Local Finds
Some of our 2011 Finds- the
First Pic is a group of Bullets Roman and I found at a camp near
Vicksburg. In that group, we dug some super Rare Multi-Ring
Sharps. The 2nd Pic is a 1851 New Orleans Half Dime I found at a
LA Plantation. Roman dug his 1st US Eagle Breastplate in 2011.
Then he found his 1st Large Cent. On December 10th, 2011 while
hunting a Union Camp near Vicksburg, I dug a Rarity 9+ 11th
Wisconsin Token which was picked as one of the Best Finds of
2011. The last pic is some of Romans better Buttons he dug in
2011.
April thru December 2010 Finds- I found a 1854 St. Mary's
Pendant & Unique Carved Bullet at a LA Plantation. While
hunting near Vicksburg, Roman dug a sweet Mississippi Button. At
another camp near Vicksburg, I found a nice CS Scabbard Tip. In
a Union Trash Pit near Edwards, I dug several Overcoat Size
Union "A" Buttons with cloth still attached.
On
March 12th, 2010 I
was
hunting a US/CS
occupied Camp near Vicksburg and found a hole full of
Bullets, one Eagle Button, and a
Large "Clip Point" Bowie Knife. This Knife is wicked
looking and would of been a very intimidating weapon back then.
It's 16 inches long and has the classic
Jim Bowie style. I have
wanted to find a large Bowie knife for 26 years and now I can
cross it off my list of relics I want to find.
April 4th, 2009 is a date I
will never forget. James
Fox and I were given permission to hunt the Kain Plantation in
Vicksburg, MS. The weather was perfect- one of those days with
a slight breeze, sunny, and not too cool, just right for hunting. I
was hunting by the sidewalk on the north side of the house when I
got a clear, crisp, deep signal. I could not believe what was in the
bottom of the hole- a Rare oval ID
Tag with an Eagle/Chas.
M. Kain/Vicksburg, Miss on the front. Instantly, I knew
this was a member of the original owners of the house but I did not
know if he was a significant member. Imagine my surprise to find out
later that he was not only a prominant Vicksburg citizen but also a
Confederate
Soldier in the 48th Miss. Infantry which had a glorious
history during the Civil War.
The current landowner and myself decided this Rare Relic should be
in a Museum so on April 14th, 2009
I donated Mr. Kains' ID Tag to the Old Courthouse Museum in
Vicksburg, MS.
Below are pics of the plantation, location of the find, the Kains'
graves, and Mr. Kain's ID tag.
Due to work & family responsibilities, my group only hunted a
few more times the rest of 2008. On March 28th, 2008 I
found a complete Henry Cartridge,
Friction Primer, Musketball, and a Pewter Pommel Cap for a Side
Knife. On December 4h, 2008
I found a US/CS used Voltiquer "V"
Button.
March 15th, 2008 Relic Hunt- I revisited 3 old sites that
yielded some good finds in the past. Today they gave up a few more
nice relics. The first find was a Navy
Button, shortly after that I dug this unique Gold Bull, and then this Union "C" Button came out at the
end of the day. All 3 relics were found with a Red Heat XD-17
Detector. March 22nd, 2008 Hunt-
I went back to a pounded site with the Red Heat XD-17 and dug my
12th Voltiquer "V" Button.
Found on private property with permission.
February 24th, 2008 Relic Hunt- I went to a house site
that has yielded some nice relics in the past. One area has been
avoided due to bob wire so I figured that might give up a good
relic. I dug a long strand of wire and still got a strong signal in
the middle so I dug down and much to my surprise popped out a real
nice CS 6 Pound Solid Cannonball.
End of 2007 Finds- I dug these 5 Voltiquer "V" Buttons in the
same Camp at the end of last year. These are Very Rare and were only
worn by a Special Forces unit before the Civil War and by
Confederates during the Civil War. The 1838 New Orleans Seated Liberty Half Dime with No Stars
was found at the end of 2007 also. This is one of the toughest New
Orleans Coins to find. I never thought I would ever dig one but now
I can proudly display this one in my Collection. Nice way to end
2007. All relics were found on Private Property and using a Red Heat
XD-17 Detector. The 5 "V" Buttons are in the July-August 2008 Issue
of American Digger Magazine. The 1838 New Orleans Coin is in the
May-June 2008 Issue of
American Digger Magazine.
September 23rd, 2007 Hunt- pictured
below
are my finds from a Plantation Site North of Vicksburg. I found these relics right
behind the old Cistern. My finds that day were a Springfield Bayonet with "US" still visible, 2 fired bullets, and a Rare Bavarian Sharps Bullet.
