South Carolina Two Piece Militia Officer's Waist Belt Circa 1845 - 1860

British made / imported, heavy cast brass pre war ornate Officer's Sword Belt Buckle. Matches well to plate shown in O'Donnell's American Mil. Belt Plates book (Plate 285). Non-dug. 45 x 93 mm, wreath height 48 mm. Buckle has nice age patina.

Buckle is seen being used from a image of Major General M.L. Bonham - veteran of the Mexican War and Commander of SC Army in 1861 till he retired to politics in 1862, becoming SC Governor.

Buckle is is well made with bench marks and has high relief and detail on the round tongue and hasps.

Comes in Riker case from NC collection. $4200  

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South Carolina Officers Gen. Bonham and Major J.J. Lucas 15th Battalion wearing British made SC buckle

                       Excavated Virginia CS Two Piece Waist Belt 

Beautiful two piece "Virginia Style" waist plate with pointed serifs. This example was dug in Confederate General Rosser's 1864 winter cavalry camp ~ 40 miles south of Petersburg near the Little Cattail Creek in the early 1980's by a well known dealer/collector from Virginia.

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Beautiful green patina on the buckle and accompanying cavalry relics including two Confederate spur fragments from the same site. Matching halves that fit together wonderfully. Also dug with this plate are the cavalry parking belt hook, two oval attachment rings and two strap studs and an artillery fuse.

This plate matches well with the one from Mullinax's 2nd Edition Book (Plate 008) and is listed as a Rarity 8. in February 2017 Old South Military Antiques stated that this buckle variety as a rare pattern. Comes in a Riker case and with Email affidavit of collector who dug the group . $3200 Now $3000

General Rosser

1834 Pattern Large  Infantry Shako Cap Insignia Circa 1835 - 1850  

A large crossed tassel infantry horn with three attachment loops on the back. Used by officers and volunteer militia, occasionally seen in Civil War dug relics. Matches to Figure 304 in O'Donnell Am. Military Headgear Insignia. Very nice stamped brass item. Note: These prewar infantry insignia were still used to some extent by southern troops as seen on an image of Pvt. Henry Speck, Co. B, 6th NC State Troops "Flat River Guard"

 Price $350

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Civil War Osnaburg Woven Haversack w Soldier Repair 

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A very nice soldier Federal canvas haversack, possibly Confederate used, with a hand sewn repair patch ~3" x 4" on the reverse - the hole was probably worn into the sack while carried over the shoulder and rubbing on the soldier's waist. With the closed flap, the sack measures 10 1/8" tall x 11" across bottom. There are usage stains on the bag, both front and back. The two flap buttons are bone and there is an inner smaller bone button used to attach a second bag or pouch, sometimes call a "rice bag".  A few small sections have frayed material on the bag edges and strap, but overall the sack is sound. There are no gussets. A great example of a soldier haversack. Price $950

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Note: The haversack shown on the right is identical to the one being offered and is stencil marked to a MASS regiment and sold for over $2000. 

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Federal Haversack shown on the left is from Sylvia/O'Donnells' Book "Illust. History of  Am. Civil War Relics"  

      US Brigadier General Epaulettes and Hardees Hat Insignia                                                   Price $1150.00

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An extremely fine condition pair of Brigadier General Epaulettes and near mint Hardees Hat Insignia. The epaulettes are probably Pre Civil War manufacture, circa 1850's.

The epaulettes measure 8 inches front to back and 6 inches across. They are in original condition, each epaulette stamped with a French hallmark, having an gold gilded US Eagle button and silver thread and sequin embroidered Star. Each epaulette has numerous twisted hanging gold gilded brass fringe.

The back of each epaulette is fully covered with red leather and red felt cloth including the comfort pillow. One epaulette is marked LEFT and the other is marked RIGHT. There are two minor tears to the leather of the RIGHT epaulette. The top surface cover and border of each epaulette are in strong condition.

The Hardees insignia is in near mint condition with original soldered wires.

Both epaulettes have a nice aged and rich patina on the brass.

The group will make a nice addition to any Civil War collection.

Very Scarce Dug Two Piece Virginia Officer Sword Belt Buckle - Recovered from West Woods Area of Antietam Battlefield (One piece cast round state seal disc / tongue bar)

Price $3900  Now $3500

Buckle comes with strong provenance – Reportedly from A.E. Brooks Collection - Comes with Letter dated 2019 from previous collector stating the buckle was found to be correct by two well known collectors/dealers. Buckle comes in a Riker Case.

