Weve Kept This Quiet Until Now: The Tenn. U.S. Williams Cleaner Camp-VIDEO

[VOL1266-X]

We've Kept This Quiet Until Now: The Tenn. U.S. Williams Cleaner Camp-VIDEO

Last winter, a veteran relic hunter told us about a U.S. camp discovered in the 1980s. I contacted the landowner who had stopped all hunting over 10 years ago. I talked with him a few minutes and he said relic hunters had “covered him up”. I then told him that I appreciated his time and was pleasantly surprised when he gave me and the other Trio members permission to hunt.
After the Arkansas trip, I made 3 scouting trips to the large farm. I walked right in the middle of the field where the landowner said that relics were found. My first signal was a Williams Cleaner bullet. During the scouting trips, 40 % of the 52 relics I dug relics were Williams Cleaner bullets. The relics were only 5-8 in. deep. I didn’t tell Doug or Josh about the site until I felt certain that I had pinpointed the tent lines which I did on trip 3. Then, Doug went with me for 3 trips and we coaxed Josh into going this morning. Josh’s work schedule and other obligations do not allow him but a couple of hours of hunting daily after he travels to meet us and returns home.
Today, we met at the site to hunt and recovered 40 relics including Josh’s center to an eagle breastplate. The lack of many brass relics and the abnormal number of Williams Cleaner bullets is puzzling. Perhaps, a large box of cleaner bullets was brought to the camp instead of being packaged with each pack of 20 .58 cal. bullets as was normally done. The first pic shown on the red background are of my scouting trip finds. The 3 hunts with Doug are on the beige, light blue and green towel. Today’s Trio hunt is shown in the bottom pic. We will keep you posted on further finds. HH and Merry Christmas from Doug, Josh, & Quindy.

 

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[Valley Ranger]

Another great video Quindy and some really nice relics!

 

[Tnmountains]

Wow. Not hunted in 30 years and you guys are nailing it. Usually one williams cleaner makes a good day but that is ridiculous. Have never heard or seen so many dug. Great new site good friends and lots of relics. Congratulations Trio.
Merry Christmas.
TnMtns

 

[Army of 1]

Nice collection of CW artifacts , congrats .. cheers Mick

 

[Breezie]

Q, after that haul, you're gonna have to change the name of the group to the TN Lead Trio! I can't imagine that many Wms. Cleaners in one spot. Way to go on a nice hunt!


Breezie

 

[tennessee digger]

Q, you guys are really doing good at that spot! I like that breastplate and the WWII badge and that pin fire. Keep roaming around there and you might hit another hot spot. Did you thank D-Man for his service? It is hard to believe that there was that many relics left in that place as it has been hunted before. I always knew that there was some camps in Cairo, Tennessee. Congrats on all the cleaner bullets, I've never seen that many come from one place. I'm naming that place Camp Williams. (Tennessee Trio)

 

[Bubba65]

Quindy as always another great hunt by the TRIO CONGRATS

 

[Thunderchild]

Awesome video Quindy!

 

[jewelerguy]

lotso lead

 

[TNGUNS]

Awesome stuff guys. Good to see the Tennessee crew tearing it up.

 

[fyrffytr1]

Man, those are some great finds. Is it possible that the troop simply discarded the cleaners? I don't remember where I read it but there was something about the William's cleaners causing gangrene in the wounds of the soldiers shot with them so the use of them was curtailed. I am not saying that they were ordered not to use them but may have chose to do so on their own.
I don't even know of there is any truth to this or not but it could be one explanation for finding so many dropped ones.

 

[nova treasure]

I am so glad that you all have the opportunity to hunt that site that had been off limits for so long. Their are several good sites around here that was over run by relic hunters back in the 1980's and 90's and alot of landowners are very fast with the Answer "NO" nowadays when asking permission. So many relics that need to be saved and preserved for Our American history but may never be recovered because of the answer no. You guys are doing Great and that many Williams Cleaners at one Camp is Amazing. Merry Christmas, Bill

 

[VOL1266-X]

Man, those are some great finds. Is it possible that the troop simply discarded the cleaners? I don't remember where I read it but there was something about the William's cleaners causing gangrene in the wounds of the soldiers shot with them so the use of them was curtailed. I am not saying that they were ordered not to use them but may have chose to do so on their own.
I don't even know of there is any truth to this or not but it could be one explanation for finding so many dropped ones.

