Excavated 114th Regiment Zouaves d'Afrique cartridge box plate. Die-struck rolled brass plate. N.p., ca 1862. 2 1/4 x 1 1/2 in. O'Donnell & Campbell 578. 

An extremely rare cartridge box plate with the legend, "114 Regt. / Z. D' A. / P.V." standing for 114th Regiment Zouaves D'Afrique Pennsylvania Volunteers. 

The regiment was originally a company-sized unit formed in September 1862 by Charles H.T. Collis, who adopted an elaborate zouave uniform and called the regiment the "Zouaves d'Afrique," acknowledging the Berber North African origins of zouavism (not to be confused with later all-Black regiments, many of which used the designation "Corps d'Afrique" in recognition of their racial composition). It fought with distinction under General Banks during the 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign, the Battle of Cedar Mountain, and the Battle of Antietam. 

After Antietam, it returned to Philadelphia and raised nine additional companies to form the 114th Volunteer Infantry Regiment, the original Zouaves D'Afrique forming Company A. It returned to the Eastern Theater, where it was again hard-fought, having participated at Fredericksburg, played a prominent role at Chancellorsville, and been bloodied defending the Peach Orchard at the Battle of Gettysburg, losing 155 men. 

Severely reduced in size, it mostly provided provost and guard duties at General Meade's headquarters in the field. Reportedly, Meade (a Philadelphia native) was particularly fond of the 114th's regimental band, which was considered one of the best in the Army of the Potomac. 

At the conclusion of the war, the regiment was transferred into the Zouave Brigade of the Army of the Potomac's V Corps and would lead the flamboyantly dressed brigade in the Grand Review of the Armies on 23 May 1865.

A very rare zouave plate. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Relics, Militaria, Accouterment, Equipment, Uniforms] [USCT, United States  Colored Troops, Glory, 54th Massachusetts, Buffalo Soldiers, Black Soldiers] 

Two pieces separated. All adhered to cardboard backing. Some cracks. Residue.