Large Field-made Number "2", from Confederate camp (SOLD,D)

This is truly a unique “one of a kind” artifact being offered, it is a field-made number “2”. It measures 2” x 1 ¼” and appears to have been made from pewter or lead that had some type of silver plating. It has a brass pin and loop on the reverse, but the brass pin had broken, which caused this unusual piece to have been lost. It was recovered in a Confederate camp near the small town of Michie, Tennessee. Michie was along the retreat route between Shiloh and Corinth. A marker is located just south of historic Monterey (now called Michie) on Highway 22 – this piece was recovered nearby.

The ingenuity of the Civil War soldier never ceases to amaze me. When they needed or wanted something, they somehow managed to create it. I wrote about this in my book “The Civil War Soldier – His Personal Items”.  The thoughts on this piece is that it was fashioned out of some foraged silverware, i.e. teapot, plate, tray, etc. No doubt, this number “2” stood for the soldier’s regiment, and by the size, probably worn on his coat. Anyway, the crudeness just screams Confederate – a very rare personal item. Comes in the glass-top display case pictured.