1839, pl. 5; June 1839, pl. 10.133:Zieber, p. 166.134: March 1839, pl. 2.135:New York Military Magazine(1841), vol. 1, p. 118.136: April 1839, pl. 5; June 1839, pl. 10.137:U.S. Military Magazine(January 1840), pl. 27.138:U.S. Military Magazine(November 1839), pl. 21.139:Zieber, pp. 143-144.140:Zieber, p. 114.141: For the variations in the arms of New York seeZieber, pp. 166-167.142: For an interesting discussion of the evolution of the arms of Ohio seePreble, pp. 639-642.143:Johnson, vol. 1, p. 145, vol. 2, pl. 63.144: U.S. Patent 6281 (April 10, 1849).145: In the national collections are a uniform jacket, chapeau, and gorget once owned by Frederick Forsyth, a member of the Portland Rifle Corps in 1857.146: Personal communication from Frederick P. Todd, July 6, 1960. Mr. Todd is the foremost authority on New York Militia units.

1:Parkyn'sShoulder-Belt Plates and Buttonscontains a wealth of information on British regimental devices.

2: For history of the organization of the Army, seeAmerican Military History, 1607-1953;Mahon, "History of the Organization of the United States Infantry"; andJones, "History of the Organization of the United States Field Artillery."

Unfortunately, there is no single, completely satisfactory source on the militia system of the United States. The following works, however, contain sound information and, when taken together, provide an excellent background on the subject:Todd, "Our National Guard";Mahon, "Citizen Soldier";Lundeberg, "History of the North Carolina Militia";Ansell, "Legal and Historical Aspects of the Militia";Gronert, "First National Pastime in the Middle West"; andRiker,Soldiers of the States.

3:Writings of George Washington, vol. 27, p. 222.

4: Ibid., pp. 256-258; also letter dated January 3, 1784, from Henry Knox, Commander in Chief of the Army, to President of the Continental Congress (in Knox papers).

5: Journals of the Continental Congress, vol. 27, p. 524; also,Upton, p. 69.

6: Act of March 3, 1791 (Military Laws, pp. 90-91).

7: Act of March 5, 1792 (Military Laws, pp. 92-94).

8:American State Papers, pp. 40-41.

9: Act of May 9, 1794 (Military Laws, p. 104).

10: Act of May 30, 1796 (Military Laws, p. 114).

11: Act of April 27, 1798 (Military Laws, pp. 119-120).

12: Acts of July 16, 1798, and March 2, 1799 (Military Laws, pp. 127-128).

13:American State Papers, p. 137.

14: Acts of February 20 and May 14, 1800 (Military Laws, pp. 139, 141); also,American State Papers, p. 139.

15: Act of March 16, 1802 (Military Laws, pp. 141-149).

16: Act of April 12, 1808 (Military Laws, pp. 200-203).

17: Acts of January 11, April 23, and June 26, 1812 (Military Laws, pp. 212-215, 222-223, 230).

18: Act of January 1813 (Military Laws, pp. 238-240). There is some confusion as to just how many infantry regiments were organized and actually came into being. The Act of January 29, 1813, authorized the President to raise such regiments of infantry as he should see fit, "not exceeding twenty." It seems that 19 were actually formed, made up partly of 1-year men and partly of 5-year men. There are 46 regiments listed in the Army Register for January 1, 1815, and it is known that several volunteer regiments were designated as units of the Regular Establishment and that a 47th and a 48th were redesignated as lower numbered units when several regiments were consolidated because of low recruitment rate. Mahon (in "History of the Organization of the United States Infantry") is not clear on this point. There is an organizational chart of the Army for this period in the files of the Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army.

19: Act of February 10, 1814 (Military Laws, pp. 251-252).

20: Act of March 30, 1814 (Military Laws, pp. 252-255);Jones, p. 58; "History of the Organization of the United States Cavalry."

21: Act of March 3, 1815 (Military Laws, pp. 266-267).

22: The reorganization of 1815 is treated byMahon"History of the Organization of the United States Infantry" (pp. 11-12),Jones"History of the Organization of the United States Field Artillery" (pp. 59-60), andWike, unpublished study.

23: Act of March 2, 1821 (Military Laws, pp. 303-309).

24: Acts of April 5 and June 15, 1832 (Military Laws, pp. 322-323, 325-326).

25: Act of March 2, 1833 (Military Laws, pp. 329-330).

26: Act of May 23, 1836 (Military Laws, pp. 336-337).

27: Act of July 5, 1838 (Military Laws, pp. 341-349).

28: Act of May 19, 1846 (Military Laws, pp. 371-372).

29: Act of February 11, 1847 (Military Laws, pp. 379-382).

30:Mahon, "History of the Organization of the United States Infantry," p. 16.

31: Official Army Register, 1848.

32:Upton, p. 223.

33: General Orders, March 30, 1800 (Records AGO).

34: Standing Order Book, folio 1, October 1, 1801.

35: Records AGO.

36: Records AGO.

37: General Order, Southern Department, U.S. Army, January 24, 1813 (photostatic copy in files of division of military history, Smithsonian Institution); also,American State Papers, p. 434.

