Ratio of Bullets to Other Relics found

[tlh2865]

So a site I have been hitting recently has raised a question for me. I have been hunting a site along Lee's retreat and have come across a spot that is about 50' x 50' that is loaded with bullets and camp lead. I go and dig maybe a dozen bullets and a dozen pieces of camp lead and then leave and come back another day, but after pulling nearly 40 bullets from this field I have not found anything other than lead. I feel like it is odd to find evidence of such concentrated activity but with no other artifacts than bullets. Is that normal? Or should I be expecting a higher variety of finds amongst all of these dropped bullets (I have not found a single fired round yet).

 

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[relic nut]

Seems like a typical site to me. We find lots of bullets that seem to be concentrated in small areas. I think that this is likely to be a place that a box or crate of bullets was dumped or lost. I also believe that soldiers on the March would dump out there bullets and get more from the supply wagon once they got to where they were going. Think about how much 40 rounds of 69 or 58 caliber minie balls would weigh.
If you hunt a camp or picket post where soilders congregated, you stand a better chance of a mix of relics. Just my two cents worth.

 

[Joe G from Md]

It would not take many soldiers to lose 40, 100, ?, rounds of ammo. Are all the bullets the same? I just don't understand the spill [camp lead]. Just a thought.

 

[lookingharder]

When I was back in my prime and hunted sites in South Carolina and started finding lots of bullets (relic nut is correct) I would grid the site of and try and get a bigger idea of the lay of the land. Is there any low areas around your spot? That's where a make shift latrine would be. possibly more coins, bottles and other dropped from pockets items.

CAMP OF INFANTRY.
515. Each company has its tents in two files, facing on a street perpendicular to the color line. The width of the street depends on the front of the camp, but should not be less than 5 paces. The interval between the ranks of tents is 2 paces; between the files of tents of adjacent companies, 2 paces; between regiments, 22 paces.

516. The color line is 10 paces in front of the front rank of tents. The kitchens are 20 paces behind the rear rank of company tents; the non commissioned staff and sutler, 20 paces in rear of the kitchens; the company officers, 20 paces farther in rear; and the field and staff, 20 paces in rear of the company officers.

517. The company officers are in rear of their respective companies; the Captains on the right.

518. The Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel are near the centre of the line of field and staff; the Adjutant, a Major and Surgeon, on the right; the Quartermaster, a Major and Assistant Surgeon, on the left.

519. The police guard is at the centre of the line of the non commissioned staff, the tents facing to the front, the stacks of arms on the left.

520. The advanced post of the police guard is about 200 paces in front of the color line, and opposite the centre of the regiment, or on the best ground; the prisoners tent about 4 paces in rear. In a regiment of the second line, the advanced post of the police guard is 200 paces in rear of the line of its field and staff.

521. The horses of the staff officers and of the baggage train are 25 paces in rear of the tents of the field and staff; the wagons are parked on the same line, and the men of the train camped near them.

522. The sinks of the men are 150 paces in front of the color line– those of the officers 100 paces in rear of the train. Both are concealed by bushes. When convenient, the sinks of the men may be placed in rear or on a flank. A portion of the earth dug out for sinks to be thrown back occasionally.

523. The front of the camp of a regiment of 1000 men in two ranks will be 400 paces, or one fifth less paces than the number of files, if the camp is to have the same front as the troops in order of battle. But the front may be reduced o 190 paces by narrowing the company streets to 5 paces; and if it be desirable to reduce the front still more, the tents of companies may be pitched in single file– those of a division facing on the same street.

 

[civil_war22]

I was the same way for a good while as well on the old camp site we had. We found an area about 100ft wide that we found I would say over 100 bullets on and then were the actual camp lead came from was a little farther away on the adjoining hill.

 

[smokeythecat]

On my best Civil War winter camp, we get just about anything there but the army was there for months. At your spot, I think you're right on track. Best bets of things yet to be found would be an occasional button or plate. I hardly ever find coins, except at the one picket post and we haven't figured that one out yet. On the retreat route, they moved very fast. Try to find which directions they came and went from and you're sure to find more and different items. On the retreat route to Saylor's creek years ago, we found exactly the same thing. Mainly dropped bullets, and then found a tiny skirmish site and from there we got the drops, a few fired rounds, camp lead and two Confederate buttons. Across the street and 1/2 mile in the woods found wagon parts and a couple minies and an eagle breast plate at the base of a tree. Turning left or right even 100' can make a huge difference. You are on track for sure.

 

[civil_war22]

On my best Civil War winter camp, we get just about anything there but the army was there for months. At your spot, I think you're right on track. Best bets of things yet to be found would be an occasional button or plate. I hardly ever find coins, except at the one picket post and we haven't figured that one out yet. On the retreat route, they moved very fast. Try to find which directions they came and went from and you're sure to find more and different items. On the retreat route to Saylor's creek years ago, we found exactly the same thing. Mainly dropped bullets, and then found a tiny skirmish site and from there we got the drops, a few fired rounds, camp lead and two Confederate buttons. Across the street and 1/2 mile in the woods found wagon parts and a couple minies and an eagle breast plate at the base of a tree. Turning left or right even 100' can make a huge difference. You are on track for sure.

