Civil War Swamp Finds

JBnNC · Feb 3, 2020

Saturday was one of my favorite Civil War relic hunting days ever. My hunting buddy and I were in a flooded bottom where we thought there could be some CW items. About thirty minutes into the hunt I got a big iron sound that turned into my first ever CW rifle.....it's in pretty bad shape in terms of the amount of rust, but that's OK I'll take it.

After finishing up with the rifle I eased along the water's edge and at the base of a tree I got a good bullet signal....then another and another and another. I spent the next four hours digging bullets in the roots of that one tree and ended up with 93 and almost all were unfired CS Hi Base 3-ringers.

Finally, on the way out at the end of the day, I found a nice eagle breast plate.

A great hunt!!

SD51 · Feb 5, 2020

That's amazing, bet there's more there too!

Calabash Digger · Feb 5, 2020

You killed it!

SC Keith · Feb 6, 2020

That is such a killer hunt. I would be so stoked to find a rifle and a sweet looking breast plate. Im sure you are fired up and ready to return to your great site JB!

Doug H · Feb 6, 2020

Congratulations, go all you can between now and spring cause that place looks like snake central when the weather warms up. Lol

Goldiver · Feb 6, 2020

Holy smokes, now that is a great day of digging! Congratulations!

Steve

DCMatt · Feb 6, 2020

JBnNC said:
I spent the next four hours digging bullets in the roots of that one tree and ended up with 93 and almost all were un-fired CS Hi Base 3-ringers.

You found the spot where troops emptied their cartridge boxes likely to dispose of wet ammunition.

I once talked to an old guy who used to dig in the vicinity of Cub Run on the Fairfax and Loudoun County line (Virginia). This was the area where the bulk of the Army of Northern Virginia encamped following the battle of Chantilly (Sept. 1, 1862). Chantilly was fought in a tremendous thunderstorm. The guy said he would routinely dig large numbers of bullets in a single hole where soldiers had emptied their cartidge boxes after being soaked during the battle.

CurrituckPirate · Feb 6, 2020

AWESOME DAY for sure! Especially in NC?

Treasureman25 · Feb 6, 2020

Awesome finds!

JBnNC · Feb 6, 2020

SC Keith said:
That is such a killer hunt. I would be so stoked to find a rifle and a sweet looking breast plate. Im sure you are fired up and ready to return to your great site JB!

Thanks Keith, congrats on your button!

Davers · Aug 12, 2020

Better late than never .

I searched "Musket Barrel " & saw yr post .

Man what a hunt ! & Boy you must be in good shape ....guess Feb weather helps.

As you may know I've been sickly since last June with stomach ulcers & what not , I've only hunted 4-5 times since last Summer ; I forced myself out yesterday to one of my sites , if only to get back in shape , + I had the 5 inch loop on my G2 + , I scored 2 fired Minnie's , an IH ( I think ? ) & what I think is a musket barrel , I'm pretty sure that's what it is tho I've never dug one or pieces of one , I just have that feeling , tho I'm just now researching my find .

I'm going back to look at yr finds 'here ' better ....the Breast Plate is Sweet & I love the Lead , + want to scan the barrel you found .

Have you got back to this site?

If so let me know I'd love to see your later finds .

Thanks & GD
Davers / Davey

smokeythecat · Aug 12, 2020

How'd I miss this? That's an awesome dig. Everything is top notch.

Dirty Digger Doug · Aug 12, 2020

Lucky dog. That's a good day.

the_mad_cladder · Aug 12, 2020

I tried the edges of a swamp once... came out with 40 chigger bites and dozens of skeeter kisses.
That what you did is the dream of many.

Professor of Engineering · Aug 14, 2020

Killer relic hunt! :notworthy:

ARC · Aug 14, 2020

Wow... now that's a day you wont forget.

Well done and then some.

PS... I am sure that you have just scraped the surface of that spot.

JBnNC · Aug 18, 2020

Davers said:
Better late than never .

I searched "Musket Barrel " & saw yr post .

Man what a hunt ! & Boy you must be in good shape ....guess Feb weather helps.

As you may know I've been sickly since last June with stomach ulcers & what not , I've only hunted 4-5 times since last Summer ; I forced myself out yesterday to one of my sites , if only to get back in shape , + I had the 5 inch loop on my G2 + , I scored 2 fired Minnie's , an IH ( I think ? ) & what I think is a musket barrel , I'm pretty sure that's what it is tho I've never dug one or pieces of one , I just have that feeling , tho I'm just now researching my find .

I'm going back to look at yr finds 'here ' better ....the Breast Plate is Sweet & I love the Lead , + want to scan the barrel you found .

Have you got back to this site?

If so let me know I'd love to see your later finds .

Thanks & GD
Davers / Davey

Davey, I'm sorry to hear that you've had some health issues and I hope you get back to 100% real soon. I have been back to the swamp bottom and visited the bullet tree. I pulled out a few more bullets from the roots, I think I'm up to a total of 112......also found a musket hammer.
Let me know on your musket barrel.--JB

Davers · Aug 19, 2020

JBnNC said:
Davey, I'm sorry to hear that you've had some health issues and I hope you get back to 100% real soon. I have been back to the swamp bottom and visited the bullet tree. I pulled out a few more bullets from the roots, I think I'm up to a total of 112......also found a musket hammer.
Let me know on your musket barrel.--JB

I posted it in Todays finds last weekend , I'm pretty sure it's an Enfield Barrel but that still needs to be confirmed , never the less , I love it & it came from a Battle Area here in n Atlanta , I have dug 10 + fired Enfield's near by also , so I can only wonder , it this rifle barrel shot ant of those rounds , I need to cook & clean it up + see if there is a round down in there .

Thanks for yr kind words , I'm feeling a good bit better , I'm just sooo out of shape but trying to get back in action ASAP.
Have a good one & thanks for the reply .