Civil War “US” Cartridge Box Plate, dug at Spotsylvania Battlefield

This is another great piece being offered, it is an excavated Civil War Union “US” Cartridge Box Plate. They were attached to the leather cartridge boxes to keep the outer flap closed. The brass front has the typical “US”, and the reverse has only the remnants of the attachment hooks – on most dug plates, the thin iron hooks always rust away. Although pitted, the reverse has the full complement of lead present. This plate was recovered years ago from the Spotsylvania, Virginia Battlefield.

After the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864, Grant’s and Meade’s advance on Richmond by the left flank was stalled at Spotsylvania Court House on May 8. This two-week battle was a series of combats along the Spotsylvania front. The Union attack against the “Bloody Angle” at dawn, May 12-13, captured nearly a division of Lee’s army and came near to cutting the Confederate army in half. Confederate counterattacks plugged the gap and fighting continued unabated for nearly 20 hours in what may well have been the most ferociously sustained combat of the Civil War.

The brass front of this plate has an absolutely beautiful even dark brass patina. It is nearly flawless. Any relic from this area of the Spotsylvania Battlefield has always been highly desired. It comes in the glass top display case pictured. This is a great piece of history from a brutal Civil War battle.