It was and still is the same way for us here at our sites. Go 100’ away and nothing. 100’ the other direction and you’re back on to more but when they guys were running and gunning you have to think how much they lost. I’ve ran down some perps when I was a cop and numerous times I’ve had to go back and find my phone, keys or whatever else fell off my duty belt while running, ducking or crouching down

 

[tlh2865]

All bullets are union, but five different varieties so far (not including cleaners) and all drops, mixed in with equal amounts of camp lead. I want to grid out from this spot and see what turns up in the surrounding area. The land lays good for a camp, with easy access to water and two period roadways.

 

[Davers]

It would not take many soldiers to lose 40, 100, ?, rounds of ammo. Are all the bullets the same? I just don't understand the spill [camp lead]. Just a thought.

I feel the same way , 'Camp Lead' included

Also what type are the Bullets ? (all the same 'Basically' , Or Confederate Types, or mixed types .

Dropped Bullets are Nice , most I dig these day's have been fired.

There was a Def, Camp I hunted & found an assortment of items , No Plates .

Then there was places with lots of fired Bullets 50+ & O Buttons .

Another site ill say 3/4 of a mile Squared one area had more Drops & shell Frags , other side of the area 30% Drops & 70% fired. 40+ bullets of all types were found in this area & 3 Buttons in all in 3 years of hunting 1 GS Cuff. Then in 2016 1 Tin Back 'I' , Then last Summer about 3/4 of a mile ' 1 ' Nice Script 'I' .
Numerous late 1800's brass in a few spots , a few Horse / Mule Shoes .

Then there was another site I came across 40 X 100 yards ; at one end there was more Fired rounds then Drops were concentrated in a 20 X 20 foot area then a few close together drops , then a Drop every now & again.
BUT
That small area produced 1 'J' hook , Musket Side Plate W/O Hammer , Broken Civilian Spur (in 2 pieces), & some 8-10 buttons (mostly GS Cuff sizes) 3 Cuff US 'I' buttons + other GS & 1 'US, 'I' button a size up from Cuff. & best thing all but 1 were in great shape with Shanks.

There have been 'over the years ' other areas that gave many Fired bullets & O Buttons , That's one of my Sayings is Ill take anything Brass.

One of the first Good sites I hit in 1998 gave Many Fired 3 ringers (all Hard Rammed FWIW) 1 dropped Sharpe's Ring-tail then just '1' Union 'I' cuff with 95% Guilt remaining.

I go out Expecting only to find Bullets , digging a GS button is a Super Day it seems Plates & Buttons Esp, Confederate are each a Life long Memory Find here in the Atlanta Area.

I usually find Civil War Buttons when I least expect them . Other than that it seems i'm a bullet hunter & 1 Drop or Fired per 6-8 hours of hunting seems to be my avg.

It's becoming like work , many days I tell myself 'No More' "Just not Worth it".

Then 4 or 5 days later i'm wanting to get into the Woods cause "You never Know"

Sorry a long rant to your simple Question .
Again What types of Bullets did you find in the smallish area?
Davey

 

[Davers]

All bullets are union, but five different varieties so far (not including cleaners) and all drops, mixed in with equal amounts of camp lead. I want to grid out from this spot and see what turns up in the surrounding area. The land lays good for a camp, with easy access to water and two period roadways.

Sorry I missed this info .

All that says A-lot.

IMO A Short Camp , or short term Picket Post.

Just my opinion.

 

[Yak1366]

So a site I have been hitting recently has raised a question for me. I have been hunting a site along Lee's retreat and have come across a spot that is about 50' x 50' that is loaded with bullets and camp lead. I go and dig maybe a dozen bullets and a dozen pieces of camp lead and then leave and come back another day, but after pulling nearly 40 bullets from this field I have not found anything other than lead. I feel like it is odd to find evidence of such concentrated activity but with no other artifacts than bullets. Is that normal? Or should I be expecting a higher variety of finds amongst all of these dropped bullets (I have not found a single fired round yet).

Seeing a site for what 'you' have discovered on it, is very different than knowing all that has been discovered on it.

 

[Davers]

Very true Yak1366.
I was gonna add that most if not all the sites I have hunted were all hit before.

Except the Camp is strange in that the Trash & other pit's seem to have been dug-out long ago.

GD Man.

 

[tlh2865]

Good point Yak, almost the entire retreat route for several miles that I know of was hunted in the late 90s by a group of guys who didn't care whose land they crossed, just followed the confederate wagon train. I am hearing this second hand from someone who talked to one of the guys who did it. He said they just followed the trail of dumped baggage, and supposedly dug several thousand bullets, and lots of artillery related relics (balls and primers mostly) amongst other relics. So I have little doubt that where I am has been at least briefly gone over in the past, but not in the last ten years at least, and it is far enough from where most would expect to look that I doubt it was given any serious consideration. Guys want to chase the Confederate Army's wagon train, and I can't blame them, and I'm glad they do.