
This item is a rare original early Civil War breastplate featuring the state seal of South Carolina with a palmetto tree design. Found in 1987 at Lightwood Knot Springs, a muster ground of the old time SC militia and in 1861 a camp of instruction (Camp Johnson) for Confederate soldiers on their way to Virginia. Lightwood Knot Springs was a resort area prior to the Civil War (what they called the "War Between the States" - some still do). Lightwood Knot Springs is 3 miles from Columbia, the capitol of SC.
A portion of Sherman's Army camped in Lightwood Knot Springs overnight after leaving Columbia in 1865. Framed, 9 x 7 ix 1.5 in. Unframed, approximately 2.5 x 2.5 in.