Museums of Port Isabel Collection
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50 year anniversary pin from Mexican American War veterans, Mormon Battalion
50 year anniversary pin from Mexican War veterans, Mormon Battalion. Battle of Buena Vista. The pin has a red velvet circle with a star and a two tails. The fabric's color, behind the text is red.
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Alcohol bottles
Two bottles the smaller one dark in color, the larger bottle is a yellow/ green color. Beer bottle and a bottle used for whiskey or wine from the Mexican-American War time.
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Belt
Black belt, with a discolored belt buckle. A design of a bird wings spread out placed in the middle of the belt buckle.
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Belt buckle
Dark brown belt buckle, the letters G T O carved in the middle of the buckle. Possibly for Guanajuato.
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Boot dagger found at Camp Belknap
File 1: "Boot dagger found at Camp Belknap"
File 2: Boot dagger, discoloration shown on the dagger. Small details cover the front of the dagger.
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Breast plate fragments
File 1: Four pieces of the breast plate are shown. One large piece a dark green color, one medium size piece same dark green as the larger piece, two smaller pieces one looks to be a brown color while the other longer piece looks to match with the medium piece. A brief description can be seen under them.
File 2: "This breast plate appears to have been blown outward possibly from a bullet."
File 3: Zoomed in photo of the breast plate three pieces are shown. The large dark green one, the medium green colored piece and the smaller brown looking piece.
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Breast plates belonging to the U.S. Army's 5th, 10th and 11th Infantry Regiments
Three pieces of the breast plates, all dark colors. Numbers can be seen 5,10 and 11."These breastplates, with corresponding buttons, from 5th, 10th and 11th Infantry Regiments show the great diversity in accouterments worn by different groups in the Mexican Army. The 11th Regiment plate even identifies that the soldier was in the 1st Battalion. Each plate has a different style and construction techniques."
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Bullets
Three of the small "bucks" were wrapped with one large ball into paper cartridge containing gunpowder. The cartridge was rammed down the barrel of the muzzleloaders used by both sides of the Mexican American War.
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Bullet Worm
Rusted bullet worm, discoloration can be seen from the handle down to the tip. Three cannon balls near the bottom of the bullet worm. A brief description under it. "A bullet worm was used to extract stuck bullets from a barrel or a firearm"
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Coal from steamboat's boiler
File 1: Coal from steamboat's boiler found at Steamboat Landing on the mouth of the Rio Grande River near Clarksville opposite Bagdad.
File 2: Coal
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Coffee grinder found in a Mexican American War campsite
Coffee grinder found in a Mexican American War campsite.
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Colonial sword
File 1: Blurry photo, "Some Mexican troops carried swords such as this Colonial short sword."
File 2: Sword hanging, rusted blade with a wood handle.
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Confederate blockade buckle
Dark colored belt pieces, with lions head and snake belong to the Confederate blockade during U.S. Civil War.
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Cross belt from San Luis Cavalry detachment
Cross belt from a San Luis cavalry detachment. Dark brown with details carved into the middle of the cross belt.
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Eagle cockade insignia
Dark-colored Eagle insignia, broken in half. "This eagle cockade insignia was worn on US Infantry head gear" Buttons can be seen below the eagle insignia.
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Eagle firecracker flask, clay jar, Boston and Sandwich Glass Company Benjamin Franklin cup plate, smoking pipe, Henry Clay Glass Portrait Cup Plate
Eagle firecracker flask, clay jar, Boston and Sandwich Glass Company "Benjamin Franklin" cup plate, light colored wooden smoking pipe, Henry Clay Glass Portrait Cup Plate.
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First light cavalry lancer cross belt breast plate
File 1: "First light cavalry lancer cross belt breast plate"
File 2: Metal breast plate, dark color.
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Fork and two spoons from a Mexican American War campsite
Fork and two spoons found in a Mexican American War campsite.
