Nearly epic Civil War dig with a new and an old machine

[smokeythecat]

I decided to beat the rain. I wanted to get one day digging out this weekend. I went to a POUNDED Civil War site some distance from here. My Tesoro Cibola wanted to come, so I said ok, it and the Deus were "arguing" in the back seat about who would do better.

Got to the site and basically switched machines a few times. Here are the results. Both machines did very well.

Took the Cibola first around a log we had been digging last week. First thing out was a piece of a civil war cartridge box tin, nothing dramatic, but you don't find many anymore. I found some glass and nails in the hole, and just decided to move a little of the horrid red dirt back and I'm basically flipping some dirt over and I see this little "A" on top of the pile. The Cibola had heard it as non ferrous, remember that machine is a turn and go type. It is a Union kepi hat letter "A". This is the first hat letter I have ever found. View attachment IMG_0742.jpg I found a hat #"1" last summer, but this is my first hat letter and I was jazzed. Went around the tree some more and pulled out some small pieces of camp lead. I moved over a few feet and found two bullets "hiding" about 4" down under a large tree limb, which I had to move out of the way. View attachment IMG_0740.jpg Then I moved to the other side of the tree, and alternately used the Tesoro and the Deus, depending on which whimpered the most. I wound up with 2 eagle buttons, 1 underwear button and my first ever coat Virginia Button! All in all a good day.

View attachment IMG_0743.jpg

I then got tired of this little are, and moved off around 50' looking for any concentration of metals. I found some broken glass, the one piece is from a green flask, nails, more camp lead, and two 1930's shotgun shell bases. These are now hard finds from this site as it has been dug since the 1960's. The largest piece of camp lead the Deus nailed down near a gulley. It was fun. The site doesn't seem to produce coins. They may have been cherry picked out of it a long time ago. View attachment IMG_0744.jpg View attachment IMG_0745.jpg View attachment IMG_0746.JPG View attachment IMG_0747.JPG View attachment IMG_0748.jpg

 

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[Back-of-the-boat]

Awesome finds.

 

[smokeythecat]

Thanks. That red dirt sticks to everything and takes forever to clean up. Those hat letters are very fragile, it came out well, I had to straighten it a little.

 

[toddbbq]

Great stuff thanks for sharing your finds!!

 

[TomW244]

Wow, what a day! If I had found all of that I would make a single display box just for the items from that site! Great recoveries!

 

[smokeythecat]

Actually, I ordered some boxes the other day and they will be here in today's mail. This batch will wind up in one. I have at least a dozen big riker mounts from this site all filled up. Except for the big CW camp axes and horseshoes.

 

[trdking]

Nice Finds ..A

 

[BLK HOLE]

How awesome! I have heard of “money trees” but CW trees Got to plant me one of those! Congratulations Smokey

 

[smokeythecat]

There is a lot of dead wood there. The signal for the first minie was just at the side of the tree, and after I moved it, there they were.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Very nice finds, congratulations!

That Tesoro is no slouch in the field!

 

[Phishfarmer]

Awesome finds! I live in Virginia, found about 40 buttons last year and have not found a Va button. The Kepi "A" is great too! Gives me great hope for the future.

 

[smokeythecat]

Phishfarmer, I have detected this general area 3 years, and this is my first one. Most times you' re lucky to come with one keeper, maybe two.

 

[dirtlooter]

looks like you are still squeaking out some nice finds there, congrats

 

[smokeythecat]

Dirtlooter, yes, squeaking them out is accurate. TomW244, here is a pic of them (sort of) cleaned up and in a case. I had left a few in the truck which I just retrieved, and some Civil War charcoal from the same pit which I got last week. View attachment IMG_0749.jpg

 

[relic nut]

Those are some great finds! The A is in great shape. They can be hard to come by. Congratulations

 

[smokeythecat]

Thanks relic_nut. The "A" was heard, then dug from depth. I was not expecting it. In a plowed field, it would never have survived. i looked for a dug one on the net yesterday for price comparison but couldn't find one.

 

[thrifty76now]

Certainly was a great day at a pounded out site since that place has been searched as early as the 60's.

 

[smokeythecat]

Thrifty76now, thanks. It's not like doing a park which gets replenished. It's tough most days.

 

[devldog]

To Someone Outstanding (or should I say) Outswinging in their field. Smokey, Congrat's to you on some very nice CW Relics. I really like the A Artillery cap badge and the Virginia button. You did Good on some Saved artifacts. Continued Success to you. Aren't you glad you brought both the Deus and the Cibola along for the trip, arguing or not. Lol

 

[JBnNC]

Super finds, I love the hat letter( still looking for my first) and the Virginia Button! --JB