The following pictures of frames contain Shako and Cap Plates worn by the US Army and Militia between 1812 and 1842. During the period the Infantry wore silvered brass insignia while the artillery wore yellow brass.
The first frame contains a M-1812 Infantry Shako Plate that I dug near Ft. Mims, Alabama. Ft. Mims was completely destroyed by the Red Stick Indians and British soldiers on 30 August 1813. The entire fort (soldiers, women and children) was wiped out with no survivors. It was this battle that prompted General Andrew Jackson to march South from Tenn to stomp the snot out of the Red Stick Indians at the battle of Horse Shoe Bend ending the Creek wars. The plate measures 2 3/4" X 3 1/2". This plate is in excellent condition for a thin piece of silvered brass that lay in the ground for 190 plus years.
The second frame contains M-1821 Infantry (Silver) and Artillery (Yellow Brass) cap plates (Eagles). The eagles measure 2" from tail to beak and 3" between wing tips.
The third frame contains a US Militia M-1836 Infantry Eagle Shako Plate and two Artillery Shako side buttons that date from 1825 to 1842. The Infantry Eagle measures 2 1/2" X 5" and the side buttons are 1 1/2" in Diameter.
These early US Army Cap and Shako plates are getting extremely scarce.
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