Found today at Battle of Mobile Bay camp site

[MichaelB]

I think this is a camp bell but it doesn?t have an eagle on it. It almost looks like a Spanish cross. Found a 3? cannonball 30 feet away.

 

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[Rmeav8r]

Nice find! Is it bronze? The type of metal might help date it…the smart guys here should be able to help narrow it down.

 

[villagenut]

thats cool as heck

 

[Florida Finder]

Very cool find!!!

 

[Tencents]

Nice find.

 

[MichaelB]

Yes it is bronze. The rectangle changer was inside also.

 

[MichaelB]

Cannonball we found.

 

[KeyaPaha]

Looks like a type of bell they put on cows and sheep to help locate the herd or flock.

 

[MichaelB]

I have read reports where they used these bells when they tied their horses up at night in camp. I was looking for the edge of a 6 mile camp that stayed for a week before marching on Spanish Fort. I am thinking I have found a forward guard position as there are signs of fires 16” deep. It is the same size as the Union bell with the eagle but it has a cross in its place.

 

[antmike915]

Nice finds

 

[Hunk-a-lead]

such a cool bell, great save

 

[Tpmetal]

sadly without a multitude of other items found on same location, there is no way to identify that bell as being part of a military camp. There should be a bunch of other finds that support your theory. camp lead, military related items like buckles, buttons, standard mess kit items, or other things that usually only existed in the military. and you need enough of this stuff to prove it was not just an item or two lost after the war. say if you found a military button and a musket ball, that does not mean military camp. But if you found multiple buttons, camp lead like miscast bullets or trim offs from moulds, buttons, and a buckle or gun sling part and so on, then you might have a camp or skirmish site.

 

[MichaelB]

Yup, I agree. We have also found a .57 bullet and musket ball. As soon as it cool off we will do a more intense search.

 

[scruggs]

Very nice find!

 

[Truth]

Wow I love that bell and it?s all yours congratulations

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Very nice !

 

[Deesherman]

Knights Templar Cross

I think this is a camp bell but it doesn?t have an eagle on it. It almost looks like a Spanish cross. Found a 3? cannonball 30 feet away.[/QUOTE

Could that be a Knights Templar Cross?

 

[islamoradamark]

bet that bell made that detector ring

 

[crashbandicoot]

I like that,it,s very nice!Even if it,s not some kind of fancy deal you can hang it up at your deer camp or similar location to ring for chow time,then when someone asks you get to tell the story of how you found it!Neat!Really hope it turns out to be something big time.

 

[MichaelB]

The “cross” was used by several Union Corps. I just need to find one that came to Mobile that used the cross as their insignia.