Union Encampment Artifacts Highlights - Louisburg, NC

[SOSDIVING]

Hello all,
I had the chance to detect a private property, which the owners stated was once camped upon by Union troops during movements through Raleigh and Wake County into the Louisburg area. Some light grading of the land was taking place and they called me for the chance to detect. To their knowledge, the property had never been metal detected, which I gave a grateful response for permission to detect. I volunteered to give all artifacts found, back to the property owners, to keep them together and for the history of the hostile campsite.

Pictured are the results of the finds! I need help and responses on a few items that are pictured, the others are obvious. Included are 1 Union Eagle button (cuff), many many tent grommets. Equine devices, knapsack hooks, bone handled pocket knife, a snuff box (gold layered), and many copper pieces that I believe came from a copper lantern. There are 3 lead decorations that I am curious about for their use? Flag pole finials??

It appears that the soil was scorched in the area that the copper tent grommets were found. I believe the Union troops burned an officer's tent onsite, and therefore left the many tent grommets and carbon colored soils in the area. I can only imagine how heavy a cotton officer's tent would be, so it must have been easier to burn it at the end of war, versus further travel. Just a hypothesis....
Thanks and enjoy.

 

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[Davers]

MAN!
You are on a good site ! With a great Variety of Relics Dug.
Tho it's hard to tell the cuff button look's to be a US Navy Style & in AWESOME Shape.
Either your hands are small or those are some BIG Grommets , much larger than I have ever dug.
Love the Buckle as well , I dug one Similar years ago here in Ga. (I also would like some info on it).

Imo It's kinda funny [maybe you did] but I find it strange you did not find any bullets [ of the dropped type, that got wet or were used as fire starter. & With the amount of Iron and Smaller brass you dug.
I would venture to say ; Someone has hunted the property in the past, ( likely without permission & in a hurry to leave so many Iron & brass objects behind.)
Heck maybe someone had their machine (or themselves ) set to dig button signals & larger, just a thought.
Did you find many Shotgun Shells?
Anyway Great Site & likely much more to be found there It's very nice of you to give the landowner all the relics But see if they will let you keep the button.
Sorry i tend to rant
But I did not see where you posted these relics on "Today's Finds " , I'd do that and you should get many more Opinions .
P.S. The Wreath Buckle was Very nice indeed.
Davers............

 

[SOSDIVING]

Yes the tent grommets are large scale, found 15+. Interesting observation about the button, will have to look into that. I was surprised too of no bulltets or coins either. Maybe you are right, someone discriminated the other stuff out? I was searching all metal mode. I would have posted on Today's Finds, but I saw some moderator saying these were "Today's Finds" NOT last summers? Anyway!