Civil War train wreck site. My best find yet! (Updated Pic 3/3/08)

[DirkSears]

I had about 2 hours to go and investigate this location. Here's the quick history of this event...

In 1861 a train consisting of 6 rail cars full of Union Soldiers were traveling from Illinois to Ohio. A group of Southern sympathizers (some say KKK, others say KGC) sabotaged the bridge. The locomotive made it across, the rest of the train cars did not. I believe 26 or 28 soldiers were killed and 50 to 60 more were wounded. Eventually help arrived and carried the dead, wounded, and the rest to Ohio.

I didn't have a long time to search yesterday but I did go for about 2 hrs. I found some old RR scrap ( nuts, bolts, spikes ), but we found what we believe to be roller wheels off of the doors of the train cars (sorry, no pics yet...to rusty) and then my best find to date...

An 1853 III cent piece!!!

You can bet your sweet arse I'm going back when I get more time!

 

[PBK]

Re: Civil War train wreck site. My best find yet!

The shotgun brass is around 100 years old. In 1911, U.M.C. (the Union Metallic Cartridge Company) merged with Remington to form REM-UMC.

​

 

[DirkSears]

Re: Civil War train wreck site. My best find yet!

Junior967, I would like to get together and hunt some time. I don't have any hunting buddies yet but after I found that coin the wife, my best friend, aunts, uncles, and a few others are wanting to get detectors now! Send me a PM and maybe we can hook up sometime. I've got a great spot out by Terre Haute...just trying to get permission!

It's great to see that many people change from not caring about history, then I find 1 little piece of the past, BLAMO.... now they're all excited about it! This is an amazing hobby!

 

[alwayslookin]

Re: Civil War train wreck site. My best find yet!

Dirk;

Great Find and research congrats!

I am also in Indy PM sometime if you want.

Dave

 

[DirkSears]

Re: Civil War train wreck site. My best find yet!

Thanks PBK, I didn't think the shotgun brass would be that old...wow, another neat find!

 

[DirkSears]

Re: Civil War train wreck site. My best find yet!

That 3 cent piece is a great find! Thanks for the interesting story, too. I'd love to get my hands on some of that stone in the bridge supports.

The guy that owns the land was talking about selling those stones. I think we talked him out of it what with the history and all. My wifes aunt was trying to get him to register it as a historical site....I said "WOOOOO, Hold your horses! Let me get in there and detect first!" Then he can make it a historical landmark if he wants to.

 

[DirkSears]

Here are the round iron things we found. One is before rust removal and the other is after rust removal. They way about 7 or 8 pounds after clean up. My wife's grandfather thinks they are the guide wheels that would be used to support the train car doors when you slide them open. Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[Wicked Wanda]

Really nice finds, I have got to stop readin' about all these goodies. I have cabin fever, been to busy at work during the week to do any playin' on the weekend. Keep up the good work. Keep us posted

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Sweet! Love those little 3¢ silvers.

 

[JerV3]

Nice site and Find.

Those arean't easy to come by. They are one small coin. I was fortunate enough to find one in a old park a few yrs back. I bet there is more around there somewhere.

HH Jer

 

[Jazdo]

Keep looking probably more! i believe Southern Indiana's limestone was extensively used on the empire state building. If you get to Indianapolis look at many of the buildings they have great workmanship.

 

[junior967]

That sounds great. I am working on getting permission to hunt an old fair grounds site dating back to 1855, and a few other sites. We will have to get together definitely

 

[bookfisher]

Great Coin! It's also known as a Trime. I found an 1852 silver three cent just over a year ago, but yours appears to be in much better shape than mine.WTG!

 

[FlatCat]

Re: Civil War train wreck site. My best find yet!

Cool find! I wish there were more places like that around here

You wish there were more deadly train wreck sites around your area??

Of course...that is EXACTLY what I meant . Not really. I meant old unsearched sites. Not necessarily where people died. There's not much around here but beaches (which I will hit after spring break ).

FC

 

[buffhunter]

nice research. WTG on the 3 cent piece. not many found.

 

[imafishingnutt]

This might sound crude but if it were me hunting that spot>>>>>and I would love to>>>

think like they did.
they must have been there for some time cleaning up.
look at the surrounding area and ask yourself if there were a bunch of people there
where would you go to relieve yourself one way or the other..lol

if the men dropped their pants in the woods to take care of business they may have dropped more change.
think farther out as well as right where the wreck was..


Regards Ima

 

[lockman209]

very nice find

 

[Danimal]

GREAT coin and a wonderful reward for securing permission to such a historic event's site!

I was lucky enough to pull a 1853 silver .03 last year from a wooded area behind what was then Ohio's largest muster camp early in the CW. I think it's one of my fav 3 coins I've dug.

Get back there!

 

[paul1410]

Interesting story, Dirk.

Cool post and a great coin!

Thanks for sharing.

 

[davest]

I can' add much to what everyone else has said, but you have done some great research. The idea of looking the scene over from a triage point of view should work out well for you. Pretend you're the surgeon in charge or the officer in charge, where do you put the men, where do you set up the hospital and the sleeping areas. Congratulations on the entire scenario.

 

[ringfinder]

Nice find and Nice story and pictures. Hey I'm not that far from Indiana, Ohio guy here I could come over and lend you a hand. LOL

HH, Ringfinder