1760 House is Winding Down, BUT Civil War Showed Up!!!

tymcmurray

Gold Member
Jul 14, 2007
5,634
54
Maryland
Joe and I have picked the yard at the house clean,
but there is still a Lime Kiln and 250+ acres left to
explore!!!
Finds were a little slim today, but had a great time
and got my first heel plate.

Heel Plate (Civil War 2nd Corps)
Cast Button (marked "PLATED" with 3 stars)
Traveling Pencil
Brass Leaf
Stud
Iron Buckle

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IronSpike said:
tymcmurray said:
Marc in VA said:
Nice finds but I may have to disagree on the heel plate. This type heel plates turn up in many spots that have no known civil war activity. Yes it does have the 2nd corp symbol but I think it is just coincidence. Heel plates like this were used on civilian shoes as well as military shoes. There were also some other designs used and some are also coincidentally in the shape of other corp symbols. The fact that you dug yours in civil war area would lend some credence to it being worn by a soldier though. In any case it is a nice find.

Marc

Yes. Buckleboy had mentioned that.
\Live and learn.

Couldn't it be the other way around that boot heel plates used during CW are being found at civilian sites were they were lost after the war?

True probably also civilian use of boot heel plates, but did they have the designs (shamrock, star & heart)? What in my opinion ID this heel plate as CW is it size and design. The small size indicates it was used for cavalry boot heel plate. The design was used by the Confederate cavalry to leave imprints in dirt/mud once off their horses. This way other Confederate soldiers would know be the imprints left whether dealing with friend or foe. Remember an article in W&ET in the 1990's (before internet) about these cavalry boot heel plates. Does anyone remember the issue number?

I don't remember the issue or the article. All I know is that at the site I found this,
the troops marched right in front of the house on the way to Gettysburg. Even
with this information, I have only found one bullet, one 1840s style "I" eagle
button, and this heel plate. We may never know if it was civilian or military,
but it is a nice relic to have in my collection. Thanks for your comments.
 

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