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

 

[civilman1]

Awesome Josh,I don't know if I could have held out for an extra "couple feet" for the coffee pot The Shell would be a welcome addition to any CW collector's shelf,nice find.Etching= Banner buddy Check out my last Saturday's Avatar find......hook's and all!!!! Take care Brotha' and HH!!

 

[Dman]

Great finds. The bullet on the left looks carved.
Dman

 

[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.

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 rare 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

You can't argue with your reasoning about the site. You know better than anyone what the finds are like in that particular area and that may be the best clue as to the age of this coffeepot. Let us know what else turns up!

 

[{Sentinel}]

Great finds. The bullet on the left looks carved.
Dman

Yep, it is. Some bord soldier carved it up

 

[Trond]

Interesting finds.

 

[civilman1]

Hey Josh......is that a kepi-buckle below the shell in the group pic' ?,cant tell....Nice Stuff!!!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Hey Josh......is that a kepi-buckle below the shell in the group pic' ?,cant tell....Nice Stuff!!!

Horse bridle buckle probably.


Kepi buckles were square.


This is one HELL of a post, Josh.

 

[civilman1]

Hey Josh......is that a kepi-buckle below the shell in the group pic' ?,cant tell....Nice Stuff!!!

Horse bridle buckle probably.


Kepi buckles were square.


This is one HELL of a post, Josh.

Not that far down Buckle's...."below" the shell......

 

[{Sentinel}]

Hey Josh......is that a kepi-buckle below the shell in the group pic' ?,cant tell....Nice Stuff!!!

Horse bridle buckle probably.


Kepi buckles were square.



I think it is. Its alittle more rectangular but I've seen those kind.

 

[{Sentinel}]

Hey Josh......is that a kepi-buckle below the shell in the group pic' ?,cant tell....Nice Stuff!!!

Horse bridle buckle probably.


Kepi buckles were square.


This is one HELL of a post, Josh.

Thanks Buck. I wish everyone had your taste and appreciation for historical items

 

[lovedigging]

Sentinel, BANNER, BANNER, BANNER.... Way to go buddy. I think you have two banner items there. I'm coming down to dig with you. Anyway, I look forward to your future post from that site and again congratulations

 

[{Sentinel}]

Sentinel, BANNER, BANNER, BANNER.... Way to go buddy. I think you have two banner items there. I'm coming down to dig with you. Anyway, I look forward to your future post from that site and again congratulations

Anytime my friend

 

[collector01]

Awesome finds, love all that history, I would buy me a nice display case for that coffee pot and put it on my coffee table! Cant wait to see your future finds.HH!

 

[Dirt Dobber]

Looks like a land version of a Mini Shark Pit! D.D. BTW Nice finds.

 

[{Sentinel}]

Awesome finds, love all that history, I would buy me a nice display case for that coffee pot and put it on my coffee table! Cant wait to see your future finds.HH!

You can bet that this is one of the most unique pieces that I have found: and I've found belt plates, breast plates, rare bullets, cannon balls, etc. but you just DO NOT find these TINWARE items like the one above. I have been to NUMEROUS "Diggin IN Virginia" civil war hunts and to many many civil war campsites and battlefields and have never seen one as complete as this one dug.

 

[olepossum]

granite ware was used during the fur trade period and was found at a black bear river rendezvous site in utah and the buckle below the shotgun shell is a kepi bukcle i nominated the coffe pot and the shotgun shell for the banner and if i was you i would nominate the bust carving again.

 

[ringfinder]

Fantastic, Fantastic, Fantastic finds!!!!!!!!!!! I would have camped out at that site. I would go to the
dump site where they took the dirt and hunt the Hell out of it. I love everything your found.

I really like the man's picture in the plate. It really looks like it might be from an old printing plate.
When I was a kid I helped set type at a newspaper and they had similar pictures like you have. It has to
be very old, but it sure looks like a printing plate.

Congratulations on all your finds, looking forward to seeing more of your finds!

HH, Ringfinder

 

[tsgman]

Nice looking relics congrats!

 

[wwwtimmcp]

wow, just wow, they'd need a crowbar and a tow truck to get me out of there. you got one really great site there I hope you're up to all the digging you're about to do. please keep us posted on this site.

 

[downeysc]

Nice button.
Union Navy Eagle Standing Upright Anchor Button
Union Navy eagle 2-piece coat button with eagle standing on upright anchor. Strand/London back mark with bent shank. Came out of a button collection. Price $75.00

http://www.civilwaroutpost.com/33.html?i675661:page=5
Found this site, you got a nice one.