Excavated M1826 Civil War Eagle Breastplate with 103^rd Pennsylvania Vol. Infantry Carved in the Back of the Plate by the War Period Soldier Owner of the Plate – This dug Civil War eagle breastplate remains in overall very good condition; the face of the plate retains a dark, smooth, pleasing patina; the back of the plate has the rusted remnants of the two sling attachment hooks. Significantly, carved in the back of the plate, in the lead solder, is the following:

“103

PV

1862

MAY”

There are some additional letters carved in the back, but these are difficult to read. At the time of the soldier’s carving, the 103^rd Pa. would have been in the Williamsburg, Virginia area, during the Peninsula Campaign; the regiment participated in the Battle of Williamsburg and would continue to serve throughout the rest of the war. It is conceivable that further analysis might reveal the identity of the period owner, by determining the additional letters carved in the back of the plate.

103rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry

Overview:

Organized at Kittanning September 7, 1861, to February 22, 1862. Moved to Harrisburg, Pa., February 24; thence to Washington, D. C. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, to September, 1862. Wessell’s Brigade, Division at Suffolk, Va., 7th Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to December, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Dept. of North Carolina, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 18th Army Corps, Dept. of North Carolina, to May, 1863. District of Albemarle, Dept. of North Carolina, to August, 1863. Sub-District, Albemarle, District of North Carolina, Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, to January, 1865. District of Albemarle, Dept. of North Carolina, to June, 1865.

Service:

Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15, 1862. Ordered to the Peninsula March 28. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Skirmish at Yorktown April 11. Battle of Williamsport May 5. Skirmish at Fair Oaks May 30. Battle of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, May 31-June 1. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Brackett’s June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing till August 16. Moved to Fortress Monroe August 16-23; thence to Suffolk September 18. Duty at Suffolk till December. Blackwater October 9. Blackwater, near Zuni, October 25. Blackwater October 29. Expedition from Suffolk December 1-3. Beaver Dam Station December 1. Near Franklin on the Blackwater December 2. Ordered to New Berne, N. C., December 4. Foster’s Expedition from New Berne to Goldsboro December 10-21. Southwest Creek December 13-14. Kinston December 14. Whitehall December 16. Goldsboro December 17. Duty at New Berne till May, 1863. Expedition from New Berne to Mattamuskeet Lake February 7-14. Expedition for relief of Little Washington April 7-10. Moved to Plymouth, N. C., May, 1863, and duty there till April, 1864. Expedition from Plymouth to Gardner’s Bridge and Williamston July 5-7, 1863. Expedition to Foster’s Mills July 26-29. Herford December 10. Harrellsville January 20, 1864 (Detachment). Windsor January 30. Siege of Plymouth April 17-20. Regiment mostly captured April 20. Those not captured on duty in District of the Albemarle as garrison at Roanoke Island till June, 1865. Mustered out June 25, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 50 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 352 Enlisted men by disease. Total 406.

103rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment

The 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment lost 3 officers and 50 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 352 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.