Return To 1864 U.S.C.T. Railroad Camp Today!

VOL1266-X · Mar 20, 2013

Donnie (Tennessee Digger) , Doug, and I went back to hunt the 15[SUP]th[/SUP] U.S. Colored Troop camp near the long gone 1860 wooden railroad trestle in middle Tennessee where we hunted last week. Josh is working extended hours this week and couldn’t make a 6 hour hunt.
It was unseasonably cool on the mountain when we made the 2 mile walk down to the camp area this morning. Donnie dug several fired bullets, the bottom of an iron stirrup, and a knapsack “J” hook that he wants us to give to Josh. Doug scored several fired bullets and a pristine dropped 3 ring .69 cal. bullet from the historic site. I dug fired bullets, iron underwear button, GS eagle button, and an old iron hoe. All three of us dug many railroad iron relics as well. Donnie, Julia, & friends recovered the vast majority of dropped bullets from the camp years ago and the fired bullets we found were from the troops firing bullets into banks around the camp to unload their rifles.
The temperature was dropping as we hiked back out and the wind was blowing from the north at 15-20 mph making it feel colder than the 44 degree air temperature. That will probably be our last trip to that camp as the ticks and snakes will be out soon. Now, Doug & I both have an eagle button from that hard hunted camp. Thanks Donnie for taking us and helping us fill our display boxes with relics from a historic site. HH from Donnie, Doug, & Quindy. Enjoy the video with more history and pics of our other recent hunts.
Gosh-hope I don’t forget to give Josh his knapsack hook-LOL.

tennessee digger · Mar 20, 2013

Quindy....Once again great video. I had a great time with you and DMan today. We didn't find too much but had a good time and it is always entertaining to hunt with you and DMan. We got plenty of good exercise. We need to find that other camp in that area, it will be loaded with .69s!!!!! Good job! Oh, and did you noticed that house that I told you about. Tennessee digger

wvwildman · Mar 20, 2013

nice finds congrats HH

JmCraz8 · Mar 20, 2013

Another amazing hunt sweeet finds keepem coming lol

Breezie · Mar 20, 2013

Another great hunt; way to go! :thumbsup:

And major kudos for making a 2 mile hike in that type of weather. I would have had to find the nearest 4-wheel!

Breezie

Valley Ranger · Mar 20, 2013

Good job fellas!

ModernMiner · Mar 20, 2013

Way to go Guys. Nice recoveries there. :icon_thumleft:

What is that large round iron piece between the "J" hook and the CW battery? :dontknow:

And speaking of IRON, how did you get your "old ho" to iron? I couldn't get mine to do any housework.
That sure is a dapper looking cap that Dman was sporting for the hunt. :tongue3:

Congrats on the CW relics.
-MM-

VOL1266-X · Mar 20, 2013

ModernMiner said:
Way to go Guys. Nice recoveries there.
What is that large round iron piece between the "J" hook and the CW battery?
And speaking of IRON, how did you get your "old ho" to iron? I couldn't get mine to do any housework.
That sure is a dapper looking cap that Dman was sporting for the hunt.
Congrats on the CW relics.
-MM-

That's the old "hoe" MM. I should have turned it sideways. Maybe the circuits dry rotted in your Vacquero-LOL. Q.

ModernMiner · Mar 20, 2013

VOL1266-X said:
That's the old "hoe" MM. I should have turned it sideways. Maybe the circuits dry rotted in your Vacquero-LOL. Q.

Q-
You may be right. I think it overloaded on my recent Spanish silver. :tongue3:

I've already got it boxed up and ready to send in for help. I may have to go back to my old faithful Mighty Silver Umax for a bit. :laughing7:

vpnavy · Mar 21, 2013

Great finds VOL1266-X!

Tnmountains · Mar 21, 2013

You guys crack me up :tongue3:

. You went back and still pulled some relics from the old site. The engineering is hard to imagine in those crossings. I guess all that small gauge track was scrapped long ago. Just goes to show what the Pro's can pull out with the knowledge of their equipment . By the way I also like knapp sack hooks. Looks like the area has been logged. Often the old down cedars will hold a bullet or two sometimes. Fun hunt and great cardio. Thanks for sharing. Not to sure about the new hat though.Was the ground dark with coal?
HH
TnMtns

:thumbsup:

mical66 · Mar 21, 2013

nice hunt guys .

VOL1266-X · Mar 21, 2013

Tnmountains said:
You guys crack me up . You went back and still pulled some relics from the old site. The engineering is hard to imagine in those crossings. I guess all that small gauge track was scrapped long ago. Just goes to show what the Pro's can pull out with the knowledge of their equipment . By the way I also like knapp sack hooks. Looks like the area has been logged. Often the old down cedars will hold a bullet or two sometimes. Fun hunt and great cardio. Thanks for sharing. Not to sure about the new hat though.Was the ground dark with coalHHTnMtns

Richard, looks like the area was logged in the early 1900s judging by tree size. The soil was coal black which (as you know well) is not conducive to a nice white bullet patina. Donnie said the first time they hunted the spot they walked out with 150 bullets and only a couple were fired. HH, Q.

Nana40 · Mar 21, 2013

WTG on the finds, ya'll! Good that you all could get back and rescue those relics. Hunting in the woods around here is almost over for this season.

The gray shades of color on the mountains are about to turn green and the ticks and snakes are already out. :X I'm NOT ready. lol Maybe this little tad of snow tonight will slow things down for a bit. :icon_thumright:

Always love the videos.

OH...and what kind of button did Doug say that was? :dontknow:

Nana

JuliaV · Mar 21, 2013

Looks like you all have had another good day!!! I guess I am going to have to go with y'all the next hunt, providing there are no COWS! I love digging those buster bullets. As hard as that place has been hit there is still stuff coming out of there. You guys rock!

Y'all make a great team!

tennessee digger · Mar 21, 2013

Quindy.... Update, I found another fired bullet in my pants pocket last night that wasn't in the photo!!!!!!!!! Yea. When I cleaned out the back of the car the other day I found 1 eagle button, 1 dropped .58, and 5 glass buttons that had probably been in there for a long time. Don't know where they came from.

VOL1266-X · Mar 21, 2013

Thanks WVW, JC, Richard, VP, & MC66. HH to all of you.

Thanks Donnie and a lot of Tnet members would love to be there when you clean out your SUV and find enough CW relics for a display box. By the way, Doug said all those relics (especially the eagle button) fell out of his pack-LOL. See you next week in the Commonwealth. Q.

Breezie, the large trees that fell across the old stagecoach road make it impassible by a ATV unless you take a chain saw. Thanks, Q.

Nana, snakes are our friends like a Red Solo Cup-LOL. It was an underwear button and not a "panty' button like Doug said. Don't encourage his as you know how he is-LOL. Looking forward to seeing your lead knuckles (should have been on banner) in American Digger in their June-July issue. Q.

Julia, we are going to hunt a feedlot in KY next week. Come on down-LOL. You need to start back going with us as you are the only one who can keep Doug in line. Q.

kuger · Mar 21, 2013

what a great bunch of guys!Great guys,great sites,what more could a fellow want?

VOL1266-X · Mar 21, 2013

kuger said:
what a great bunch of guys!Great guys,great sites,what more could a fellow want?

Cody, one of these years maybe we can get out & dig some gold nuggets in CA with you. Hopefully, you will adopt Dman-LOL. Thanks my friend & HH, Q.