BUCKET List 1864! Civil War Camp/Colonial Cleanup

Patriot Relics

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Feb 6, 2014
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Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
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Hey guys,

Been a few weeks since I've posted digs due to a few short notice missions, but happy to say I am back in the dirt. This particular site has yielded quite a few goodies for Stef and I over the last month. The dirt is like a time capsule producing finds that range from colonial occupation to the early 1900s. My favorite digs from the confederate field hospital included a a dropped .58 3 ringer, early 44 colt pistol bullet, and a killer lead bar stamped "Co - W".

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Also pulled a few 2 piece partials, an earlier 1830s style domed 1 piece button, and a 2 piece trouser button.

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My favorite dig from the site is also a bucket list coin for me- 1864 2 cent. While not necessarily the most valuable coin, the date has a special significance to my cadetship at Virginia Military Institute.

The VMI Corps of Cadets fought as a unit at the Battle of New Market, Virginia, on May 15, 1864. The cadets, numbering 257, were organized into a battalion of four companies of Infantry and one section of Artillery. Ten cadets were killed in battle or died later from the effects of their wounds; 45 were wounded. The youngest participating cadet was fifteen; the oldest twenty-five.

On May 10, 1864, the VMI Corps of Cadets was ordered to join Gen. John C. Breckinridge's Confederate forces near Staunton, Virginia. After marching nearly 85 miles northward, the Corps arrived at New Market on Sunday morning May 15, 1864. Gen. Franz Sigel's Union troops, positioned atop Bushong's Hill, raked the Confederate line with cannon and musketry creating a gap in the line. Remarkably, the cadets helped close the gap, allowing the Confederate forces to regroup and push back the Union army. Breckenridge forced Sigel and his men to retreat, securing the battlefield for the Confederacy. Many cadets lost their footwear in the freshly plowed soil, turned to thick mud after several days of rain. That section of the battlefield became known as the “Field of Lost Shoes.”


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While coins do travel, the fact that this coin was recovered at a confederate hospital gives it special significance for me.

Among the other civil war digs was a carved bullet, harmonica reed, belt rivet, and saber chain.

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From the colonial section of the property I managed an early pewter spoon marked SR, a few tombac buttons, gilded flower button, and finial of some kind.

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Among the other digs was a trigger guard, buckle partial, and assorted flat buttons.

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A bit closer to the main home, I dig manage a few other coins...mostly roached. 1897 IHP, V Nickle, and a Buff Nickle along with a few odds and ends

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As always, thanks for looking and good luck out there!

Cheers,

Jon
 

Upvote 29
Nice bunch of finds there. I like the spoon handle, myself. Could the lead bar be part of a solder bar...like National Lead Co. ? Just a curious little piece.
 

Wow! Great relics and coins buddy!! Luv those 2 cent coins too. That carved bullet is another cool find!! Congrats!
 

Nice bunch of finds there. I like the spoon handle, myself. Could the lead bar be part of a solder bar...like National Lead Co. ? Just a curious little piece.

Hey village,

There were quite a few companies that supplied lead to both arsenals and individual soldiers for the purpose of bullet manufacturing during the civil war. With just Co - W it may be tough to narrow it down.
 

Wow! Great relics and coins buddy!! Luv those 2 cent coins too. That carved bullet is another cool find!! Congrats!

Thanks Tracy, certainly a nice variety of digs (I probably need to post a picture of my trash one of these days to show just how many plugs I had to dig to end up with these keepers lol)
 

All great stuff, I especially like the spoon handle and the 2cent. Another highly productive hunt!
 

Bud that's a lot of history! Carved lead is very personal. I love all your finds. Great job and thanks for sharing [emoji106]

HH RN
 

The coin is a wonderful find. Likely falling from the pocket of a 16 year old cadet injured on the battlefield. He survived his wounds and went on the live a long and happy life even having lost that gorgeous coin.
 

The coin is a wonderful find. Likely falling from the pocket of a 16 year old cadet injured on the battlefield. He survived his wounds and went on the live a long and happy life even having lost that gorgeous coin.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it lol
 

Very well done as usual Jon. Congrats and best of luck to you sir!
 

What a treasure trove you've come upon,great assortment of finds!
 

Congratz on a hellava hunt! Those are some great relics, but that 2 cent piece is awesome! It's in such good shape!
 

Awesome assortment of finds. The bar is unfortunately a lead soughter bar from the early 1900s. :( Very cool pewter spoon and sharp two cent
 

We had a good run at that site for sure. Love the pistol bullet and the 2 Cent piece. Pretty sure i got poison oak or sumac from where you found the 2Cent piece the last time i was digging over there. Great finds! On to the next site!
 

Awesome assortment of finds. The bar is unfortunately a lead soughter bar from the early 1900s. :( Very cool pewter spoon and sharp two cent

Thanks for the information Isaac, was relying on internet comparables (that I suspect may have been mis ID'd as well).
 

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