✅ SOLVED Another Civil War relic stumper for me

[nigelrex]

Might anyone know what this relic is? It was found in Central Virginia under the roots of a large oak tree after it was uprooted by a storm, and nearby a campsite and valley stream. Thanks

 

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[smokeythecat]

At this point it's just scrap lead, however with that line on it, there is the possibility it may have been a Sharps bullet at one time.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

You find is indeed from the civil war. It is (definitely) a "severe impact" fired 3-groove Minie-bullet. When it got fired, it impacted directly into a large stone at very close range... which caused the "mushroom splatter" effect you see has happened to its shape. Look very closely at its outer edges (on one side) and you'll see the remnants of your fired Minie's 3 body-grooves.

The fact that your severe-impact fired bullet's 3 body-grooves are visible "encircling" the outer edges of the splattered bullet mean it tumbled in flight and hit the rock base-forward... meaning, backwards. If it had impacted nose-forward, the body-grooves would have been smeared away.

Since you will probably ask, I'll answer in advance... the statistical odds favor your find being most likely a yankee Minie-bullet, because the yankees manufactured millions more 3-groove Minies than the Confederates did.

 

[nigelrex]

Great, informative answer - thanks! I'm going to do a follow-up post on this location (Scottsville, VA) later tonight or tomorrow. Several more relics I found in the same spot (winding stream between two steep hills, pits, camp) this past weekend seems to have the makings of a pretty interesting story and battle (given the bullet?), but I'd need an expert opinion. Other items found include deep railroad ties, lots of tin with bullet holes (e.g. big oil can), etc. Pretty sure the spot has been detected before, but still a really cool place to find stuff left behind or pushed up by a storm.