Thunderchild
Full Member
- Sep 24, 2011
- 163
- 7
- Detector(s) used
- Fisher F75LTD/ AT Pro / Whites TDI SL / Tesoro Compadre
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
On April 29, 1865, The Army of the Tennessee 17th Corps left its camps in Raleigh and marched toward Washington D.C. for the " Grand Review". After years of war, endless battles and marches they were headed north to be reviewed and mustered out of the Army. The men of the 17th Corps marched about 12 miles and camped for two nights before resuming the "Final March". I was fortunate after months of research to locate the campsite of some of these men. The site lay undisturbed for 146 years. After pouring over historic maps, reading soldiers diaries and other accounts in the " Official Records of The War of the Rebellion", The final clue fell into place when I met Doug AKA "Modern Miner" from whom I purchased a metal detector on Craigslist. "MM" was wildly enthusiastic about relic hunting and one of the nicest people I've ever met. Turns out he had been relic hunting with much success just up the road from my home and quite near this site. It was his info on the possible location of and old road that started me pinpoint the area of the camp.
The first day out after work with daylight running short, I fired up the AT PRO and started seaching. Very soon at the base of a huge Sycamore tree I located four .58 caliber three ringers and a General Service button. Darkness soon came and I was forced to leave. Returning the next day, I began to locate more Minnie balls, melted lead and various iron objects. Very exited I left and returned the next day around 3:00 pm. To my dismay I noticed freshly dug holes that had not been filled back in. It became apparent that someone had seen my truck parked beside the road and on the previous hunts and had now "discovered" the camp. Somewhat deflated, I continued to hunt and found more relics. I went home that night and told the wife that the spot had been discovered and soon would be overun by detectorist so I needed to hit the camp every chance I could in the coming days.
Thankfully I have a very understanding wife! I went back to the site the next morning early and sure enough came upon two uninvited "guests" detecting the camp. These were "veteran" reilic hunters using "high dollar" detectors. Undeterred I went about my business hunting relics. I pulled in many more bullets including three intact, unfired .44 Henry cartridges. After these fellows left, I moved over to where they had been detecting and starting swinging the coil. The first signal on that spot they had scoured with much more advanced machines, yeilded an very nice Eagle Breastplate. I was pumped to say the least. I lightly brushed the plate off, put it in the pouch and kept swinging. The very next signal not more than 50' away, was a real "head banger" and nearly knock my headphones off. The VDI read 88-90. I knelt and carefully dug away the soil. I nearly fell over backward when I pulled a very nice Eagle sword belt plate. The next day I was unable to hunt he site due to work obligations. I did notice however, that he other relic hunters were back on the site. At this point I remembered Doug and his kindness, so I called him and told him to get his butt over while the getting was still good. I met Doug at the site in the next day or so and we hunted along side a growing number of new hunters, Yep, word travels fast!
Check out the Pics below. Doug has already posted his finds earlier. My finds include: 200 Minnie Balls, Eagle Breast Plate, Eagle Sword Belt Plate, Eagle Button, 3 Knapsack Hooks, One 1838 Large Cent, Three 1859 IH Pennies, 3 intact Henry Cartidges, Large Flat Button ("Best Plated"), 2 knapsack Buckles, several "carved Bullets, Several Chewed Bullets (Critter Candy?), Sprinfield Rifle Nose Cap, tons of melted "Camp Lead", one Fork, several Hores Shoes.
The first day out after work with daylight running short, I fired up the AT PRO and started seaching. Very soon at the base of a huge Sycamore tree I located four .58 caliber three ringers and a General Service button. Darkness soon came and I was forced to leave. Returning the next day, I began to locate more Minnie balls, melted lead and various iron objects. Very exited I left and returned the next day around 3:00 pm. To my dismay I noticed freshly dug holes that had not been filled back in. It became apparent that someone had seen my truck parked beside the road and on the previous hunts and had now "discovered" the camp. Somewhat deflated, I continued to hunt and found more relics. I went home that night and told the wife that the spot had been discovered and soon would be overun by detectorist so I needed to hit the camp every chance I could in the coming days.
Thankfully I have a very understanding wife! I went back to the site the next morning early and sure enough came upon two uninvited "guests" detecting the camp. These were "veteran" reilic hunters using "high dollar" detectors. Undeterred I went about my business hunting relics. I pulled in many more bullets including three intact, unfired .44 Henry cartridges. After these fellows left, I moved over to where they had been detecting and starting swinging the coil. The first signal on that spot they had scoured with much more advanced machines, yeilded an very nice Eagle Breastplate. I was pumped to say the least. I lightly brushed the plate off, put it in the pouch and kept swinging. The very next signal not more than 50' away, was a real "head banger" and nearly knock my headphones off. The VDI read 88-90. I knelt and carefully dug away the soil. I nearly fell over backward when I pulled a very nice Eagle sword belt plate. The next day I was unable to hunt he site due to work obligations. I did notice however, that he other relic hunters were back on the site. At this point I remembered Doug and his kindness, so I called him and told him to get his butt over while the getting was still good. I met Doug at the site in the next day or so and we hunted along side a growing number of new hunters, Yep, word travels fast!
Check out the Pics below. Doug has already posted his finds earlier. My finds include: 200 Minnie Balls, Eagle Breast Plate, Eagle Sword Belt Plate, Eagle Button, 3 Knapsack Hooks, One 1838 Large Cent, Three 1859 IH Pennies, 3 intact Henry Cartidges, Large Flat Button ("Best Plated"), 2 knapsack Buckles, several "carved Bullets, Several Chewed Bullets (Critter Candy?), Sprinfield Rifle Nose Cap, tons of melted "Camp Lead", one Fork, several Hores Shoes.
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What you were able to pull out of there in only a short time most of us can only dream about. 
