Local Finds

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.

 




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.



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.

                                                               






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