Union Heel plate

[burrabit]

Got this 2nd union corps heel plate near pittsylvania/campbell county border in VA

 

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[CRUSADER]

I'm interesting to understand why the Union Army would want to leave traceable imprints in the ground like that? (Seems dumb to me)

 

[vpnavy]

1st - Nice find burrabit!

2nd - CRUSADER - I searched Google and found a link that provides the reason ( 2nd Corps Heel Plates )...

"...Once the soldiers unmounted their horses near water the heel plates would leave an imprint in the mud. When other soldiers later came to same area they could tell whether friend or foe..."

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on the nice relic!

 

[CRUSADER]

1st - Nice find burrabit!

2nd - CRUSADER - I searched Google and found a link that provides the reason ( 2nd Corps Heel Plates )...

"...Once the soldiers unmounted their horses near water the heel plates would leave an imprint in the mud. When other soldiers later came to same area they could tell whether friend or foe..."

Wow! Is that true? Seems a perfect way to set someone up!

 

[Worm-Slicer]

 

[Javadroid]

I'm interesting to understand why the Union Army would want to leave traceable imprints in the ground like that? (Seems dumb to me)

That's Yankees for ya...

 

[Javadroid]

Seriously, though, and very interesting find - congrats mate!

 

[ToddsPoint]

That's Yankees for ya...

A bunch of mechanics. Gary

 

[ivan salis]

reportedly camp follower type hookers would wear "heart type" ones to let the soldiers know which way to go to "find them" ---also its reported that some union "irish troops" used the clover ones as well

 

[john845]

i found a heart one awhile back and heard the hooker theory does anyone know what soldiers would have worn them?

 

[ivan salis]

fighting joe "hookers" army --there were so many camp followers with his army --that the term "hookers army" was used for them --post war shortened to just "hookers"...

 

[Evolution]

I always thought these were civilian in nature. I've found a few that were nowhere near any Civil War activity. Nice find nevertheless, regardless of potential military connection. Congrats!

 

[burrabit]

Thanks for the replys, Went back today and got this horseshoe 2 or 3 feet from where i found the heel plate

 

[DetectingGodlikeOnOlympus]

Those are always neat finds. There is no military association though. In fact, they are off of Victorian era womens shoes!

 

[vpnavy]

Wow! Is that true? Seems a perfect way to set someone up!

I agree. BUT if the reason is posted on the InterNet - it must be true!

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I've found two heel plates with the heart in the middle at my current cellar hole deep in the woods. Trust me, there were no hookers at this site! There were many different designs used, so I'm guessing it was just a way to liven up a boring shoe repair piece...

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I'm interesting to understand why the Union Army would want to leave traceable imprints in the ground like that? (Seems dumb to me)

That's Yankees for ya...

Doesn't say much for those southern boys if they lost the war to a bunch of "dummies" now does it? LOL!

 

[Hawks88]

Very nice find. Congrats

 

[CASPER-2]

reportedly camp follower type hookers would wear "heart type" ones to let the soldiers know which way to go to "find them" ---also its reported that some union "irish troops" used the clover ones as well

they might have - but company made heel plates for civilian boots that came in hearts - spades - diamonds and clovers
we find them in farm fields and around cellar holes all over New England - large ones and tiny ones - guys find them down south and assume they are all from
soldiers boots - they are not - not to say that some are