Dept of Motor Vehicles LEADS to some RARE finds and a CIVIL WAR CAMPSITE!!!

[{Sentinel}]

Well, I got back to the spot that I hunted last Friday for a second time. This spot is located in a area with loads of history all around. The city had dug the dirt down 2 1/2 to 3 feet down from the surface to put in another road and that's prime depth for Civil war and colonial period relics. As you'll recall, on Friday, I recovered several nice keepers including an AWESOME bust image of a man carved in a pewter plate , an 1863 Indian Head, and a couple other period items that helped me date this site. Well, fast forward to Monday when I went back to this site. They had pulled the dirt off another 70 to 100 yards..again down about 2 1/2 feet and I knew it was going to be a good day. As soon as I jumped down into the area I got a great signal and pulled out a SUPER RARE find.....probably as rare as hen's teeth.......a 1860's era SHOTGUN SHELL almost totally COMPLETE. Now you all are VERY FAMILIAR with shotguns shells if you've ever done any type of metal detecting and most of us HATE THEM HOWEVER, what sets this one apart is the fact that the WHOLE shell down the length is brass, not just the head or base of it. I have seen these pull a PRETTY PENNY but I won't be selling this one! That was an awesome find and just got my BLOOD A PUMPIN even more. Next, I got the guts of a clock, some rivets, whats its and some other items including some more bullets and a buckle with leather still attached....AND then a NICE button that was dug there after cleaning revealed itself as a early 1800s Navy Button!
Judging from all the items that I have dug so far from this spot it was bustling with soldiers. The piece of land is very well known as a camp area during the war and I am glad to be able to preserve these pieces of history for the future generations. Also in the pics, you'll notice some "slug" coins as well and the items that were dug on Friday. The pic is of all the items dug at the spot so far.

All items were dug with EXPRESSED permission

 

[DD-777]

Re: Dept of Motor Vehicles LEADS to a SUPER CIVIL WAR CAMPSITE!!!

I'm getting the chills all over again - these are incredible finds Sentinel!!!!!!!

Imagine the story with all that stuff - especially the coffee pot!!!


Time to see a coffee pot go up on that BANNER!!!!!

 

[ivan salis]

pour yer self a cup

 

[pegleglooker]

bump

 

[{Sentinel}]

Re: Dept of Motor Vehicles LEADS to a SUPER CIVIL WAR CAMPSITE!!!

I'm getting the chills all over again - these are incredible finds Sentinel!!!!!!!

Imagine the story with all that stuff - especially the coffee pot!!!


Time to see a coffee pot go up on that BANNER!!!!!

Thanks DD-777, its humbling to find items that are so inextricably linked with individuals from our country's past. And I can agree with you: The stories that these objects could tell if only they could talk...

 

[ModernMiner]

Josh,
Your persistance paid off Buddy. Those finds are fantastic, but the coffee pot is off the charts!!! What a fantastic find.
I bet you're glad now that you didn't quit digging. Simply an amazing CW recovery. I'm jealous as h-ll.
Congrats to you. Great post.
-Doug-

 

[BuckleBoy]

HOLY COW!

You might wanna put your KY trip on HOLD for a while and get swingin' on that site!!


Unbelievable.


I still can't believe that carving.... I can't believe it. Jesus H. and his Daddy Too!

 

[NGE]

Find out where they are dumping the old dirt removed and go sift that. They may have too much and will gladly dump it in your yard, even if you have to pay a small fee. Those are awesome finds dude Wish they would tear up my town, but mine was only founded around 1833. No civil war activity around here.........NGE

 

[brnn53]

Incredible finds and at extreme depth! Was this area filled in with dirt over the years?? Better hammer that site before it gets gone!
Mike

 

[EARTHWORKS]

Very cool finds!!! Wow cant wait to see more, good luck. Love the face.

 

[DD-777]

I still cant believe the etching didn't make banner - I certainly hope (and have nominated it already) that the coffee pot gets up there. While it may not be as cool looking as a belt plate or a revolver, I think it is just as significant (if not MORE so) for the simple fact of how "impersonally personal" that was. How many of the soldiers that did NOT get to sit and find a little peace with a simple cup of "joe" - between being either ill-equipped (w/rations and such) and the constant hardships of battle. I would hope that other see the significance of this piece and nominate it as well. Either way, it's yours and you most certainly deserve it buddy...

BANNER!!!!!!!

 

[JerV3]

Great finds man,

Love that old bust head

HH Jer

 

[kindafoundabuckle]

Starbucks called and they want that pot for there museum! What a great find and a hats off to you for digging that deep of a hole. I think it is a banner find.

KFB

 

[johnreb1980]

Nice finds Josh,that is a nice place to be hunting. Get back out there and save some more history bud.

 

[deagleye]

Sweet finds. Keep up the good detecting.

 

[Detectingfreak]

I bet if you go back there then there will be more of those finds waiting for ya!

 

[Fisher]

WOW! Great finds...can't wait to see what you'll find next! Good luck.

 

[incajoe]

I'm going to play devils advocate on this one and let you know some of the history on enamelware. Enamelware wasn't produced in the US until after the Civil War, sometime in the 1870's. It was produced in Europe just prior to the Civil War but these would have been rare at the time and if someone had one it would have been treasured and valuable (not cheap cookware as we think of it today). There is a chance that this coffeepot could be from the Civil War period but it is actually much more likely that it was produced sometime after the Civil War when it became abundant.

 

[{Sentinel}]

I'm going to play devils advocate on this one and let you know some of the history on enamelware. Enamelware wasn't produced in the US until after the Civil War, sometime in the 1870's. It was produced in Europe just prior to the Civil War but these would have been rare at the time and if someone had one it would have been treasured and valuable (not cheap cookware as we think of it today). There is a chance that this coffeepot could be from the Civil War period but it is actually much more likely that it was produced sometime after the Civil War when it became abundant.

Incajoe, I considered this and it MAY be possible. However, judging from all the items recovered in this same general spot and that they are dated to the 1860s, I believe it a very strong chance that it is Civil War era. Actually, if you research you'll see that white (white being key because speckeled enamel wasn't available during the war but white was) enamelware WAS available during the Civil War albeit not in huge abundance, which would make it that much more important as a find. In addition this was a major trading port with England right on the water and this area was next to where an officers quarters use to stand and it very well could have been something that was treasured but left in haste for one reason or another. In addition, I did research on this one and from my knowledge and research these were produced during the same era. The simple truth is that there is no real way to tell being as it isn't dated. It could be 1870s, but again that's why I go back to the provenance of the area and the other relics, buttons, etc found there which date to the 1860s or earlier.

Cordially,

Sentinel

 

[{Sentinel}]

Incredible finds and at extreme depth! Was this area filled in with dirt over the years?? Better hammer that site before it gets gone!
Mike

Hey Mike,

Indeed this area was filled in over the years as it was a low area and gradually filled in over the course of the past 140+ years with natural sediment and then graded and filled over and over to lay the successive road beds over the years. As far as "hammering" it: I'm going back today!