Thanks everyone and quinn I hope it's the first of many to but don't feel like I will ever forget seeing that oval come out of that hole and having to take a look back in disbelief
It looks great just the way it is, don't mess with it. You are really lucky to get an early war "Puppy-Paw" buckle, I've found one with the arrow hooks, but not that kind. Now you need to get out there and dig a Confederate plate to match it!
Nice find! Been hoping to find one myself, although I did purchase one from Hicklin years ago. I did find a small style Seminole War US but, it was not a buckle as I had thought. It has unusual back mount clips. I believe it was mounted on a wagon, being found with the remains of a military transport wagon that was originally constructed in Texas and shipped to Florida in the 1850's.