Colonial decorative piece?

[Dan in VA]

Found at a Union CW campsite, measures about two inches long and about an inch wide. The foundation for the estate nearby that I am trying to locate dates to the early 1700s. I read that the visiting Union soldiers tore down the home and used just about everything they could to build their huts that winter. Any idea what this is and what it might have been used for?

 

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[High Plains Digger]

Just wondering--why would soldiers tear down a perfectly good house to make shanties to live in? Just doesn't seem right.

 

[Dan in VA]

The situation at this estate was very common across the south at the old estate homes. Many times the officers would have their quarters in the house, but even so it was often broken down... especially the chimneys for use of the bricks. The northern troops didn't have a problem tearing down the homes of the slave owners. Of course the soldiers would want to stay inside the house, but there were often hundreds or thousands of them on one farm.

 

[creskol]

Is it brass? Looks like a furniture appliance of some sort .. a drawer pull escutcheon maybe.

 

[Dan in VA]

Is it brass? Looks like a furniture appliance of some sort .. a drawer pull escutcheon maybe.

Ah sorry I forgot to say that it is brass or at least it appears to be. VDI reading was around 60. And yeah I'm thinking off of a piece of furniture too.

 

[Breezie]

I agree with Creskol, it looks like a furniture escutcheon. I'd like to see a pic of the back of it.

As far as the Yankees destroying the plantation homes, as you know, it was not just the actual home/house; livestock was killed, water polluted, crops destroyed, etc. Without shelter, food, and water there's not a lot of living. But I guess if you can't win, burn it down, and I'm sure Sherman was proud, but he was following orders from Abe.

Breezie

 

[Ramitt]

those poor slave owners being repressed.

 

[Dan in VA]

I agree with Creskol, it looks like a furniture escutcheon. I'd like to see a pic of the back of it.

As far as the Yankees destroying the plantation homes, as you know, it was not just the actual home/house; livestock was killed, water polluted, crops destroyed, etc. Without shelter, food, and water there's not a lot of living. But I guess if you can't win, burn it down, and I'm sure Sherman was proud, but he was following orders from Abe.

Breezie

Absolutely, I've heard those in Georgia will still act in interesting ways if you mention Sherman's name.

I can post a pic if necessary, but the back is plain without any decoration. Also, the item isn't curved or anything, it is completely flat.