Found on Private Property with Landowner's permission. Detector
used- Red Heat Micro XD-17.
September 22nd, 2007-
while
hunting a Plantation Site near Vicksburg I dug a coat size US Dragoon "D" Button which
is loaded in Gold Gilt. Found
on private property with landowner's permission and using a Red
Heat XD-17 Micro Detector. This button is in the July-August 2008
Issue of American Digger Magazine.
March
7th,
2007- I dug a coat size CS "A" Artillery Button with a Local B/M. This is the best
one I have ever found. It is in perfect condition with a stand up
shank, no pushes or even one scratch. The next day(March 8th, 2007) I found a US Eagle Breastplate with two
solid iron hooks, full lead, and a nice face. On April 15th, 2007 I went back
to this same area and found a Star
Hat Pin. These were worn by Mississippi & Texas
Troops. It could of been used by them as a Hat Pin or as part of
their Buckle. Mine appears to have been used as a Hat Pin. All
three relics were dug in Central MS on private property with
permission. They are in the "Field Recoveries" Section of the
Jan/Feb 2008 Issue of North-South Trader Magazine.
We have been in a nice US/CS occupied camp this
year. Here's three nice and seldom seen relics dug by two friends
in that camp. Lamar dug the Early
Militia Mississippi Button and the Union Eagle Breastplate that
was struck. A 44 caliber
roundball fits perfect in it.
Woody dug the CS "A" Artillery
Button with a Richmond
B/M. All three relics were found in March 2007 in Central MS on
private property with permission.
Recent Button Finds, both were a first for me. I dug the Union Rifleman "R" Button on Feb. 28th, 2007. Fortunately,
it is loaded in Gold Gilt and has a shank. It's in the "Field
Recoveries" Section of the Jan/Feb 2008 Issue of North-South
Trader Magazine. I found the Connecticutt
Button on December
16th, 2006. It also is loaded in Gold Gilt and has the
shank. Both were found near Vicksburg on Private Property with
Permission. The "R" Button was found with a Shadow X5. The
Connecticutt Button was dug with a Minelab X70.
Feb. 17th
Relic Hunt- I have seen a-lot of
Artillery relics but had no clue what this was when I found it.
Pete George and Mr. Tulloh(Artillery Collector) solved the
mystery. It's an Artillery Jack
for a Cannon Sling Cart. Used to raise & lower Cannons. The
Sling cart made moving a Cannon into position much easier. Found
in an Arkansas & Alabama Artillery Camp. Dug on private
property with permission. Machine used- Shadow X5.
Feb. 5th &
6th, 2007 Relic Hunts- Lamar and I hunted a new area at
an old site. In the past, this site had yielded some exploded 9
Inch Shells and 24 Pd. Bormanns. We expanded this site and found a
new pocket of relics. Lamar found a dump on the back side of a
hill and dug some broke bottles & Handcuffs. I was hunting above him and found a 6 pointed Solid Silver Star
with a place on the back that had a hook soldered in the center.
Never dug one like this before. It's either a Pre-War or Civil War
Officer's Hat Pin or Insignia. The 6 Pointed Star was popular with
high ranking Officer's. Close to the Star I found a brass Pennsylvania Musket Buttplate,
a flattened Eagle Button (Poker Chip), a Coin Button, brass screw,
and a piece of brass with 11 period dates on it. Next, we started
hunting another section of ravines, I pulled out a disc with a Log
cabin on it. Lamar hollered "Come look at this". I walked over to
his ravine and saw a 9 Inch Navy
Shell half washed out of his ravine. In the ravine beside
that one, Lamar pulled out a 6
pd solid and I found a 32
pd Shell with the Wood Fuze still in it. Lamar made the
last finds of the day- 2 demascus made gun barrels. Relics were
found with Shadow X5 & XP Goldmaxx. Dug on Private
Property with Permission
Pictured below are some of my finds from November 2006. The first pic
is my finds from November 26th. The second pic is 2 Voltiquer Buttons and a 1853 New Orleans Half Dime
which were all dug in November. Both "V" buttons are in excellent
condition with shanks. I have recently come across more History on
the Voltiquers which make these buttons even more special to me.
The "Voltigeurs" were a "special forces" unit that used light
mountain howitzers, and Hale's rocket launchers during the Mexican
War! Capt. R.E. Lee, and Joseph Johnston, both served with the
"Voltigeurs". Interesting fact, is that the Voltigeurs wore a
special uniform that was light grey in color, as opposed to the
dark blue of the other uniforms. Coincidentally, these future
great Confederate generals donned the "grey" a full decade and a
half before the onset of secession! Dug on Private Property
with Landowner's Permission. Machine used- XTerra 70.
