Union New York “SNY” Belt Plate, dug at Chancellorsville, Virginia Battlefield

This is another great piece being offered, it is an excavated Civil War belt plate from the state of New York. It has the clear "SNY" raised lettering on the face which of course stands for the state of New York. This is the classic style that was worn by the soldiers from New York during the Civil War. It measures 77mm x 56mm.

The face has a nice green and tan patina to the brass. The rim is dinged up with some minor loss. The back of the plate has all the lead and the original “puppy paw” belt attachment, but the hook has broken off, probably why it was lost by the soldier. This buckle was recovered years ago from the Chancellorsville Virginia Battlefield.

The Battle of Chancellorsville, fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, is widely considered to be Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s greatest victory during the Civil War. Facing an enemy force nearly twice the size of his own, Lee daringly split his troops in two, confronting and surprising Union Gen. Joseph Hooker.

Though Hooker still held numerical superiority, he did not press this advantage, instead falling back to defensive positions. When Lee once again split his forces and attacked, Hooker was forced to retreat across the Rappahannock River. Lee’s victory came at a high cost, however. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, one of his most trusted generals, was mortally wounded by friendly fire during the battle.

This is a great buckle and shows all the signs of being through battle. It has a great untouched patina and remains very solid. It comes in the glass top display case pictured.