T-23 Volunteer Maine Militia-(large is Cartridge box plate) & T-24 Volunteer Maine Militia Belt Plate-(small is buckle). Both originals were found on the Fair Oaks, Va. battlefield.
Union Campsite. These Union soldiers would leave a lot of plates and relics when they left camp. This is how we dig the state buttons and buckles. Unreal relic hunting in the early days.
Maine Soldier wearing a VMM Belt Plate
1960's reproduction VMM (Large Oval). Made as a buckle. The original large oval was always a cartridge box plate. The VMM buckle or belt plate was always a small oval.
Original large oval 1861 VMM cartridge box plate with the correct backing. The large oval VMM was never a buckle or belt plate always a cartridge box plate.
Original battlefield dug VMM buckle or belt plate. Small in size and the correct lead back. The buckle was always a small oval.