Novice needs ID help

[Hightowerjim]

The intact bullet I dug in Lovejoy, Ga. where 2 or 3 CW engagements took place in 1864. I'm pretty sure it's an Enfield, but is there a method to determine Confederate or Union? SIZE ..... length .955 ...... diameter .575 +- .003. don't know the weight

The flattened lead I found in Stockbridge, Ga., 30 miles South of Atlanta. Any guesses as to what it is??


Thanks ................... Happy Hunting !:

 

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[SkaBa]

Flat item is a heavily impacted bullet on a hard surface.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

the flat piece may have been a bullet, but it was flattened BY a fire, not being fired... You can tell by the softly rounded edges where the liquid lead flowed

 

[jewelerguy]

I like that the intact fired bullet shows how it was deformed by the ram rod from shoving it down a dirty barrel in the heat of battle. Personally, I think that really gives dug bullets character and adds to their historical value

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

NOLA-Ken is right, the first item is definitely a fire-melted bullet... one which flowed onto sandy soil... so its underside was shaped by he texture of the sandy soil, and its topside has the t6ypical look of a molten substance which cooled and congealed in air.

About your fired Minie-bullet:
The cup-shaped base cavity in it tells us it is definitely a Confederate-made Enfield. The Yankees did not manufacture any Enfield-pattern bullets. ALL British-made ones have a "plug" cavity (shaped like a drinking-glass with a perfectly flat bottom). Enfield-pattern minies which have a "cone" cavity, or any cavity shape except the "plug" shape with a perfectly flat bottom, are Confederate-made.

 

[Hightowerjim]

Thanks. I also felt the flattened one was a bullet, but I never thought of fire-melted............... HE is my Light !

The intact is a cone not a plug ................. Yehaw I found one

 

[Hightowerjim]

I do as well. It's my first. Thanks

 

[Hightowerjim]

Thanks, at least it's a bullet