Eastern Oregon Outback

[Oregonjohn]

Greetings.

Am wondering if anyone here has been out searching for/finding some of the many military camp sites from the 1860s and 1870s in the Eastern Oregon area?

Am gettin' my act started to get a metal detector and GPS to get out and look.

Has anyone had any successes in finding much out there as far as relics. Am not going after gold, but old artifacts.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks,
Oregonjohn

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[Cynangyl]

I just recently started doing some research in that area, have not been out at all.....zero stinkin degrees last night when I went to bed and not much higher during the day lol If I do come across anything I will surely post something

[Oregonjohn]

Hey Cynangyl.

The below listed sources have been of value to me when doing the research on the subject and area:

http://www.amazon.com/Deadliest-Indi.../dp/0870044605
Good book, many maps, locations generally shown

http://fortwiki.com/Category:Oregon_All
Maps, locations, etc of old camps and long/lat of the sites

Also look into books on the Bannock War....all over the Outback in 1878

Please keep me posted.
Thanks,
Oregonjohn

[Cynangyl]

Thanks so much for the suggested reading material. I am slowly but surely building up my library related to this area and treasure hunting books. I will see if my guy I get books from has those as I am trying to get a few from him on a regular basis. If I can't get them from him I will look at other options to get them as I think they would be great ones to add to my library. Thanks a ton!!

[trippleg3]

yes, my sister and I have hunted the old military site Fort Warner near Plush Oregon. We found cavalry buttons, lots of bullets, and mule shoes. This fort is found on private land and now there is a historical marker set up that the owners allowed the state to install and under oregon law this is now illegal to detect at or remove any artifacts. Bummer

[Oregonjohn]

Hey Trippleg3, an absolute bummer indeed. Too bad such a site is now posted...I would guess that just a few in 100,000 folks even know about the sites and many fewer of each 100,000 has ever attempted to find and visit any of those sites. I envy your finds there and hope, someday, to get out and look around on my own at at least some of those historic places.
Good Hunting!
Oregonjohn

[DFXtraveler]

I spent alot of time in the mountains outside of cove la grande and baker mining for gold when I was alot younger. I know of several very interesting sites there. several home sites. I am not sure of the age I have not been back there in over 15 years. but I do remember square nails on most of these sites. I will be heading to these areas as soon as the snow melts off this spring. a couple of the sites will be a very tough hike and a couple are very easy to get to. I do not know of any millitary sites in the area but there are mining camps. if you need someone to go with or need help let me know. I have 4x4 and a 4x4 four wheeler. I will look through my library to see what I can find for you on the military camps.

[Oregonjohn]

DFXtraveler
PM sent
OJ

[krautstyle]

Im in La Grande and I am new to the site...
Been Married into a Gold Mining family (Recreation) for 15 years now..

I have a Garrett Gti 2500 and I just got back from greenhorn (Baker County) with 11 Rail Spikes from a Mining Rail system!!!

Id love to look for more relics in and around La Grande , Union, Cove etc... I can hike

ANY Takers

Let me know...

J.T

[Tom_in_CA]

trippleg3, why is it illegal to detect on that private land? Simply because the owner allows a historic plaque there? That doesn't change it from still being private. I've hunted at private property with plaques on them, in CA (with owners permission) and not had any problems, or run into owners who thought that the plaque somehow "controlled" them. So you might want to check out this notion, that a plaque (even if issued from the state) somehow wrests control of the land from the owner. I mean, especially incidental things like metal detecting. I could understand that codes *do* control private property, for some things (like if I wanted to put neon Nazi signs on my house that can be seen for miles, or if I wanted to add on a 2nd story, I have to get a building permit, etc...). But metal detecting? If that's what the owner told you, perhaps they are the ones who are mistaken.

[backup1911]

I live in Central Oregon and have spent a lot of time in the Desert South and East of Bend...The northern corner of the great basin. Over the years I have found and explored many historic sites way off the beaten path. Stone homesteads, indian sites, homestead era townsites, moonshine still sites, military camps etc. Mostly over the years I was just exploring and hunting. I've read a lot about the early history when the military was tasked with suppressing indian activities and exploring and mapping the region. I spent time reading about events, and then would go out and search for (and sometimes discover) the sites. When I first started exploring the most remote country many homesteads and townsites still had standing structures. Over the years most all of the buildings have collapsed so now most wouldn't even know they were there. I recently picked up a metal detector (and just joined this forum). I've caught the bug for sure. A friend and I went out last weekend and detected the site of a military/indian skirmish that is on a ranch that some friends of mine own. I had discovered the site years ago. We found several large caliber rimfire shell casings, a brass button, a nice complete arrowhead, and a couple of broken points. Nothing too impressive but it's just amazing to know a piece of history, and then find the actual evidence of what unfolded.

Basically if you drive out east of Bend on Hwy 20 until you get past Millican and Pine Mountain you will be in country that is full of indian, early military, and homestead era history. If you get off the highway and start following two track dirt roads there is a lot to discover.

Basically I only know 1 other person who is interested in this type of thing and we don't get much time to explore together. I'm looking forward to hopefully connecting with some other folks in my area who share the interest.