This forum gets really QUIET on the weekend..........every weekend.
DHaze, I'm thinking that those letters and signs are more associated with some outlawry activities. You mentioned a stagecoach road was close by. Is there a navigatable river close by, too? Do some research into this area with particular attention to crimes committed over the last 300 years or so. What kind of natural resources are found in this area? Gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, etc. I have read that some KGC members formed small gangs and robbed stages and trains and would use that booty to build up a vault in an area close by.
Those letters just don't seem to have the "lovers-putting-their-initials-on-the-rock" look. They appear to be letters put there for some other reason and not idle scribbling either. Take photos close enough for details, but far enough back to get them in their groupings. That will make it easier for you to review and work with at home.......where it's WARM. LOL
When you find anymore metal items; try not to disturb them when you uncover them. If the KGC were responsible for these things, each buried item will be arranged to give a direction........to more signs or buried stuff. Leave the items exactly where and HOW you find them because if this is a cache situation, you may have to double back to a spot for more checking and cross referencing. Be sure to rebury anything after you see what direction it's giving you. If you can get a topographic map of this area, get it. The older, the better. Keep track on a map (at least a self made map) of where everything is found and what it is and what direction info it may give you.
This may be nothing......OR it could be a big SOMETHING. Too early to tell yet. Do your research to include the Masons and Scottish Rites Temples. There were some Masons neck deep in the KGC activities. A good book to read about the KGC and sentinals would be the one written by Bob Brewer titled, "Rebel Gold". Some folks think he's full of .......stuff and others say he knows what he's talking about. Texas Jay and RebelKGC are two good sources for info on this forum. They used to be on the KGC section quite a bit.
EDIT: There have been some things found in the west and southwest that leads some folks to believe that the KGC discovered the Spanish treasure trails and followed some to conclusion and reburied their finds after altering many signs on the trails to fit their own needs. They used some of the same symbols and signs that the Spanish used on their trails, so just because someone in the east, south, or midwest finds some Spanish treasure signs does not necessarily mean the vandals from Spain put them there.