Civil War Eagle Breast Plate, dug at Fredericksburg in 1960s

This is a nice piece being offered, it is a Union Eagle Breast Plate. They would be worn on the leather strap of the Cartridge Box (see pictures). Being they were positioned in the center of a soldier’s chest, many soldiers felt it was a target, so they discarded them. On the back of this plate, most of the lead has been removed by the soldier, either being used for making bullets or for doing some carving. It was recovered in the 1960s at the Fredericksburg, VA Battlefield.

On November 14, 1862, Union General Ambrose Burnside sent a corps to occupy the vicinity of Falmouth near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Lee reacted by entrenching his army on the heights behind the town. On December 13, after pontoon bridges were laid, Union forces crossed the Rappahannock River under fire.

Burnside mounted a series of futile frontal assaults on Prospect Hill and Marye's Heights that resulted in staggering casualties. On December 15, Burnside called off the offensive and recrossed the river, ending the failed campaign.

This Breast Plate has an untouched patina, just as it came out of the ground – no creases or bends. It comes in the glass top display case pictured.