Third Union encampment of 2005-2006

[THing4CSA]

Hi All my fellow TH'ers
Well as I have heard so many times in the past years good things come in threes. I am currently TH'ing a third Union encampment and the finds are fabulous. With The Three Amigos searching at least one day a week the totals from the latest site is amazing; more than 100 bullets, a dozen assorted buttons, shell casings, canon shell frags, and coins. Wow is all I can say. The bullets include Musketoons fired, 58 Cal three ringers drop, 58 Cal ball shots fired and drops, 54 Cal Sharps drops and fired, 44 Cal Colt fired and drops, 44 Cal drops and fired. 58 cal Ball and shots (shots) fired, and one dropped 54 Cal sharps with shell casing attached. Several Sharps shell casings were also found. Buttons have been a strange mix of General Staff Officers cuff buttons, General service cuff, cap, Union jacket buttons both General service and two Artillery "A" buttons. The coins are first for our group, the first was a 1861 Indian Head Cent and the second was a 1859 Indian Head Cent. Several broken clay pipe have been found and lots of melted lead both remains of bullets and scraps have been recovered. Our method was to start by clearing areas that are 10 feet by 20 feet and then hunting the areas over and over. digging up the faintest of signals has provided deep targets at the eight to ten inch levels. Many of the finds did not appear as good targets. Several of the bullets came up as foil or bottle caps. The detectors we used included Garrett, CJ-7, and a Whites DFX. We feel that there are many more items to dig up so will continue to search the area and see what we can find.
To make the most of an area we make it our goal to remove all trash and litter to make it easier to find the real items we are looking for. The search area has been a dumping ground for many years so the time it takes to clear may take months or even years. We recycle all the trash we remove and do what we can to return the area to a clean natural state. We refill all our holes and make sure that all broken glass is removed so no one is cut and make the area safe for man and beast.
Keeping it real for the future TH'ers. Has anyone else searched encampments; what are your recoveries?
Dave Mork
One of the Three Amigos
Digger Dave
THing4CSA
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!

 

[kcsteve]

Digger Dave,
All I can say is Awesome! Sounds like you found the mother load!!! I could only dream of finding that many artifacts in one area. I hunt campsites as well but all my areas have crops growing right now Give me another month and I'll be digging in the dirt as well. I can't wait!
Just curious, are the buttons you found in good shape? Nice job!

 

[Nemo]

Thing4CSA:
Very nice finds. Sounds as though you and your buds are systematically approaching the campsite. Only one suggestion....hope you are GPSing the locations of all those relics. Will certainly help tell the story when they are all plotted out.

HH
Nemo

 

[THing4CSA]

Campsite finds for 2005 & 2006

Hi KCSteve, Nemo, and all my TH'ing Friends
Well we are cleaning the area out both in regards to removal of trash but also in finds. There is a church next to the one camp site that pays respect to those that fell in one of the local CW Battles every year. The church calls out the names of the battle fallen and has a small display of relics that have been located by the pastor (he uses a Whites DFX). My TH'ing friends have donated bullets, square nails, horse shoes, and other items from the camp site. As for the condition of the finds it is strange that most of the items appear to have a coat of rust or something layered on the bullets. Bullets that have come from another area across the road from our site are normal; they come out of the ground with the bone white look. Bullets from the camp site look like rocks, a brown-black color and if you attempt to clean them the outer layer will peal off like an orange and turns a 54 Cal into a 51 Cal bullet. As for using a GPS to plot the finds, well we do not go that far. We have been able to narrow down the areas that have produced the most and start there and slowly expand our working area. The entire encampment is all of ten to fourteen acres, so it is not huge by any means. We have located three trenches in the site but most are so full of trash that we are going to have our hands full when we really start clearing out the surface trash. One of the best notes I can add here is that the church has offered to allow us to dump our trash from the site in their dumpster. I tend to take the stuff home with me to dump at our recycle center. I would rather it be recycled than go to a land fill.
In response to another question asked; the buttons have been in so-so condition. All have been very fragile, the General Staff Cuff button is splitting along its base line, which is typical of these buttons. Several of the Artillery 'A' Buttons are like Swiss cheese, very rotted.
Still great finds for us all. I intend to hit this site until it is too hot this summer.
Dave Mork
Digger Dave
THing4CSA
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!

