Iron heel and top tap from a CS Campsite at Murfreesboro, TN battlefield

These are some nice pieces being offered, it is a Civil War soldiers iron heel plate and toe tap, which would be worn on his brogans or boots. These plates were used to try and sustain the life of the soldier’s shoes, because once they were worn out, they didn’t know how long it would be before they could be replaced. These unique items were not a regulation issue but sold by the camp sutlers. They were found at a Confederate campsite at Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

The Battle of Murfreesboro (Stones River) was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater. Of the major battles of the war, Murfreesboro had the highest percentage of casualties on both sides.

These shoe attachments are a common find at Civil War campsites and battlefields. They were only held on by small nails and when the heads of the nails wore down, the plates would fall off. They come in the glass top display case pictured.