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Based on high casualties in the West Woods, the two piece plate could have come from an officer of the 32nd or 15th Virginia. Both units were under Gen. Paul Semmes’ Brigade of McLaws’ Division. The violence of the fighting is seen in the bent buckle's hasps.  

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The 32nd and 15th Virginia regiments marched all night and arrived on the battlefield at Sharpsburg on the morning of the Sept. 17th. They were rushed to the left of the Confederate line about 9am as reinforcements as the remnants of Hood's Division fell back after their assault.

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The 32nd, with the rest of the Brigade, attacked north along the Hagerstown Pike from near the Dunker Church, and were successful in pushing the Federal infantry back to Poffenberger's Farm and their artillery, but suffered high casualties in doing so. After withdrawing to the West Woods for ammunition and rest, the Regiment was posted behind the Sunken Road near the Confederate Center for the afternoon, under long-range artillery fire, but not directly engaged.

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32nd VA: Initial Strength: 158; KIA: 15; WIA: 57; POW: 8; 3 Officers wounded, 1 Officer killed

15th VA: Initial Strength: 128,  KIA: 11, WIA: 58, POW: 1; 6 Officers wounded

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From the 15th Virginia, 14 officers entered the fight and one captain was killed and six other officers were wounded: Captain A. V. England, Co. D  was killed and wounded were Captain E. M. Morrison (commanding the regiment), 1st Lt. Bumpass Co. C, 2nd Lt J. K. Fussell & 2nd Lt J. H. Allen Co. G, 2nd Lt Berry Co. H, 1st Lt G. P. Haw, Co. I

From the 32nd Virginia  3 officers were wounded: 2nd Lt J. H. Barlow Jr Co. C, 2nd Lt H. S. Sinclair Co. I, 1st Lt Robert T. Willis Co. I                                     

Colonels Soft Shoulder Straps of Brig. Gen. Edwin Stoughton Who Was Captured by CSA Major John S. Mosby Mar. 8 1863

SOLD

Released by the family in a 1999 auction (Catalog included) the large  5 1/8" x 2 1/8" gold braided border straps with silver thread and sequins eagle are available. The front blue cloth has faded some to a greenish color, and reverse has black cloth cover - the straps all hand made.

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Stoughton was from Vermont and enlisted as a Colonel 4th Vt. Infantry in 8/1/1861, saw action at Battle of Seven Pines. He had prior military service in the US army from 1859 - 1861 -  a graduate of the USMA in July 1859. He rose to a General rank on Nov. 5 1862. While commanding forces guarding the Washington DC perimeter, he was captured by Mosby on Mar 8 1863 while sleeping in a home in Fairfax County Courthouse area. He was a POW for over 2 months in Libby prison. His Brig. Gen rank expired Mar 4 1863 four days before his capture, so technically he was a Colonel. Due this embarrassing incident, he was not promoted again to Brig. Gen., so he retired from service and became a lawyer in NY City, died December 1868. A very nice pair of scarce historic Colonel's Shoulder Straps. Comes with CW Database Record, Horse Soldier Letter, and article on Mosby Fairfax Courthouse Raid          Price $4400 Now $4100

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Pair of Brass Cavalry Spurs w Eagle Wings Marked on Back

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Matched pair of cast brass spurs with iron rowels and an inspection mark stamped on the inside of one spur. Two rowels on one spur are diminished from age wear, all others are intact. Both spurs have a molded image of eagle feathers on the back side where rowel shank is attached.  

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Very nice set, possibly lower officers grade.

Price: $275

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                       High Grade Non-Dug "War of 1861" Gen. McClellan Gold Gilt Brass Officer ID Tag

                                           For 2nd Lt. Wm F. Smith Co. B - 115th PA Infantry              Price $1600

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Tag features a bust view of General McClellan on the front and is maker marked "F. B. SMITH" along the lower portion of the shoulder with a general's shoulder strap. Disc tags marked by F.B. Smith are very scare.

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The reverse is stamped "LIEUT. WM. F. SMITH CO. B 115th REG. P.V. PHILA. PA".