 

[vegasharp]

Hi Dave,

Nice work ! Happy to hear that you guys are deep into some productive ground.

If this was a camp, would there have been tents or huts ? The forum has discussions and pictures of "hut digging". Maybe you guys should give your area a once over with a probe ?

There's also been some discussion about ground mineralization and it's effects on relics. I've found a couple of those "rusted" looking bullets here in Georgia. Typically, they are in areas with lots of "hot rocks" and iron mineralization. The high level of trash may be a contributing factor, too.

Keep us posted on what you're finding. THX !

Rodney

 

[THing4CSA]

Encampment

Hi Rodney
Thank you for the information. The area we are searching has been a trash dump for years, lots of iron for sure. From what I have heard there was a house on the site for some time and is now history. We think that is why there are so many square nails everywhere. We have not found any indication of huts although I am guessing there has to be some there someplace as the Union was encamped for four months at a time. We have located three entrenchments but most have so much trash dumped in them that it will take years to clear them out. We will continue to search and clear out what trash we can carry away. It is a slow process to say the least. I will keep you informed of what items we next recover. I have heard of a product that will clean the rust off the bullets without harming the white color of the lead. I will get back to you with the details.
Happy TH'ing all.
Dave Mork
Digger Dave
THing4CSA
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!

 

[WinchesterRelix]

Union Camps

Reading that story reminds me of Crouch's book "Relic Hunter". I picked it up last week from Kellyco, and man it blows my mind how much stuff they recovered. I can't stop re-reading the stories....they had numerous camps all to themselves. They did alot of homework though. Congrats on your finds and thanks for sharing. There are still camps out there!

 

[THing4CSA]

Update on Encampment search finds

Hi All My Fellow TH'ers
Well, it has been a while since I updated the finds from the Union encampment discussed in the past months. To date the numbers have increased but the finds have not changed all that much. Having had two short vacations since my last update I wanted to say that even with the hot dry weather the finds are still coming up although not in the great numbers we found when we first searched this site of all sites.
The 54 Cal Sharps is by far the most often found bullet followed closely by 44 Cal pistol bullets. Most everything that is recovered be it brass or lead are all covered in a rust plating. The rust plating does detract from the overall looks of the finds but I would not trade anything found to date.
So far the coin finds are limited to three different Indian Head Cents, 1859, 1861, and a 1864 all thick coins. The buttons seem to be a find made every time out although quality wise they are not in the best of condition. All the buttons are rotted with the most recent find missing that backing. Several new and unknown items have been found but to date only guesses have been offered with no firm clue as to what we have. Lots of melted lead blobs have been recovered and as we know the Union was encamped in the site on several occasions throughout the entire Civil War, we are not sure if huts sites are under all the leaves but if they are there they will be found in due time. After review of the site we have uncovered what looks like a total of five entrenchments, one of which is very deep and is the most outside entrenchment. The inner entrenchments are more shallow and will be where we start our deeper digging and searching. Watch this discussion for updates which should start in the September/October time frame. I am very excited with what has been found and hope to continue working outward as well as deeper. I realize that the fall will bring more rain and this is a dual edged sword; you don't want to dig in the rain but mud is not your best friend either. you need to find a balance that allows for moist soil where you don't end up covered in mud during each outing. I carry old wash clothes to clean up after a days search and wiping down the equipment after digging all day is always good.
Be safe in all you do!
Dave Mork
THing4CSA
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!

 

[THing4CSA]

Another picture of the latest finds

Hi All My TH'ing Friends
I hope the attached picture is not so dark as the last one was. The items in the picture are a 54 Cal Sharps, 44 Pistol bullet, Union General Service jacket button front, one item that looks like it may be a stand-off or box rivet, I think it looks like a miniature dough-boy helmet with an iron square nail in the base, the last item is a small piece of brass that has a hole in one end, I have no idea what it is. If anyone has a clue please share your ideas.
Stay safe in all you do!
Thanks
Dave Mork
THing4CSA
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!

