Concrete dreams and a Union Shield

[bearbqd]

The good Lord has once again shined upon my detecting endeavors, in more ways than one. For years I have driven on the outside of a 3000 acre concrete/quarry facility wishing I could detect there. Well, just so happens that my neighbor and now good friend is the head safety manager at the facility and can pretty much do what he wants there. My jaw about hit the floor when he mentioned that he could get me in there to detect. He even got me a picture id with Metal Detecting as my job description. There has been some type of continuous mining here since 1864. Not only do they own an 1800's farm on the property, there is also a known civil war encampment there that has been hit for years. He's also going to show me where they used to house miners that lived on the property in the 1800's. Unfortunately, after scoping things out there yesterday, I think the main civil war camp site is now under 50 feet of fill. Still for the high trash areas that still have original soil, finds are still there to be had.

I hit an area next to the fill area where there were old bottles, cans, and old metal roof parts. I was digging the usual can slaw and junk and I almost didn't dig the signal that produced my prize piece. Thought it was another piece of metal roof or can, dug a plug, flipped it over and nothing. Ran my coil over a fairly small piece of dirt clod and it rang out beautifully. I grabbed the clod, split it in half, and out fell this beautiful little shield pendant. "What the...", I said to myself. Its some type of pendant of the old style Union Shield with 13 stars. The color is still mostly there and I think was porcelain or something over brass. The paint is very hard. I was praying that there was a soldiers name on the back, but alas, there was nothing. That's been one of my main goals is to find an id badge. I still love it though. Has anyone ever seen one like it? A friend of mine who has been detecting 30+ years said he's never seen one like it. Needless to say, that had me happy the rest of the day.

Also found the few items with the shield in the pic around the same area. The pic with large amount of goodies is from a different battle area I have been hunting for awhile. I just finally got a case big enough for all of the lead and stuff in one place. Well, almost all. I couldn't fit all of the large artillery shell frags i have found from there into the case.

The other pic is from an old mill and encampment area. Its been hit heavily but I pulled these few items out. The triangle white piece is actually a big hunk of lead that took me a long time to extract. The root systems near this spring were the worst I have EVER seen. I guess from all of that good water next to them. Did manage to pull out the little buckle out of the man made mini canal leading up to the mill.

Thanks for looking.

 

[RJH02]

That's a nice find

 

[bearbqd]

Thanks my one reply friend. Thought this was easily as good as any confederate button seeing as how so far no one has seen one like it. I guess others don't feel the same.

 

[Dman]

I like the shield plus all the other finds. Also looks like you have a Williams cleaner bullet. Don't let it bother you about not getting many replies. Some of the people on here don't get excited unless it is a bunch of clad or jewellery .

 

[DigDugNY]

Nice finds! looks like a good day for sure

 

[MarkDz]

Unfortunately, after scoping things out there yesterday, I think the main civil war camp site is now under 50 feet of fill.

I feel your pain. Most of the good sites around here have been covered with 5-75 feet of mining debris. Kind of want to tunnel beneath it...
I think that hard, porcelain-like paint would be considered enamel. Not much is enameled nowadays so I imagine your piece is quite old.
A lot of people enjoy reading posts without replying, so don't feel bad... and anyway you might want to post on a Civil War board... they'd love it.

 

[civilman1]

That's an awesome shield there Barry,kind hard to tell something like that but you found it,so you call it I think I know where you're at,there should be all kind's of goodie's waiting to be unearthed.Display look's Great too,Good Luck

 

[bearbqd]

Thanks Joe and everyone else. I was really happy to get that shield. I wish I could find out some info on like who the original merchant was that sold it, an old advertisement for it's sale, or something. Nothing so far.

 

[hikeinmts]

The shield has the shape of one of the newer Adjuctant General Corps badges.......
that being said, I know it isn't that, but something much older.....wish I could help I.D. it......
You are in an awesome place, friend. Some would be looking at a lifetime of finds when viewing the ones you have found.
And, like several others said, you have the satisfaction of having it in your collection. Show it, and some will appreciate it,
many will look but not comment.....it's all ok.
Keep posting.....I, for one, want to see what that great site produces.

 

[HISPAN]

Very nice shield and more finds...congrats !
H

 

[ncsilverspider]