Montana Infantry Relics - First Time out in 2008

[Montana Jim]

Hello everyone… It’s been a long time since I’ve posted any finds, and a long time since I‘ve been detecting!
I got out this afternoon and had a blast! Found some decent stuff and enjoyed the sunshine.
As usual – I’ll let the pictures do most the talking. All finds from private property with permission
from Indian Wars era U.S. Army Infantry location c.1865-1890s.

My first keeper was this bodacious tin thimble… my forth from this site.



A few nails and some crappy tin-flashing-slaw later I found my first Eagle Button, a complete
no-back marked crushed beauty!



My next button came along shortly… as shown below it was vertical in the ground and half
exposed… not bad for 130ish years later! It’s an intact back marked Eagle button.
No digging required!



Of course I had to share the field with five horses… they left me alone after a few
minutes… here’s three of them behind me.



My third Eagle button I had to dig for… two inches down. Here she is, another crushed
but intact beauty with a back mark.



I dug that last button on the top edge of the riverbank and was getting harassed by
some geese… or maybe they were saying; “Leave some buttons for Wingman Tony!”



Anyway… I found some other crap too but didn’t take any other pictures till I got home…
I’ll try and label what I found on the pictures…







And of course – one last look at those three Eagle buttons… yummy!



I found several pounds of additional iron and other unmentionables, but nobody
wants to see that stuff. As always – thanks for taking the time to look!

[Baggins]

Glad you got out...those are some great digs!
Baggins

[bootybay]

Super cool finds Jim.. LOVE the buttons..

[patpall22]

nice finds. Love those square nails.

[tinpan]

Hi Jim Congrats on your finds and awsome pics

tinpan

[goldencoin]

Nice to see you out again, neat finds

HH
-GC

[Harry_Morant]

Great finds - thanks for sharing.

[momule55]

Great Finds Jim!!! Gotta love those Eagles!! I found these last year, of all places near a CW battlefield. Looks like you are an expert on Indian War stuff, I was told these are Late 1870's "chicken neck" eagles,
is that correct? Found them all within 10 feet of each other.

[tenbears]

Excellant finds Jim. Wish I could get out but its -10 with 4 feet of snow someday

[watercolor]

Jim, it's good to see you got out. . . you found a ton of neat things! I love all the pictures!

Take care & HH

[Montana Jim]

Thanks all for the comments...

Great Finds Jim!!! Gotta love those Eagles!! I found these last year, of all places near a CW battlefield.
Looks like you are an expert on Indian War stuff, I was told these are Late 1870's "chicken neck" eagles,
is that correct? Found them all within 10 feet of each other.

LOL... "Chicken Neck" I think I have 50 varieties of Eagles to include some like that... what's the
back mark say exactly? Thats the key to dating them... and btw, your buttons are freaking beautiful!
Obviousy from the same garment or collection. Thats an extream button find. I have a bunch
of uncrushed buttons, but most are damaged to some degree.

[momule55]

Yes, I dug these, like I said they were within 10 feet of each other. The backmark is
HORSTMANN PHILADELPHIA I find it amazing that 20-30 years in difference makes a difference in buttons as far as condition. Ihave found CW buttons in the same area that are litterly falling apart.

[The Seeker]

Nice job with all the Relics, that's funny about the Eagle button. The last one I found in the fall was also exposed ........But then again , being in a corn field ......I'm sure it was use to being exposed from time to time with all that plowing going on! Nice job............



John

[Gypsy Heart]

Great finds Jim...I think that thing under "lantern parts" looks like a vintage ladies hair curler

Nice to see you out and about again!

[Montana Jim]

Great finds Jim...I think that thing under "lantern parts" looks like a vintage ladies hair curler

Nice to see you out and about again!

Gypsy I think you may be right... I'm going to take some more pics of that piece on the right and post it in whatsits... and I'll say you suggested it was a hair curler... It does have some moving parts.

Let me add here - there were some family officer's members/wives living here too so this is a possibility. Some subsequent post infantry activity also lends your theory mucho credence.

[Pepper2004]

Jim, I'm glad you got out! I like how you take us along on your hunts! Those are some GREAT finds!

HH,
Pepper

[PBK]

[kdismuke1]

Jim those are some nice finds. Glad you could get out. Best luck to you.

[lucky1777]

Nice finds Jim. Was this location a camp or was there some fighting there?

[Montana Jim]

Nice finds Jim. Was this location a camp or was there some fighting there?

A post... No fighting in this area beyond indians and settlers duking it out here and there.