38: Specimen no. 156 inJohnson, vol. 1, p. 43, vol. 2, p. 9.

39:Todd, "Three Leather Cockades," pp. 24-25.

40: General Order, March 30, 1800 (Records AGO).

41: "Statement of Articles of Clothing, 1802," in papers of Purveyor of Public Supplies (Records AGO).

42: General Order, Southern Department, U.S. Army, January 24, 1813 (photostatic copy in files of division of military history, Smithsonian Institution); also,American State Papers, p. 434.

43: Engraved by Robert Scott after a design by Gilbert Stuart.

44:Todd, "Notes on the Dress," p. 10. Also, receipts from George Green and Son, and letter dated August 6, 1808, from J. Smith (Commissary General at Washington) to Tench Coxe requesting "brass letters U.S.R.R." (Records AGO). George Green is listed in Philadelphia directories of the period as a "brass founder and gilder."

45: Letter dated July 8, 1812, from J. Burn to William Eustis (Secretary of War) and letter dated July 9, 1812, from B. Mifflin (Deputy Commissary General of Purchases). Both letters are in Records AGO.

46: General Orders, January 24, 1813 (Records AGO).

47: Letter dated March 30, 1812, from Coxe to Eustis (Records AGO); McBarron, "Regiment of Riflemen," p. 100.

48: Bill dated February 24, 1812, from William Crumpton (Records AGO).

49: Letter dated August 31, 1812, from Eustis to Irvine; General Order of January 24, 1813, Southern Department; letter dated March 31, 1813, from Irvine to Amasa Stetson (Deputy Commissary General of Purchases, Boston); and letter dated July 13, 1813, from Irvine to M. T. Wickham. This material is in Records AGO.

50: Letter from Irvine to Wickham dated July 13, 1813, and bill from William Crumpton dated February 24, 1812 (both in Records AGO).

51: Statement of purchases for September 1813, by Stetson (Records AGO).

52: Bill dated February 24, 1812, from William Crumpton (Records AGO).

53: Letter dated November 8, 1812, from Irvine to Colonel Simonds (Commanding Officer, 6th Infantry); letter dated November 3, 1812, from Irvine to Colonel Pike (Commanding Officer, 15th Infantry); and letter dated November 23, 1812, from Irvine to Armitage. These letters are in Records AGO.

54: Letter from Irvine to Simonds cited in preceding note.

55: Letter in Records AGO.

56: "A Bit of U.S. Mint History," pp. 45-50; andChamberlain, pp. 588-592.

57: Letter in Records AGO.

58: Letter from Secretary of War to Irvine (Records AGO).

59: Letters in Records AGO.

60: Letters in Records AGO: Irvine to James Calhoun (Deputy Commissary General of Purchases, Baltimore), January 14, 1815; Irvine to General Scott, January 13, 1815; Irvine to George Armitage, July 10, 1815.

61: SeeMcBarron, "The 18th U.S. Infantry," pp. 48-49.

62: SeeJohnson, vol. 1, p. 45, and vol. 2, p. 10.

63: SeeJohnson, vol. 2, specimen nos. 183, 184, 210-213.

64: Letter dated February 26, 1812, from Irvine to Secretary of War (Records AGO). In clothing returns for 1812 of light artillery companies stationed at Williamsville, N. Y., "caps and plates" are listed as being "on hand" (Records AGO).

65: Letter in Records AGO.

66: SeeKuhn, pp. 263-267, andDavis, pp. 13-14 and pl. 3.

67: Act of February 10, 1814 (Military Laws, pp. 251-252).

68: Letter dated January 12, 1814, from Irvine to Secretary of War (Records AGO).

69: SeeKivett, p. 59.

70: A letter dated July 29, 1817, from Irvine to Secretary of War describes the device; a letter dated August 4, 1817, from the Adjutant and Inspector General (Daniel Parker) to Irvine authorizes the plate but gives no description. Both letters are in Records AGO.

71: SeeMcClellan, pp. 25, 44.

72:General Regulations, pp. 154-162.

73: Letter dated January 4, 1822, from Secretary of War to Irvine (Records AGO).

74: General Order No. 38, Headquarters of the Army, May 2, 1833. (Photostatic copy in files of division of military history, Smithsonian Institution.)

75:Townsend and Todd, pp. 1-2.

76:General Regulations for the Army of the United States, 1847, pp. 192-193.

77: A detailed description is given inMilitary Collector and Historian(June 1952), vol. 4, no. 2, p. 44.

78: A partial republication of this work appears inMilitary Collector and Historian, vol. 10, no. 1 (spring 1958), pp. 16, 17; no. 2 (summer 1958), pp. 43-45.

79:Lewis, p. 64.

80: Act of May 19, 1846 (Military Laws, pp. 371-372).

81: General Order No. 18, June 4, 1846, War Department (photostatic copy in files of division of military history, Smithsonian Institution).

82: Insignia of the riflemen are discussed by Townsend and Todd, pp. 2-3.

83: General Order No. 2, February 13, 1850, War Department (photostatic copy in files of division of military history, Smithsonian Institution).