 

[kcsteve]

Dave, congratulations on all your latest finds. Sounds like you have a heck of a place to dig. The pictures you posted are too dark to make out the bullets but it sure is nice to hear someone is out digging up some lead and brass. Take care. :up

Steve

 

[THing4CSA]

Better pictures of 8-13-2006 finds

Hi All My TH'ing Friends
I do apologize for the dark pictures as they do no go to anyone if they cannot be seen. I hope the white background makes for a better show of the items. Please let me know if you are able to ID the round item with a hole in the middle.
Stay safe in all you do!
Dave Mork
THing4CSA
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!

 

[vegasharp]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the fascinating story and the photos. I'm very interested in seeing how the dig will go and what you will find.

Maybe the small brass item is a boot lace eyelet ? Also, one of the items appears to be a strap rivet/finial that would slip between 2 leather straps, with slits in the straps. And consider that you may have a poncho or tent grommet in the other item.

It's amazing to see the bullets that corroded. I've found buttons here in Georgia that look the same as yours: dark and corroded. Lot's of iron in our soil.

I've yet to find any period coins, however. Way to go !

Rodney

 

[vegasharp]

Hi Dave,

I went back and re-read your original posting. Nearby is another spot where the relics come out "normal". The site your working has relics that come out "corroded".

Maybe this was a dumping ground for old oil, industrial waste or farm waste ? That would explain a selective area being contaminated.

Maybe you could have a soil test for the corrosive materials ?

Good luck !

Rodney

 

[wbindia]

The site that keeps on giving

hey Digger Dave,

Good to see your posting of a few of our many finds that we have recovered these past several months from this unbelievable CW camp site. Nice pics I may add as well of your recent finds. It will be good to get out with the "two amigos" this Saturday (rain or shine). I haven't dug a button or bullet from the site since May my last outing with you Dave so will be nice to do some more digging. Thanks for the info on the dropped bullet with casing that I have in terms of proper ID. I may try to post to this site with some of the other items; buttons, bullets and stamped brass 1855 shoulder strap as well but have difficulty in trying to download pics for some reason.

Maybe my new Fisher Edge will again reward me with another old coin, button or bullet from this site. See you guys Saturday!

Wayne

 

[THing4CSA]

Thank you all for your kind words

Hi All My TH'ing Friends and my Amigo Wayne
It is always so nice to hear the positive comments and ides of others.
As for the unknown item being eyelets for shoe laces, I don't think so as the hole does not go all the way through. I am not sure what it might be but will not recycle it as scrap metal. I have given some thought to why the bullets from one area are encrusted and others from nearby are clean and think it may be just that there has been so much iron trash dumped in the area. I have to say that this is one reason that I haul out every piece of trash that is recovered, not to say that that is the only reason, but the main reason none the less. As my amigo Wayne can confirm, I tell everyone to either haul out everything they locate or as with my TH'ing Buddies, dump their trash into my bag and I will haul it out. I have been stuck by rusty nails, broken glass, and other items, so this is one of the reason I clean up the area.
I look forward to having both of my Amigos out in the woods with me again. I will admit that I do pick on my TH'ing Buddy mark as he uses a Garrett detector and I keep after him to trade in for a real detector, maybe a Whites DFX or one of the newer detectors, but he is understanding that it is really me that needs to trade up to a Garrett. In reality all detectors are only as good as the TH'er that is using it. I will try to remember to take my camera with me to get a few action shots of the entrenchments. Stay safe and dig up something good!
Dave mork
'Digger-Dave'
THing4CSA
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!

 

[wbindia]

The site that keeps on giving

Hey my amigo Digger Dave,

Thanks for posting the pics of my recent digs from the site, the Indian head and dropped .54 with intact shell casing. I tried posting the pics when I recovered those bullets in May or June but was unable to do for some reason.

I am really looking forward to doing some serious detecting on Saturday with you guys-rake, spare batteries Fisher Edge detector in hand. I will also bring a glob of molten lead that I dug last time that appears to have teeth marks in it as if it has been chewed. But I'm not sure if that is what is is so will let you and Mark have a "looksie" for proper ID. I heard of soldiers chewing on bullets-but on globs of melted lead? I don't know...

