New Civil War Spot

[BamaBill]

Started on a new N. Alabama spot and the MXT was a champ (couple of hours after work). Got two 3-ringers, two pistol balls, 2 pieces of artillery shell and a possible piece of canteen. We suspect a short engagement took place here.

 

[piggman1]

Those are some cool relics you found there. Keep em coming!

 

[birdman]

Good stuff! You may have a virgin site. Keep us posted!!

 

[Nana40]

Way to go! Congrats on finding that site! Good luck on your return!!

Love them CW finds!!

Nana

 

[Evolution]

Nice finds. That one three ringer in the middle looks to be in great shape. Sounds like it'll be a good spot to hunt. Best of luck.

 

[Goldiver]

Looks promising!

 

[{Sentinel}]

Great Finds; nice minies and muskets!...But those pieces arent artillery shrapnel, they are broken pieces of an iron kettle. I find them ALL the time at my Civil War sites too. Notice the raised line on one of the pieces. That is the bottom of the kettle...But that is a GOOD sign, means you are right there on a good camp spot.

 

[tsgman]

Great finds, I love my MXT and you are doing very well with yours as well!

 

[BamaBill]

Sentinel, I really appreciate your input on the iron. I believe what you're saying and now I'm wondering how I would tell, in the future, if I did have pieces from an artillery shell?

 

[randall61]

nice miniballs & musket shots.

 

[JerV3]

Nice finds Man,

Glad to see the unit performing well. It's a good one. Looks like your onto a nice site.

Continued luck,

HH Jer

 

[{Sentinel}]

Artillery shrapnel is abit more thicker than the kettle iron.

Here is a picture of a piece of kettle that I have. This is the bottom of what would have been an old kettle pot. (notice the raised lines on the exterior):


Here is a piece of a 6lb Bormann cannonball:


Then here are the two side by side. You get a good view from this angle and can see the difference in thickness pretty clearly!


I hope this helps you out just a little bit bud. I know I was the same as you when I found my first piece of iron kettle. I wasnt too sure about it. But I always like to help out my fellow relic hunters when I can. Good Hunt and nice Relics!!!!

 

[tymcmurray]

Great hunt.
Congratulations.

 

[BamaBill]

Thanks guys and many thanks to you Sentinel. I really appreciate when somebody takes the time to help enlighten me. I've studied the Civil War in depth since I was a kid, but haven't gotten the opportunity to do so first hand until recently. For-the-record, these are kettle pieces, based on the great info provided.

Bill W.

 

[{Sentinel}]

Hey Canewrap, it was my pleasure to post those pics and help you out! I like talking with and helping out fellow hunters.
Those pieces of kettle are still reall awesome relics in my book! They are VERY old 18th and 19th century, and they let you know that YOU ARE exactly where you need to be a.k.a. you are on a camp site! Besides, it is also really cool to think that a Confederate or Federal soldier made his dinner in it long ago Great place bud, you need to go back there and clean house. I have a feeling that you are going to find many more 3 ringers, musketballs, and other nice relics there!

 

[BamaBill]

I found the source of the iron. It was actually an old pipe that had been shredded by the plow. I found a length of it on the edge of the field, on the third day of hunting. Its looking more and more like this was a stopping over point rather than any kind of long-term camp. There was a house with a well at this site back in the mid 1800's and according to a source that knew it back in the early 1900's the house site was situated in a small clearing and we're only finding bullets in a small area next to the road. Hey, its fun figuring this stuff out though.

 

[{Sentinel}]

An old pipe huh.... Oh well the bright side is...Hey, you still got some good relics out of that spot. Good job bud!!

 

[BamaBill]

Thanks my friend !!

 

[JOE(USA)]

Canewrap,

A quick check to use on a suspected CW artillery frag is does it have a rounded surface? The only part of a artillery frag that MAY be flat is the bottom of the base cup. Joe

 

[BamaBill]

Thanks Joe, I'll keep that in mind.