84: General Order, Southern Department U.S. Army, January 24, 1813 (photostatic copy in files of division of military history, Smithsonian Institution).

85: Letters from Irvine in Records AGO: To Colonel Bogardus (Commanding Officer, 41st Infantry), February 16, 1814; to James Calhoun, January 14, 1815; and to General Scott, January 31, 1815.

86: Letter to the Purveyor of Public Supplies in 1808.

87: Letters from Irvine in Records AGO: To Colonel Bogardus, February 16, 1814; to James Calhoun, January 14, 1815.

88: Detailed descriptions of this sword are given byHarold L. Peterson, pp. 193-194, andBelote, pp. 30-31.

89: Mr. Michael Arpad, well known and highly regarded silversmith, of Washington, D.C., has called this specimen "an exquisite piece of work by a master craftsman."

90:General Regulations for the Army, pp. 154-162.

91:General Regulations for the Army of the United States, p. 222.

92:Regulations for the Government of the Ordnance Department, p. 64; andHarold L. Peterson, pp. 42-43.

93: SeePatterson, p. 8.

94: General Order No. 38, Headquarters of the Army, May 2, 1833 (photostatic copy in files of the division of military history, Smithsonian Institution).

95:U.S. Military Magazine(April 1841), illustrations for "United States Infantry, Full Dress" and "United States Artillery (Captain)."

96: SeeMilitary Collector and Historian(June 1950), vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 29-30.

97: Letter dated June 29, 1813, from Irvine to Secretary of War (Records AGO).

98: The cavalry waist-belt plate is actually specified to be 3.6 inches by 2.2 inches.

99:Regulations for the Uniform and Dress, pl. 21.

100:Finke, pp. 71-73.

101:Todd, "Three Leather Cockades," pp. 24-25.

102: Reproduced inAntiques(July 1947), vol. 52, no. 7, p. 16.

103:Johnson, specimen nos. 101-105.

104:U.S. Military Magazine(March 1839), p. 4.

105: April 1839, pl. 5; June 1839, pl. 11.

106:U.S. Military Magazine(March 1839), p. 3 and pl. 2.

107:U.S. Military Magazine(October 1841), p. 32.

108: SeeU.S. Military Magazine(February 1840), pl. 29.

109: SeeZieber, pp. 141-144.

110: Illustrated inLefferts, pls. 4, 7, 21.

111: In the collections of the Morristown National Historical Park. The Morris Rangers was one of three uniformed Militia units in Morris County, New Jersey, at the outbreak of the War of 1812; it saw service at Paulus Hook in 1814 (Hopkins, pp. 271-272).

112: Illustrated inMilitary Collector and Historian(1951), vol. 3, no. 3, p. 59.

113: SeeU.S. Military Magazine(April 1839), pl. 5.

114: May 1839, pl. 7.

115:U.S. Military Magazine(February 1840), pl. 28; (November 1840), unnumbered plate.

116:U.S. Military Magazine(May 1841), unnumbered plate; (March 1841), unnumbered plate.

117: Illustrated inU.S. Military Magazine(January 1840), pl. 26.

118: Illustrated inU.S. Military Magazine(August 1839), pl. 15.

119: A volunteer Militia company known as the Republican Blues was organized in Savannah in 1808. From notes filed under "Georgia National Guard" in Organizational History and Honors Branch, Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.

120: Depicted inU.S. Military Magazine(November 1839), pl. 22.

121:Barnes, p. 106 and pl. 2(14).

122:U.S. Military Magazine(August 1841), unnumbered plate

123:New York Military Magazine(June 26, 1841), vol. 1, no. 3, p. 45.

124:Johnson, vol. 1, pp. 40, 74.

125:Swanson, pp. 253, 382.

126: The national collections contain several such Militia colors.

127: SeeWall.

128:Johnson, vol. 1, pp. 61.

129:Johnson, vol. 1, pp. 161, 162.

130: The spelling of "Grays" may or may not be significant. A Huddy and Duval print of the Washington Greys inU.S. Military Magazine(April 1839, pl. 5) used "Greys" in the title and "Grays" on an ammunition box in the same print.

131:Old Print Shop Folio, p. 216.

132: April 1839, pl. 5; June 1839, pl. 10.

133:Zieber, p. 166.

134: March 1839, pl. 2.

135:New York Military Magazine(1841), vol. 1, p. 118.

136: April 1839, pl. 5; June 1839, pl. 10.

137:U.S. Military Magazine(January 1840), pl. 27.

138:U.S. Military Magazine(November 1839), pl. 21.

139:Zieber, pp. 143-144.

140:Zieber, p. 114.

141: For the variations in the arms of New York seeZieber, pp. 166-167.

142: For an interesting discussion of the evolution of the arms of Ohio seePreble, pp. 639-642.

143:Johnson, vol. 1, p. 145, vol. 2, pl. 63.

144: U.S. Patent 6281 (April 10, 1849).

145: In the national collections are a uniform jacket, chapeau, and gorget once owned by Frederick Forsyth, a member of the Portland Rifle Corps in 1857.

146: Personal communication from Frederick P. Todd, July 6, 1960. Mr. Todd is the foremost authority on New York Militia units.

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