MARYLAND OVAL STATE SEAL “PUPPY-PAW” BELT PLATE Manufactured by E. Gaylord, Chicopee, Massachusetts c. 1861 / SOLD

Description

MARYLAND OVAL STATE SEAL “PUPPY-PAW” BELT PLATE

Manufactured by E. Gaylord, Chicopee, Massachusetts c. 1861

 

This is an excellent example of the scarce Maryland State Seal oval enlisted belt plate, produced by E. Gaylord of Chicopee, Massachusetts, one of the most prolific military outfitters of the Civil War era. The brass face is die-struck with a crisp rendition of the Maryland coat of arms, showing the Calvert and Crossland quarters supported by the traditional farmer and knight, with the state motto “Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine” (“Manly deeds, womanly words”) raised in a central banner.

 

A classic early-war “puppy-paw” Maryland plate, featuring: Two rounded brass studs on the upper reverse. A central arrow-shaped tongue and a heavy lead-filled back.  A period inscription reading “Antietam” lightly incised into the lead back. The inscription clearly references the Battle of Antietam, fought September 17, 1862—Maryland’s most significant battle of the war and the bloodiest single day in American military history.

 

The plate survives in excellent condition, retaining a strong face with attractive patina. Three small brass tacks remain on the front where the plate was affixed to an early veterans’ museum or G.A.R. relic board. Such mounting was common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as battlefield items were curated for public displays and memorial halls. The tack points are small and do not detract; instead, they reinforce the piece’s long-documented exhibit history.

 

Maryland as a Divided State

Maryland stood at a crossroads in 1861—geographically and politically. While it remained in the Union, large segments of its population supported the Confederacy. Federal authorities quickly secured the state to protect Washington, D.C., placing Maryland troops in strategic guard roles along railroads, river crossings, and transportation hubs.

 

The Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg), September 17, 1862

The inscription “Antietam” denotes its very early recovery from the battle and documented association with the Maryland Campaign of 1862, during which Confederate General Robert E. Lee launched his first invasion of the North. The armies clashed near Sharpsburg along Antietam Creek in what became the bloodiest single day of the war, with more than 22,000 casualties.

 

Maryland units—Federal and Confederate—fought on the same ground: Maryland regiments in Union service were heavily engaged in the Cornfield, East Woods, and Sunken Road.  The famed 1st Maryland Confederate Battalion fought at the southern end of the field, including the Lower Bridge sector.

 

The Union’s strategic success at Antietam provided Lincoln the opportunity to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, transforming the war’s purpose and international standing.

 

Comes housed in 6 x 8 riker display case with blue velvet and descriptive card.

 

Inventory Number: BEL 604