This is probably the belt plate most closely associated with the Texas troops in Virginia. Even so, it is extraordinarily rare, rating a 9 on the Mullinax rarity scale. It is the only star plate of the Confederate era that was only used by Texans.

It is supposed, because of its rarity and crudeness of manufacture, that it was made specifically for a company in Texas by a local artisan.

The plate was constructed with a die-struck brass face, filled with pewter to give it strength, and to hold the iron wire hooks in place.

I put this plate on my website recently, not for sale, but seeking information. A gentleman[i]wrote to me that:

"Once upon a time that was my plate, I had purchased it back in 2008. I had a restoration done on it, to the face, the right corner border area and some of the border on the top and bottom. I really loved that plate but had to sell it when we purchased our new home in 2011. The plate at that time had 0 back content, other than the little bit of original pewter behind the Star. The plate was dug in Dumfries, VA where the Texas Brigade had once been. It was folded over and was part of the reason why the back was missing.

Long story short, the gentleman that I sold it to* had an additional and extensive restoration done to completely fill the back with lead, he told me about this in a FB Chat, that he used lead bullets he dug in an unrelated Texas Camp in Tennessee. Also the 2nd restoration, they made the faux iron hooks.”

Print Email to a friend