Tejaas
Hero Member
- Sep 8, 2012
- 826
- 1,019
- Detector(s) used
- Garrett AT PRO ~ Propointer ~ Modified Lesche ~ Predator Little Eagle ~ Royal Picks ~ Marshalltown Trowels ~ Sift Tables/Screens
- Primary Interest:
- Relic Hunting
As well as photos of some thoughtful Christmas gifts from the family.
After we exchanged gifts and had some breakfast, we got out for a bit of surface hunting for projectile points (just posted those finds up in the artifact forums.) Then I grabbed up my AT Pro and headed back out for a two hour relic hunt.
Ended up with a couple of old shotgun headstamps, horseshoes, etc... But these were my personal favorites.
Three fired Minies, a Henry Cartridge, and a .32 Rimfire.
Nothing too extravagant to most, but extremely meaningful to me as almost every single detecting find I dig on the ranch is part of my family history...
Since the days of the Texas Revolution my family has been here... Republic-era Texas Rangers like John Coffee "Jack" Hays and Jesse McCrocklin are idolized by events that took place on some of the same ground my boot heels touch today. During the Civil War, both Confederate partisans and Union-sympathetic German "home guards" were present in our area - my family having ties to both, and is probably smaller than it should be by those bushwhacked by one side or the other. Later during the Indian Wars, federal cavalry patrols would pass through the property often stopping to bivouac at the headwaters of the river and multiple creeks on the family homestead... I often wonder how/why/when my descendants and their acquaintances lost or used each relic I recover.
My dad remembers my great-grandfather occasionally carrying a .32 Rimfire Marlin Model 1891 in a scabbard on his saddle when out riding fencelines... he ended up trading the rifle to a friend shortly before World War 2 for a few parts to repair his Allis-Chalmers Model WC. I thought that was cool, and so although a bit newer than the Minies, it got included in the display as a placeholder for now.
As for the gifts, I made out like a fat rat! My wife, mom, and dad spoiled me rotten and as usual hit the mark with 100% accuracy. A few more book titles for the library, a half-dozen maps (some research copies ordered from the GLO and a few the Misses actually stole my "need copies" list out of my research folder and went to the Texas State Archives in Austin and requested in person and handcarried home!
Mom and Dad's gift was arranged via an old friend of theirs who used to dig in Tennessee. I was presented with a small relic display composed of pieces excavated long ago and are associated with the Texas Confederate advancement near the federal position manned by Hazen's Brigade known as "Hell's Half Acre" at Stones River (Hazen himself served in Texas pre-war). I really enjoyed the trip I made to Stones River back in 2010, and to have something from the battle associated with the fighting near the Texas position means it is right at home in my display cabinet.
Today - December 31st, actually marks the anniversary of the first day of fighting at Stones River/Murfreesboro. Good timing.
Hope everyone had a great Christmas, is doing well going into the new year, and has some great finds in their future.
~Tejaas~
After we exchanged gifts and had some breakfast, we got out for a bit of surface hunting for projectile points (just posted those finds up in the artifact forums.) Then I grabbed up my AT Pro and headed back out for a two hour relic hunt.
Ended up with a couple of old shotgun headstamps, horseshoes, etc... But these were my personal favorites.
Three fired Minies, a Henry Cartridge, and a .32 Rimfire.
Nothing too extravagant to most, but extremely meaningful to me as almost every single detecting find I dig on the ranch is part of my family history...
Since the days of the Texas Revolution my family has been here... Republic-era Texas Rangers like John Coffee "Jack" Hays and Jesse McCrocklin are idolized by events that took place on some of the same ground my boot heels touch today. During the Civil War, both Confederate partisans and Union-sympathetic German "home guards" were present in our area - my family having ties to both, and is probably smaller than it should be by those bushwhacked by one side or the other. Later during the Indian Wars, federal cavalry patrols would pass through the property often stopping to bivouac at the headwaters of the river and multiple creeks on the family homestead... I often wonder how/why/when my descendants and their acquaintances lost or used each relic I recover.
My dad remembers my great-grandfather occasionally carrying a .32 Rimfire Marlin Model 1891 in a scabbard on his saddle when out riding fencelines... he ended up trading the rifle to a friend shortly before World War 2 for a few parts to repair his Allis-Chalmers Model WC. I thought that was cool, and so although a bit newer than the Minies, it got included in the display as a placeholder for now.
As for the gifts, I made out like a fat rat! My wife, mom, and dad spoiled me rotten and as usual hit the mark with 100% accuracy. A few more book titles for the library, a half-dozen maps (some research copies ordered from the GLO and a few the Misses actually stole my "need copies" list out of my research folder and went to the Texas State Archives in Austin and requested in person and handcarried home!
Mom and Dad's gift was arranged via an old friend of theirs who used to dig in Tennessee. I was presented with a small relic display composed of pieces excavated long ago and are associated with the Texas Confederate advancement near the federal position manned by Hazen's Brigade known as "Hell's Half Acre" at Stones River (Hazen himself served in Texas pre-war). I really enjoyed the trip I made to Stones River back in 2010, and to have something from the battle associated with the fighting near the Texas position means it is right at home in my display cabinet.
Today - December 31st, actually marks the anniversary of the first day of fighting at Stones River/Murfreesboro. Good timing.
Hope everyone had a great Christmas, is doing well going into the new year, and has some great finds in their future.
~Tejaas~
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