Union New York “SNY” Belt Plate, dug at Culpeper, Virginia Battlefield (SOLD,NS)

This is another great piece being offered, it is an excavated 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.

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 is broken, probably why it was lost by the soldier. This buckle was recovered years ago from the Culpeper, Virginia Battlefield.

General Robert E. Lee drove out General Pope from Culpeper County during the Second Manassas Campaign (1862), and the county remained Lee's favored staging area for the remainder of the war. He selected Culpeper for his winter quarters after the Maryland Campaign and the Battle of Antietam in September 1862, and a portion of his army occupied the county following the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862.

Lee launched the Gettysburg Campaign from Culpeper, though not before his cavalry, under J. E. B. Stuart, faced off against Union troopers at Brandy Station in the largest cavalry battle of the war, in June 1863. Lee returned to Culpeper following Gettysburg and would have wintered there had not the Union Army of the Potomac pushed him out in September. Lee returned the favor a month later by ousting the Union troops, only to be expelled himself in the Battle of Rappahannock Station (1863).

Culpeper remained mostly in Union hands thereafter. The Army of the Potomac wintered there from November 1863 until May 1864, when General Grant embarked on the Overland Campaign. The momentum of war then gravitated toward Richmond and Petersburg, and Culpeper saw only occasional Union raiding parties, the largest one sweeping through the community in December 1864.

As many of you know, SNY plates are becoming difficult to find and the prices continue to go up. This one is very nice, and remains just how it came out of the groud. This would make a nice addition to any Civil War collection. It comes in the glass top display case pictured.