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Lead bar
A long white lead, faint numbers can be seen. "Bar lead was frequently carried by soldiers. Melted over a campfire, the lead could be poured into molds for bullets, flint shims, or any number of other small fasteners."
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Lead crimps
File 1: Two pieces with discoloration. "Lead crimps were used to ensure proper seating of the flint in the lock"
File 2: Flat piece slightly curved, rusted from top to bottom.
File 3: Curved piece, slightly rusted.
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Lock from a flint lock rifle
Three pieces all covered in rust, the larger piece darker then the other two. "Lock from a flint lock rifle. When the trigger is pulled, the flint springs forward, scraping sparks off a strike plate which ignites the gun powder in the rifle."
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Mexican American War letter written to Jose San Roman in Brownsville, Texas.
Mexican American War letter written to Jose San Roman in Brownsville, Texas. It also has Cramer & Co., New Orleans stamp.
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Mexican Army 6th Infantry uniform
Mexican Artillery Uniform. The shako is black with gold trimming with a red, white and green detail in front. A green puff sits on top of the shako. The collar is red with gold number 6's, the sleeves are a dark blue with read cuffs and red epaulettes. The chest is white with two thick white straps crossing in front, the number six shown on a badge.
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Mexican Army scabbard drag
Two metal rusted scabbard drags. "Mexican scabbard drags protected an officers sword tip when sheathed and walking about".
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Mexican Army uniform buttons
Two different Mexican Army uniform buttons. Both have an eagle on the middle. The button of the right has a "República" insignia.
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Mexican Cavalry Piece
File 1: "Martingales such as this Mexican cavalry piece were used to fasten a horse harness straps across the breast of the horse"
File 2: Small discolored, worn Martingale
File 3: Two Martingales both discolored
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Mexican Cavalry spur fragments
File 1: Dark spur fragments used by the Mexican Cavalry.
File 2: "Mexican Cavalry Spurs"
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Mexico First Republic 8 Reales
File 1: silver rusted Reales, back of the coin
File 2: Front of the coin, a bird is carved into the coin holding a snake in its beak, small details are surrounding the bird
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New York and Virginia volunteer companies' buttons
File 1: "Brass buttons from New York and Virginia volunteer companies accompany this 1836 militia cross belt plate" The Virginia volunteer companies' button says, Sic Semper Tyrannis.
File 2: Three brass buttons. The largest has the most wear and tear, the medium button is a dark brown color with a figure carved in the middle, the smallest button has an orange color as well as two figures carved in the middle.
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Percussion caps exploded when struck, setting off a firearm
File 1: "Percussion caps exploded when struck, setting off a firearm"
File 2: Seven caps covered in rust
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"Pick and shovel" / Zapadores battalion insignias belonging to Mexican engineer
"Pick and shovel"/ "ditch diggers"/ Zapadores battalion insignias belonging to Mexican engineer.
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Pittsburgh Double Eagle Quart Flask, American eagle historical glass cup plate, Eagle Henry Clay Glass Portrait Cup Plate
Pittsburgh Double Eagle Quart Flask, American eagle historical glass cup plate, and a Eagle Henry Clay Glass Portrait Cup Plate.
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Processing notes
William Flores, Kendra Lara, and John B. Hawthorne
Re-processed collection.
The collection identifier from ArchiveSpace was used.
Metadata was updated to increase discoverability.
Added to UTB Texas Digital Library on January 4, 2011.
Migrated from UTRGV Texas Digital Library to BePress on February 27, 2020.
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Quill pen and inkwell used during the Mexican American War
Quill and pen used during the Mexican American War.
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Ram rod tubes
3 pieces, dark brown color. Ram rods were used to secure the bullet at the rear of the barrel. "Ram rod tubes from 70 caliber India pattern Brown Bess (British Land Pattern Musket)."