Finds made by Friends in November 2006. From left to
right: Woody Cox found this nice 1740
Silver Spanish Coin. Hard date to find around here.
James Fox dug the1809 Spanish
Coin at the same site. Lamar Cannon dug this Gold Gilted Snake.
Congratulations guys on these nice finds in November. Relics found
with White's XLT, White's Prizm 4, and XP Goldmaxx. All relics
found on Private Property with Landowner's Permission.
In September 2006,
I dug these two CS Artillery
Buttons with brass backs near Vicksburg, MS. They are
huge buttons. One of the buttons has a Richmond B/M. Relics found
on Private Property with Landowner's Permission. Machine used-
Minelab XTerra 70.
On September
30th, 2006, James Fox found one of the best New Orleans
Half Dimes I have ever seen dug. It's an 1857
Seated Liberty Half Dime and looks like it was dropped
yesterday. Everything is clear as a bell. Here's a pic from my
scanner but it doesn't do this coin justice, it is in incredible
condition. Congratulations James. Dug on Private Property with
Landowner's Permission. Machine used- White's Prizm 4.
On August 25th, 2006,
James Fox and I went to Vicksburg to re-stock the Corner Drugstore
Museum. Afterward, we had 3 hrs to burn so we hunted a field were
a Plantation once stood. I dug an 1840 New Orleans Seated Liberty
Half Dime. Shortly after I dug the New Orleans Coin, I heard James holler. I went
over to him and saw a US Eagle
Breastplate in his hand. This was James 1st US Plate.
Congratulations James, hope to see you dig many more. Dug on
Private Property with Landowner's Permission. Machine used-
White's Prizm 4.
The 2006 Relic Hunting Season has started off very well for me. In
a 3 week span(Jan.
18th thru Feb. 4th) I found 3 Overcoat Union "I" Buttons, an 1862 Indian Head Penny,
1854 Silver Dime, a Wellington/Waterloo Button(commerates defeat
of Napoleon), a CS Staff Officer Button with an iron shank, and
a Rarity 9 CS "Leech & Rigdon Smooth Wreath. Pictured
in the July/August 2006 Issue of American Digger Magazine in the
"Just Dug" Section. Dug on Private Property with Landowner's
Permission.
1843 New Orleans "O" Silver
Seated Libert Dime- I dug this Rare Dime Oct. 23rd, 2005 near
Vicksburg, MS
Pictured on the Front Cover of the Jan. 2006 Issue of
American Digger Magazine and in the "Just Dug" Section.
Dug on Private Property with Landowner's Permission.
24 pd. Bormann-
I dug this shell on Oct. 8th,
2005 near Vicksburg, MS. This size Bormann is hard to
find. Only the
second one I have ever found. Pictured in the "Just Dug" Section
of the Jan. 2006 Issue of American Digger Magazine.
Dug on Private Property with Landowner's Permission.
The Relics in the pic below were found by me near Raymond, MS. in
the Spring of 2005.
The unique CS Martingale and the
Rare CS Staff Officer Button were found in the same hole
about a foot apart. The CS Staff Button is very scarce(CS
36), usually worn by a CS Major or higher. The CS Martingale has
soldered on brass hooks just like many CS buckles. The CS Infantry Button was found
close to the CS Martingale and CS Staff Button. Pictured in
the "Just Dug" Section of the Sept/Oct. 2005 Issue of American
Digger Magazine.
Dug on Private Property with Landowner's Permission.
Here are some more of my Spring
2005 finds. The US Buckle
was hammered in half by a Soldier and snug shut like a clam, I
unfolded it. The Marine Button
has 60% Gold Gilt and a Scovill MG Co backmark(early 1850's), and a
US Allegheny Aresenal Saddle Shield.
All 3 relics were dug near Vicksburg, MS. Dug on Private Property
with Landowner's Permission.
The Pic below is a Star Hat Pin
and 2 "V" Voltiguer Buttons,
all found close to each other. The Texas Star can be used as a Hat
Pin or part of a Buckle. It has 2 small solder marks so I believe
this is a Hat Pin. Texas troops, VA troops, and Louisiana Troops
camped at this site. I dug these relics near Vicksburg, MS in Spring of 2005. Dug on Private
Property with Landowner's Permission.
While hunting a Louisiana Camp in 2004,
Lamar Cannon dug these two CS
Buckles. The first buckle he found was a scarce New Orleans Louisiana buckle
which is Rarity 8. The second buckle was only 15 yards away from the
other one, it's a plain CS Wreath
that goes to a two piece Louisiana Buckle. Dug on Private Property
with Landowner's Permission.
