This is a nice looking excavated eagle breastplate from the Civil War. This is the circular plate that would have adorned the shoulder strap to a Civil War cartridge box. It has the bold union eagle on the front of the plate. In one talon she holds the arrows of war and in the other talon is the branch of peace. The face has been cleaned and it is missing a couple of spots of the brass but still displays well. On the back of the plate it has a nice amount of the lead remaining with the iron bases of the original iron attachment loops. This is a very pretty excavated Civil War era U.S. cartridge box breastplate. The ink history notation that is written on the back of the piece is that it was found in the area of the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee. It is an excellent piece of Civil War history!