Although my vicinity is very rich in times past both Colonial and Civil War it is very easier said than done to extend any invitation to this area. Four of the biggest battles of the Civil War were fought here with every military maneuver, battle, and skirmish no secret and well documented and readily available to anyone. Some say they wish they had a nickel for every metal detector in the area. Sharing our knowledge and sites will produce more finds for all sounds is optimistic but simply stated, this area has been hammered unmercifully hard by detectorists since the 1950’s the productive areas all but disappeared and the superior objects dug long ago and as a result very little to share. But that’s not to say there is nothing left being that Spotsylvania County is rather large in size with four of the ten costliest battles of the war having been fought here. The city changed hands during the war over six times, with relics left behind far and wide but appallingly difficult to find and more often than not by absolute chance.

Contractor construction site clearing and grubbing now seems to be the only hope for most including the occasional but very extraordinary permission to hunt an identified encampment on private property. Even the potentially, and I must emphasize potential worthwhile areas are a very closely undisclosed and shared by only a select small number of and even those very few use up many fruitless, disappointing, and wearisome hours or days swinging the coil. I extend my deepest regret to those who have confidently spent hours driving only to leave the area empty handed. But I am sure many have in the past been very fortunate and I am happy for them.

I do not disagree that meeting and sharing sites with others, broadening areas of hunting and more choices of where to hunt is increased. Please do not be mistaken. I am an optimist, and so far what I have written has been extremely pessimistic. But nevertheless I still regularly, with optimism, go out and dig my few bullets or none at all hoping I will find that "hot spot" or that very lucrative trash pit, latrine, cistern or hutchs in that long forgotten Louisiana Campground. Have faith and happy hunting to all. Sincerely, Eddie in VA.