Civil War “US” Cartridge Box Plate, dug at Fredericksburg, VA 1983

This is another nice piece being offered; it is an excavated Civil War Union Cartridge Box Plate. The back still has quite a bit of the lead remaining, the two iron attachment hooks are long gone, as with most dug examples. Part of the bottom rim is gone but the rest of the plate is solid. These plates were worn on the outer flap of the leather cartridge box.

This box plate was recovered at Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was dug on March 5, 1983, off Mansfield Street, which is adjacent to the Rappahannock River (see map).

On November 14, 1862, Union General Ambrose Burnside sent a corps to occupy the vicinity of Falmouth near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Lee reacted by entrenching his army on the heights behind the town. On December 13, after pontoon bridges were laid, Union forces crossed the Rappahannock River under fire.

Burnside mounted a series of futile frontal assaults on Prospect Hill and Marye's Heights that resulted in staggering casualties. On December 15, Burnside called off the offensive and recrossed the river, ending the failed campaign.

This is a very interesting box plate and so important to know when and exactly where it was recovered. It is in  nice condition for a dug plate and has a great brownish, untouched patina. It comes in the glass top display case pictured.