Creek find 12/22/2010.... .58 caliber Union Civil War era bullet

creekwalker · Dec 22, 2010

It was a beautiful day for walking today, so I hit a creek that I hadn't been to in awhile. It exhibited severe erosion in several sections, piling up mud and debris. That made conditions pretty dire. Undaunted, I walked about 2 3/4 miles down and the closest I got to an arrowhead was four flint flakes. Yup. You will have days that you walk and walk and walk.......finding nothing. That's just part of it. I don't give up easily. I went on down for perhaps another 1/2 mile and stumbled across this little artifact sitting all by it's lonesome! I was just tickled. It's no doubt a Civil War era bullet, but that's about all I know. It's in really good shape and has a nice patina. I don't find these often, so it was pretty cool! Alright folks, someone tell me about this thing. How common/uncommon are they to find, are they worth anything, and so forth. I would appreciate any info. Thanks! -Creekwalker

AlabamaRelic · Dec 22, 2010

Re: Creek find 12/22/2010......

That's a nice 'un. Would really like to come over there and hunt with ya.

55th Massachusetts · Dec 22, 2010

Re: Creek find 12/22/2010......

Union 58 caliber mini ball, worth about 1-2 bucks.......but where there is one.......THERE ARE ALWAYS MORE !!!!!!
REB

James from TN · Dec 22, 2010

Re: Creek find 12/22/2010......

I agree that there should be more. You need to take a detector with you and go back! Nice find. James

phantomfinder · Dec 22, 2010

Re: Creek find 12/22/2010......

You got great eye's

,WTG on the find :icon_thumright:

TomB · Dec 22, 2010

Re: Creek find 12/22/2010......

The bullet you found appears to be a dropped .58 cal three ringer. This type bullet is associated with the Union army during the Civil War. At the end of the war a large number of the Union weapons and bullets were used by people settling the west. Its not unusual to find these bullets in most of the U.S. In the Virginia area most civil war bullets sell for $4.00 to $5.00 bucks each. Of course unusual bullets bring more. HH TomB

Steve in PA · Dec 22, 2010

Re: Creek find 12/22/2010......

Yes, you should check out the area around that section of stream with a metal detector. There very well may be a Union campsite in that area.

creekwalker · Dec 23, 2010

Re: Creek find 12/22/2010...... .58 calibre Union Civil War era bullet

Thanks for the info, folks. I hope Santa is bringing me my first metal detector this year! I've been meaning to get one for years, and I have buddies that are into it big time in the Corinth and Iuka Ms. areas as well up around Shiloh Battlefield, which is only about 20 or so miles from where I live. I figure I could rack up in the creeks. I know I could. I did make a mental note of that area, and will be a place that I go detecting straight off. It is in a very remote location and is only accessible by foot. You have to hike over 3 miles to get to this area. Maybe it hasn't been touched! Wouldn't that be sweet? We all get excited about "virgin" territory, I would imagine.

Erik in NJ · Dec 23, 2010

I don't know jack about finding lithic relics - I hope you'll educate me as it seems you do very well and there was Indian activity in my area of NJ. When I was young I had my eyes tuned well for fossils near my creek and could eventualy find some on just about every visit. Would like to try for what you find!

Question: when you come across the flakes as you mentioned do you save them?

Tnmountains · Dec 23, 2010

Nice 3 ringer Creek walker. We find them along the rivers and creeks here when looking for arrowheads. I always do a little research and go back with a detector. They are as fun finding as points just not as valuable. Hang on to it and you might just start a new collection :icon_sunny:

HH
TnMtns

tlf67 · Dec 30, 2010

Nice find. I'd search the whole area if I were you. You just never know where the troops walked or set up a camp.

fyrffytr1 · Dec 30, 2010

Are there any marks inside the base?

creekwalker · Dec 31, 2010

No marks inside the base what-so-ever. I just wonder if it was ever even fired?

reapp · Dec 31, 2010

I had to take my wife to Jackson, Tennessee several years ago for some surgery, and I was amazed at the amount of history in your part of the state. I told her that if we move when we retire, I would love to move to the Corinth area. Battlefields and breastworks, indians, folk history.....it has it all.

creekwalker · Dec 31, 2010

It is a nice area to live. Corinth lies situated in a big valley at the terminus of the Appalachian Foothills and was under water many thousands of years ago. I have found a large quantity of shark teeth and other strange bones and fossils in a creek just to the south towards Tupelo. I would imagine that there would be good metal detecting in this area. I know the creeks in this area produce like no other.