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Lt. Smith would be commissioned into Company B as a 2nd lieutenant in January, 1862 but served ~ 11 months before being discharged in December 1862. His short term of service may account for the beautiful condition of this tag.

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Apparently Lt. Smith lived in Philadelphia and was a member of the Anti-Slave Holders Society per a 1899 article form the Phil. Inquirer.

His full name is William Fishbourne Smith and was married to Emily G. Smith. He was born 1839 & died 1919. He may have been a man of significant means and was involved politics as well. War may not have been for him. See grave marker for him at Woodlands Cemetery in Philadelphia.

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A excellent example of a high grade Civil War Id tag. Most ID tags are dug. Comes in a Riker case with various documentation.

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115th PA Battle Record:

Second Battle Bull Run -  Battle of Fredericksburg - Battle of Chancellorsville - Battle of Gettysburg
Bristoe Campaign - Mine Run Campaign - Battle of the Wilderness - Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
Battle of Totopotomoy Creek - Battle of Cold Harbor - Siege of Petersburg

Civil War Brigadier General Shoulder Straps

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Pair of vintage Civil War finely embroidered one star general shoulder straps on black wool in near mint condition. 4" x 1.5" Leather backed with gilded stamp that reads "Joseph Starkey Manufacturer 23 Conduit Street London W". Housed in a Riker case.  Straps were once sold by Union Drummer Boy of Gettysburg. Price $1900  Now $1700

Civil War Colonel Shoulder Straps

A extrememly fine condition pair of Colonel Eagle Shoulder Straps. 4" x 1 3/8" Finely detailed eagles with Federal shield on dark black wool and silk back. Straps were once sold by Union Drummer Boy of Gettysburg.          Price $1700  SOLD

Non-Dug US Federal Cartridge Box Plate w Original Loops  -  Nice plate for a box that needs a US Plate  Price $280  Comes in Riker Case

          Rare Two Piece Leech & Rigdon Cast Brass CS Rectangular Sword Belt Buckle

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         Primarily Used by Officers and some Cavalry personnel based on current literature.

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Only a very limited number of these buckles exist. This buckle comes as a consignment from a NC collector who has previously done historical research for Cowans Auction for a number of years. It came from the collection / estate of Dr. John M. Murphy  - collector and author.

Based on the buckle dimensions on known - reported examples, it appears the hasp elements of the buckle wreath and tongue were custom made to fit the belt width of the customer.

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This buckle’s hasp height and overall length are: 50 / 51 mm x 86 mm

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Mullinax Confederate Buckles Book: 59 mm x 85 mm

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Kerksis Am. Military Buckles / Plates Book: 36mm x 86 mm

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Midwest Civil War Relics Website: 35mm x 85 mm

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2007 Heritage Auction: 50mm x 90mm 

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This CS buckle is somewhat crudely cast as stated in the book Collecting Confederacy by S. Pritchard.  There is a solid age patina on the front and back except where a small portion on the back of the hasps and the front C letter were gently cleaned to reveal yellow brass. No numbers are showing in the castings. There is a crude round dimple near the top edge of the tongue between the C and S. This same dimple is shown in the photos from the Kerksis and Mullinax books.

This a fine very fine example of a rare Confederate war time belt plate.  See photos including comparative one. Comes in a Riker Case          Price on Request 

Above photo from 2007 Heritage Auction

Dug US Federal Cartridge Box Plate w Original Loops - Found in Raeford NC area where Gen. Sherman marched through to Fayetteville NC in Mar. 1865 and burned the arsenal.         Price $280  Comes in Riker Case

Crudely Cast Georgia Confederate State Seal 2 Piece Waist Belt Plate  - Locally Cast 

This buckle comes as a consignment from a NC collector who has previously done historical research for Cowans Auction for a number of years. This buckle came from the collection of Russell Morgan and was found in the Gettysburg area. 

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Per both Mullinax and Kerksis books on buckles & plates, this variety of a Georgia belt plate was made in some sizeable numbers on a local - in state basis from higher quality/better detail real buckle examples to prepare a sand molds.

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The dimensions of this buckle are:   hasp height: 46/47 mm x 83 mm overall length

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Mullinax two examples: 46 mm x 86 mm and 47 mm x 79 mm  

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Kerksis example: 51 mm x 84 mm

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This very scarce buckle is on the heavy side with nice age patina showing high copper content.  Comes in a Riker case.        Price: $5900

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