It's a mystery but it's a fact that the soldiers did not like them. Their purpose was to clean corrosive black powder residue from the barrel by the insert expanding and forming a tight seal. Some barrel cleaning could be minimized. However, that resulted in the rifle kicking badly. Since the soldiers already had the .58 cal. 3 ringers that were factory made, maybe they shipped the Williams Cleaners separately in a large quantity to that camp. It IS a camp as we have recovered large amounts of campfire lead. That's how i pinpointed the tent lines. Thanks for looking, Q.

 

[tennessee digger]

Q, I know that the soldiers did not like cleaner rounds and that they would toss them away sometimes, even during battle but that place that you are hunting seems to be loaded with them for some reason. Best I remember, there was 1 cleaner round packed with every 20 .58 caliber bullets. It would be interesting to know exactly why so many were in that camp.

 

[yelnif]

Hello Vol1266-x, That is an amazing number Williams cleaner bullets. Were the found within close proximity to each other or were they spread out over the whole site? If they were close it might indicate a quartermasters wagon/ tent area. HH and congrats on gaining permission to hunt this site- keep the landowner happy.
I raise honey bees and often give honey as a thank you. It is always appreciated.

 

[ModernMiner]

Quindy,
A toast to the Tenn Trio on not only that amazing amount of CW relics, but also the research and gaining of permission to such a great spot.
You guys and your videos are a hoot! Doug and Josh are men of few words (thank God).

As far as all those cleaner bullets, I may have the answer……

I once read of a very small secret camp in Tenn, close to your area I believe, where a Union general named William C. Leaner commissioned a group of Chinese immigrants
to carve chess pieces out of .58 cal 3-ringers which there was an abundance of during the CW. These chess pieces were giving out to troops to pass the time in camps so they wouldn’t become bored. The name of these carved pieces was later shortened from “William C. Leaner Chess Pieces” to just plain “Williams C. Leaners”, and eventually “William’s Cleaners.”

So what became of these Chinese immigrants you ask?
In order to carry on their heritage and contribution to the Civil War, they opened up cleaners everywhere of course.

I don’t recall the source where I read this, but I’m sure it’s 100% true.

Fantastic hunt Guys. Congrats.
-DUHg-

 

[treasurehound]

Awesome site Quindy. I don't find too many Williams Cleaners here in Tennessee. Most of mine are found in Virginia. You are on a great site. Have you thought about looking for some deep iron and see if there is a pit or hut. If it is a camp you could get some great bottles and maybe some plates. (not dinner plates...lol)

 

[tennessee digger]

I believe that Modern Miner is exactly right! Wow, he really knows his civil war history.

 

[VOL1266-X]

Quindy,
A toast to the Tenn Trio on not only that amazing amount of CW relics, but also the research and gaining of permission to such a great spot.
You guys and your videos are a hoot! Doug and Josh are men of few words (thank God).




As far as all those cleaner bullets, I may have the answer……



I once read of a very small secret camp in Tenn, close to your area I believe, where a Union general named William C. Leaner commissioned a group of Chinese immigrants
to carve chess pieces out of .58 cal 3-ringers which there was an abundance of during the CW. These chess pieces were giving out to troops to pass the time in camps so they wouldn’t become bored. The name of these carved pieces was later shortened from “William C. Leaner Chess Pieces” to just plain “Williams C. Leaners”, and eventually “William’s Cleaners.”

So what became of these Chinese immigrants you ask?
In order to carry on their heritage and contribution to the Civil War, they opened up cleaners everywhere of course.

I don’t recall the source where I read this, but I’m sure it’s 100% true.

Fantastic hunt Guys. Congrats.
-DUHg-

I learn from you all the time MM-LOL. HH, Q.

 

[Ahab8]

Hey guys congrats on getting on to such a historic site. It must be a real honor to be chosen to search for and conserve the great relics from there. Also speaks to your character that he chose you guys. Great job fellas!