Need help!

[Eagledigs]

I found this in the Union siege lines in Vicksburg where I have found a a couple of dozen minie balls/buck and ball. It gave a VDI of 82 on the AT Pro and was about 5 inches down. It measures 2 inces in diameter and it appears the "spokes" were all connected but but that piece broke off. Any clues?/Thanks!

 

[DCMatt]

It is the inside wheel of a gyroscope.


DCMatt

 

[BuckleBoy]

Good God, you amaze me with the ID's DCMatt! Incredible. Now to find out what a gyroscope is doing in a CW site...

 

[Eagledigs]

Thanks Matt! And I agree w/ BuckleBoy..What the heck

 

[artemis moon]

What an interesting find! The gyroscope was invented in the 1850's. I wonder if a soldier was using it to distract himself before the battle. If that's the case, it's a pretty early piece. It does look like it's been in the ground a while. It's ashame that we'll never know.