My first Musket Ball and first mini Minie Ball

[ClovisOak]

These are common finds on the east coast, but rare finds in Chicagoland. Found both about 10 inches down in my back yard in general vicinity. Musket ball looks to be 50 Caliber, found with possible flint next to each other in the hole. The Minie Ball looks to be a mini .557 Enfield, but unsure of what it really is. Any ideas I'm all ears. My yard was once part of a larger parcel purchased in the 1850's by the first justice of the Peace of our county (Lake) Elijah M Haines, who was a friend and colleague with Abraham Lincoln. It is known that Abraham Lincoln would come to our area to visit Elijah. Could these be Elijah M Haines? If ammunition could talk.... Hainesville Illinois was name after Elijah M Haines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainesville,_Illinois

HH

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges - Grab it through Amazon!

[Professor of Engineering]

Nice find, congratulations!

 

[l.cutler]

The roundball is too small to be a musket ball, most likely a rifle but no way to say for sure. The other bullet is definitely not a minie ball, way too small. Not sure what it is, with a precise measurement with calipers one of the members here may be able to identify it.

 

[trapperart]

Congrats

 

[Dirt_Hunter]

What an amazing find. Congrats!

 

[Davers]

The roundball is too small to be a musket ball, most likely a rifle but no way to say for sure. The other bullet is definitely not a minie ball, way too small. Not sure what it is, with a precise measurement with calipers one of the members here may be able to identify it.

I Hate to have to agree but Cool finds none the less .

Also sounds like that property has some potential .
Keep Huntin.
Davers

 

[Gitschlag]

That is probably a pistol bullet, quite possibly a .44 I'd rather dig pistol bullets than Minie balls any day of the week though, much less common find (at least in my neck of the woods).
Calipers are a must-have!