Section of U.S. Belt Plate from, Lookout Mountain Museum

This is another very interesting piece being offered, it is the “U” section of a Civil War Union (U.S.) belt plate. It appears that it has been near or in a fire at some point due to the melted lead. This artifact was recovered in Rome, Georgia and was once part of the Lookout Mountain War Relic Museum in Tennessee. Very faintly marked on the back of the plate is “Rome”.

In April 1863 the city of Rome, Georgia was defended by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest against a Union raid by Colonel Abel Streight. General Forrest tricked Colonel Streight into surrendering just a few miles shy of Rome. Realizing their vulnerability, Rome's city council allocated $3,000 to build three fortifications. Although these became operational by October 1863, efforts to strengthen the forts continued as the war progressed.

In May 1864, Union General Jefferson C. Davis, under the command of Major General William Tecumseh Sherman, attacked and captured Rome when the outflanked Confederate defenders retreated. Due to Rome's forts and iron works, which included the manufacture of cannons, Rome was an important military target. Davis's forces occupied Rome for several months, making repairs to the damaged forts and briefly quartering General Sherman.

On November 11, 1864, foreshadowing Sherman's Special Field Orders, No. 120, Union forces destroyed Rome's forts, iron works, the rail line to Kingston, and any other material that could be useful to the South's war effort as they withdrew from Rome to participate in the Atlanta Campaign.

The War Relic Museum opened in the late 19th century and was located on the north end of Lookout Mountain at the entrance to the Government Park (see pictures). It featured relics which were recovered from the surrounding areas. It also had General Grant's chair that he used at Orchard Knob in 1863 and the writing table of General Thomas that he used at Chickamauga.

The museum closed in the late 1950s and the vast collection was put in storage until it was purchased by Civil War dealer Bob Sands. Bob began selling relics from the collection in the late 1970s, and this piece was in the collection. In1892 the museum put out a brochure which included most of the items in their collection (see picture). This piece was probably part of Panel Q, number 231 which lists “….and buckles picked up on the field” (see pictures).

This item is a true piece of history and you couldn’t ask for better provenance. It comes in the glass top display case pictured.