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Religious icons belonging to Mexican soldiers
Four religious icons. One cross and three other pendants. "Mexican soldiers religious icons"
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Rosettes used in harnesses and saddles of Mexican Cavalry
File 1: "These rosettes and finals were used to decorate harness and saddles of Mexican Cavalry"
File 2: Several rosettes laid out, the first one is very discolored and rusty a greenish color. The next one is star like. The one after is rectangle shaped.
File 3: More rosettes laid out all looking worn.
File 4: Other rosettes with discoloration and in different shapes.
File 5: Three more rosettes with rust and discoloration on them.
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Stirrup fragments
File 1: Worn down horse stirrup fragments one darker than the other.
File 2: "Stirrup Fragments"
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Straight razor and shaving cream mug
File 1: White bowl and broken razor.
File 2: Top view of white bowl and broken razor. "Straight razor and shaving cream mug"
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U.S. Army Artillery soldier drawing
Sketch. A common scene depicted by artist of the Mexican American War period shows a U.S. Army Artillery man marching alongside a drummer.
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U.S. Army Cavalry sword
Rusted sword, light brown handle. Long skinny blade with discoloration spots.
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U.S. Army Dragoon buckle
Discolored buckle with the letters US in the middle, darker pieces at the bottom broken apart.
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U.S. Army Dragoon uniform
U.S. Dragoon uniform. Black service cap, striped collar the entire ensemble in teal. White chest straps with a gold pin an eagle detailed in the middle. A white belt with a red piece hanging off.
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U.S. Army Infantry bayonet and scabbard tips
File 1: Two pieces, a bayonet from a scabbard tip "US Infantry bayonet scabbard tip" and another from a brown Bess musket "Bayonet from brown Bess musket".
File 2: Brighter photo of the Bayonet scabbard tip and the Bayonet from brown Bess musket.
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U.S. Army Infantry buttons
Four dark brown rusted buttons, an Eagle medal broken in half. "U.S." can be seen in two of the buttons eagles can be seen on the bottom two.
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U.S. Army Infantry Company G hat insignia
Letter "G" made from metal. In good condition, a bit of discoloration. "US Infantry Company G hat insignia"
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U.S. Army Infantry sword hilt
File 1: "This non-commissioned officer's infantry sword hilt was found beneath the floor boards of the Champion building during restoration."
File 2: Rusted sword hilt
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U.S. Army Musician Corp. hat device and coat button
U.S. Army Musician Corp. had device and coat button with a design of a harp.
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U.S. Army Officer pistol
U.S. Army Officer pistol used during the Mexican-American War time. Discolored pistol, a dull brown color, worn out handle.
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U.S. Army shoulder boards / epaulettes
U.S. Army shoulder boards / epaulettes made of brass. They both have a star embedded in the middle.
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U.S. Army soldier button
U.S. Soldier Button from the Mexican-American War time. Small discolored button, U.S. can be seen in the middle.
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U.S. "Baby" dug buckle and cross belt plate
Two buckles. top buckle a lighter shade of brown with an Eagle in the middle. The bottom button a darker shade of brown with the letters "U.S" in the middle. "US "Baby" 1839 buckle and cross belt plate"
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U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine buttons
Seven buttons, three large ones, two medium and two small buttons. A large gold button, a large black button, and a large rusted orange button. A gold medium button and a rusted green medium button. A rusty, gold small button and a dark brown small button. "U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines button."
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West Point class of 1846 whiskey bottle
File 1: Up close picture of the commemorative glass. Murky green in color with "Class of 1846" molded into the glass. DYOTTVILLE GLASS WORKS PHILA embossed on the bottom.
File 2: Photo of the glass showing its full length.
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Zachary Taylor political campaign button
"Zachary Taylor CA.1848 Political Campaign Button -VS- Lewis Cass." Brass button with an indention of a face seen in the middle of the button.
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Zouave powder (peace) rifle flask
The brass powder Zouave flask depicts the federal eagle and a scene with twenty-six stars encircling two shaking hands. Along the bottom of the flask is the US shield with assorted weapons and horn instruments. "A powder flask was kept handy if a soldier ran out of cartridges."
