Civil War Union Cartridge Box Plate, recovered at Clear Brook, VA

Being offered is this US cartridge box plate that measures 88mm x 57mm. These plates would be attached to the outside cover of the leather cartridge box. The face has a couple spots where the rust from the hook attachments on the back came through. To the right of the “S” there is a ding. The back has all the lead remaining and as just about all of these dug plates, the attachment hooks rusted off. This one was recovered in Clear Brook, Virginia.

Clear Brook served as an active campsite, hospital zone, and troop movement corridor for both Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War due to its strategic location in the Shenandoah Valley near Winchester.

Because of its proximity to the Valley Pike (modern Route 11), the Clear Brook area saw constant marching columns, cavalry skirmishes, and retreating units during major regional engagements like the Second Battle of Winchester and Sheridan’s Valley Campaigns.

The plate remains very solid and the front has the original untouched patina. It comes in the glass top display case pictured.