Heel Plate?

[Curious The George]

My hunting partner found this heel plate in an area where there may have been troop activity during the Civil War. We have found other artifacts in the area that could be from troops or from a farm house that used to be in the same area.

This heel plate is brass and measures 1 1/2" high and wide.

Seems very small for a man's boot. But we don't have any reference for size of these plates. Would a plate that small come from a child or woman's boot/shoe?

Anyone can date it ?

 

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[Steve in PA]

Definitely a mid 1800s (Civil War Era) heel plate. Those boots must had small heels, ones I have found have been small too.

 

[Tin Nugget]

Nice CW relic and it's only missing a little bit. Very nice find!

 

[Steve in PA]

It's hard to say whether it's truly a Civil War relic unless you dug it in a Civil War camp or battle site. Here are two I've dug. The one on the left is from a mid 1800's homesite in Pennsylvania, and the one on the right is from a late 1850's military camp in Texas.

 

[{Sentinel}]

Congrats and I agree with Steve above, however you'd be perfectly within reason to label it as a Civil War-Era relic. Looks like you've been digging in that Northern Virginia Iron Red dirt....or either in Georgia Red Clay....those are the only two states that really have widespread Dark Red dirt like that....

 

[Curious The George]

Congrats and I agree with Steve above, however you'd be perfectly within reason to label it as a Civil War-Era relic. Looks like you've been digging in that Northern Virginia Iron Red dirt....or either in Georgia Red Clay....those are the only two states that really have widespread Dark Red dirt like that....

Sentinal,
Thank you for the comments. Any input is welcome.

I take it you have never been to North Carolina.
CTG

 

[teleman 2525]

heres a little neat info on your heart shaped boot heel they were known to be used by local ladies of the nite so as new gentlemen in town can fellow thier foot prints back to local house of ill repute dirt roads dirt side walks in good old days this info came from either american digger mag or lost treasure found the article vol 6 issue4 american digger mag larry hockman of catlett va submitted the info if an interesting lady crossed the street a man could simple look in the dirt for her calling card

 

[Blind Squirrel]

heres a little neat info on your heart shaped boot heel they were known to be used by local ladies of the nite so as new gentlemen in town can fellow thier foot prints back to local house of ill repute dirt roads dirt side walks in good old days this info came from either american digger mag or lost treasure found
That is interesting how this kind of knowledge is gained.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Congrats and I agree with Steve above, however you'd be perfectly within reason to label it as a Civil War-Era relic. Looks like you've been digging in that Northern Virginia Iron Red dirt....or either in Georgia Red Clay....those are the only two states that really have widespread Dark Red dirt like that....

I think you forgot to mention NC too. Pretty red here too

Great finds!

 

[Goes4ever]

awesome find! I just dug this one on saturday, and my buddy also found a civil war sword hanger on the same property

 

[Curious The George]

awesome find! I just dug this one on saturday, and my buddy also found a civil war sword hanger on the same property

Can you give me the measurements of it? Up - down and across?

 

[Goes4ever]

awesome find! I just dug this one on saturday, and my buddy also found a civil war sword hanger on the same property

Can you give me the measurements of it? Up - down and across?

1 7/8 up and down.......1 1/2 across
it is odd how yours has almost same wear pattern as mine

 

[{Sentinel}]

Congrats and I agree with Steve above, however you'd be perfectly within reason to label it as a Civil War-Era relic. Looks like you've been digging in that Northern Virginia Iron Red dirt....or either in Georgia Red Clay....those are the only two states that really have widespread Dark Red dirt like that....

Sentinal,
Thank you for the comments. Any input is welcome.

I take it you have never been to North Carolina.

Ah yes, parts of NC do have the red clay too...especialy in the central and mountain regions....Actually I'm quite acquainted with NC. I live near the NC/VA border...East Carolina...but have folks that live in Asheville including my father. The dirt over here in East Carolina is as black as tar but those good ole Appalachians leave the red stuff scattered about, there's even some patches in Alabama and SC though to a lesser degree.
CTG

 

[Curious The George]

Anyone know if these are usually associated with Union or Confederate troops?

 

[romeo-1]

I think those heel plates are so cool! Are all of the suits represented (Hearts, Spades, Clubs and Diamonds)?

 

[teleman 2525]

no i found a star

 

[Lowbatts]

I've read posts where these are attributed to cavalry units, and also as civilian accessories but no official documentation on either.

Got one in a parkway some years back. Just around the corner from this collar pin.

 

[ModernMiner]

heres a little neat info on your heart shaped boot heel they were known to be used by local ladies of the nite so as new gentlemen in town can fellow thier foot prints back to local house of ill repute dirt roads dirt side walks in good old days this info came from either american digger mag or lost treasure found the article vol 6 issue4 american digger mag larry hockman of catlett va submitted the info if an interesting lady crossed the street a man could simple look in the dirt for her calling card

Great info thanks.
Now I'm starting to wonder about the old lady who's yard I found mine in.
Mine was also found here in NC where CW troops went through.

Great find!
-MM-

 

[BamaBill]

"some patches in Alabama and SC though to a lesser degree."

There's alot more of that red scourge of a dirt in N. Alabama than you've let on. Big areas of it N. of the Tennessee river.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Those heelplates, having a "cutout" emblem in the center, have been proven to be from ladies' buttonhook "tall shoes." They are small because the heel of those Ladies shoes is small. The photo below shows a Ladies shoe with the "heart" heelplate, excavated from an 1880s dump in Denver CO by a digger named Marty Homola at the old American Relic Hunters internet forum.

The smallness of the heelplate should be enough proof by itself that it's not from a Military shoe/boot. The narrow little heel would sink deep into the mud very easily with each step. That's why narrow-heel footwear has never been issued to soldiers, who do not have the option of avoiding walking on muddy ground.