I plan on getting to the site about 8 AM sharp, will be nice to dig another old coin, bullet or button-and if not-just being out with you and Mark is a plus! Have a great rest of the work week and see you on the hill!

Wayne

 

[THing4CSA]

Greetings My Amigo Wayne

Hi My Amigo Wayne
I am in agreement with you about the blob of lead. I look forward to checking it out and giving you my two cents worth of thought. LOL I will do my best to bring my camera along as several request for a picture of the entrenchments have been made so have promised to take a few to show just what they look like. It is a good thing that I have been training myself to dig every signal as everything I have dug in the past two or three weeks have come up on my screen as aluminum foil or a coin and most have been rusted blobs of square nails and iron whatevers. As I said earlier I have been removing some of the topsoil and bringing home in hopes of getting a bit more depth to get those deeper targets. I went back over the front area where we found all those bullets and dug three more drops but these again did not come up as bullets they were more of a guess that something was there and at seven inches they popped. sure makes me wonder how many we have walked away from due to the weird signals we got on the detectors. I was thinking of searching further down by where that tent is set up and rake all the leaves to give us more search area. The ferns are all over where the first button was pulled so don't know if that will be of any good or not. I have been spending most of my time around the leaning tree where we pulled two of the coins and most of the buttons. I have a feeling that as many have suggested on this web site that there may be some huts that we are just scraping the surface of. sort of reminds me of Warrenton on Mac's place. I look forward to the reunion of the three Amigos again.
See you Saturday in the woods.
Dave mork
'Digger-Dave'
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!

 

[THing4CSA]

Update on Encampment search findEntrenchments and finds for

Hi All My fellow TH'ers
Well 8-19-2006 netted a couple more good finds. Wayne was able to join me in high humid, low 90 degree temperatures, but our Buddy Mark was unable to attend. Wayne recovered three 44 Cal Drops and a 58 Cal Round ball. My finds included two 44 Cal Drops and a Union General Services Cuff Button a triple rivet with a piece of leather between, part of a ceramic pipe, three different iron buckles, a small square nail, seven pieces of melted lead, and one item that I am unable to ID. If anyone can give me any ideas will be appreciated. I have included a picture of Wayne my Amigo after a long hot day of TH'ing. After forgetting my camera several different times I finally remembered to bring it along and take pictures of several of the entrenchments. I hope you can make out the pictures as they were taken under the trees in afternoon light.
happy TH'ing and be safe in all you do.
Dave Mork
'Digger-Dave'
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!

 

[THing4CSA]

More pictures of the Union Civil War entrenchments

Hi All My TH'ing Friends
I sure wish I could remember how to make multiple picture attachments so will settle with sending them one at a time. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this process. As I promised, here are pictures (a picture anyway) of the Union civil War entrenchments my two amigos and I are searching and recovering in excess of 200 Bullets, two dozen buttons, three coins, a piece of CSA Canon ball and lots of other items. This is by far the best Civil War encampment we have yet had the ability to search. The picture shows the slight to deep ridge of the trenches. Most of the trenches are shallow but two are very deep, nearly five feet in depth.
happy TH'ing to all and be safe in all you do.
Dave Mork
'Digger-Dave'
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!

 

[THing4CSA]

Another picture of theUnion Civil War Entrenchments

Hi All My TH'ing Friends
Here is another picture of another entrenchment. Now I have to say that the entrenchments total five, one of which is very deep, running East to West, followed closely by two or possibly three very shallow entrenchments that also run East to West. there is only one entrenchments that runs north to South. The North to South entrenchment is the one that has provided the most finds to date. Most of the finds have been to the East of the North/South Entrenchment and North of the East/West entrenchments. Our theory is the the main encampment is to the East of the North/South entrenchment and North of the East/West entrenchments. I guess it is all logical if you think about it. We plan to search the site for as long as we can or until the area is developed and lost forever. I for one will save as many of the items for the future to see rather than see them all lost forever. Check out the attached picture and I will continue to show more as I can.
Enjoy what you do and be safe in all you do.
Dave Mork
'Digger-Dave'
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!