AMERICAN DIGGER MAGAZINE

Volume 19 For Diggers and Collectors Issue 1

In This Issue:

Lost Relics of the
1836 Texas Navy

Civil War Artillery
Overnight Camp

Ground Penetrating
Radar=Privy Bonanza

One Hole Yields
Over 1,000 Miniés

Cashing in on
Scrap Finds

Gold Found on
the Golf Course
An Untouched
War of 1812 Camp

Plus recent finds
& much more!

www.americandigger.com January - February, 2023
$7.95 USA

INCLUDES: C
M
MS-3 Z-Lynk Y
wireless CM
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headphones CY
CMY
Duck Commander® K
duck call

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ALL TERRAIN DETECTING WITH NO LIMITS.

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Jase Robertson signature edition. Includes a 6” x 11” DD Viper™ AT
searchcoil, Garrett MS-3 Z-Lynk™ wireless headphones, 6” x 11” coil
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TM

January-February 2023 American Digger® 1

Volume 19, Issue 1 For Diggers and Collectors January-February 2023

The Lost Relics of the 1836 Texas Navy Page 26
Very few people realize that the short-lived Republic of Texas had its own navy. But Page 34
it most certainly did, as two collectors and the many relics they’ve acquired and
diligently researched demonstrate beyond all doubt. Page 38
By Bobby J. McKinney & John A. Culberson Page 44
Overnight Artillery Page 50
Hood’s Confederate army traveled this old road as they headed to Nashville, and PPaaggee5544
ultimately, their ruin there. Along the way, a lone Confederate artillery unit stopped
to camp overnight. Over 150 years later, the relics they left were rediscovered. Page 58
By Joe Haile
Radar System Leads to Bonanza
Using ground-penetrating radar and metal detectors at a site in Augusta,
Georgia, seasoned bottle hunters not only find collectible glassware, but Civil
War buttons and other artifacts.
By Karl Harrar
The Bullet Pit
With so many sites already heavily searched, finding one Civil War bullet might be
considered a successful hunt. Finding a dozen would be very good, and finding 50
would be terrific. One relic hunter, however, recently dug 1,191 in a single hole.
By Wes Dennen
Cash in the Trash
Dug or found junk of brass, copper, aluminum, and iron all have some cash value;
some more than others. But carefully go through your ‘scrap” items before dropping
them off at a recycling center!
By Chip Kirkpatrick
Gold on the 7th Fairway!  
Club hunts are not limited to farmlands and wooded areas. This Illinois club
secured permission to search both an old prison and a defunct golf course. At the
latter location one member was able to locate and return an old class ring to its
original owner.
By Ron Offerman
Five Days to Remember
When three diggers set out to find a cellar hole in upstate New York, they
instead wandered into an untouched War of 1812 camp. What followed was five
days of amazing finds.
By Dave Wise

2 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1

American D-Mail….……4 Founded in 2004 by those that love the hobby

Q&A....……….….……....8 Publisher
Butch Holcombe
Stumpt.............................10 Marketing Director
Anita Holcombe
Just Dug……………......12 Photographer/Consultant
Charles S. Harris
H2O.................................61 Senior Editor
Current Events..............62 Bob Roach
Copy Editors
News-n-Views................66 Bill Baab
Eric Garland
Talking Points................69 Teresa Harris
Field Representatives (USA)
Trading Post…………..71
Midwest Northeast Southeast
The Hole Truth………..72 Jeff Lubert Allyson Cohen Heath Jones

Cover Photo Videographer
______ Riley Bryant
Intern
On the cover, a turn of the century embossed Teigue Reed
aqua bottle, an “IRISH VOLUNTEERS OF
CHARLESTON” militia button (ca. 1790- Consultants
1860), a 1700s British 64th (2nd Stafford-
shire) Regiment of Foot infantry belt plate, a James Cecil, Dennis Cox, Bill Dancy, William Leigh
Nova Constellatio (ca. 1783), an 1836 Repub- III, Pam Lynch, Jack Melton, Loy Milam, Sanford Potts,
lic of Texas Navy hat insignia, a St. George’s Mike Singer, Pete Schichtel, Bob Spratley, Jim Thomas,
Communicant Association silver cross (dated Don Troiani, Chuck Bryant
1856), and a volunteer militia hat badge (ca.
1820-1830). In the background, a spread of Our Mission:
War of 1812 relics found while searching for “To promote the responsible excavation and
a colonial house site. All that and more is in collecting of all artifacts related to America.”

this issue of American Digger®! American Digger® (ISSN# 1551-5737)
______
published bi-monthly by Greybird Publishers, LLC
Photos by Thom Cole, Karin Kasupski, Bill Leckie, Nate PO Box 126, Acworth, GA 30101.
Long, Bobby J. McKinney, Stef Tanguay, and Dave Wise (770) 362-8671.

Periodical postage paid at Acworth, GA
and at additional mailing offices.

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websites other than our own. While we strive for
accuracy, American Digger® cannot be held liable
for inadvertent misrepresentation. Reader submis-
sions are encouraged, and you may write or visit
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correspondence to American Digger® is subject to
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and wanton destruction of artifacts. Please dig re-
sponsibly. Our hobby depends on it!

© 2023

January-February 2023 American Digger®® 3

D-MAIL Got a comment or question?
Write or email us!

[email protected]

It Can Always Be Worse BEEPIN’ Steve Meinzer
I just received my latest American Digger® (Sept.-Oct.
2022) and loved it all...until I got to Butch’s “The Hole
Truth.” It stopped me dead in my tracks, as I had no idea
of what he has been put through with his eye. I am so very
sorry! I pray for his recovery and not having to be laying
down, staring at the floor for many more months. When-
ever I start to feel sorry for myself with all that is going
on in this country, I hear a story like this and I really don’t
have any major problems to speak of ! I appreciate you
guys. The gold coin in this issue is obviously on page 71
in his picture of himself as a pirate.
David R. Gascoyne
Longwood, Florida

While Butch greatly appreciates your prayers and thoughts, “There’s a special place in Hell for people
he considers himself the lucky one. Although one eye was that don’t fill their holes!”
causing serious vision problems—a detached retina that
required two surgeries to regain any vision—he still has with was finding, and restoring, the tools our previous
one good eye, which is more than many people have. And generations used every day. We lose so much knowledge
yes, it was tough spending weeks facedown on what he calls as we lose our older generations. These pieces of history
a medical torture device, but no matter one’s problems, will one day be our only link to our forefathers. I applaud
someone somewhere is worse off. Plus, Butch’s philosophy the relic hunters on YouTube and the interest they gener-
is make lemonade out of lemons, or in this case, laughter ate for history and our hobby. I myself post my finds to
instead of tears, as can be seen in his pirate garb photo, as Instagram for my own cataloging. I’m glad they do what
at the time he was required to wear an eye patch.-AD they do, because it gets a new generation interested. Un-
fortunately many of our historical societies fail to groom
Permission Problems and grow this new interest.
I’ve been metal detecting here in Georgia for about two
years now, but the hardest problem I have had is getting My dream is to one day be able to hunt Civil War
permissions. With all of the old farmlands being sold and relics. Here in northeast Georgia there was troop move-
turned into subdivisions there is no telling what count- ment, but not many skirmishes.  I typically metal detect
less history has been lost. How can we preserve our past? with my young children. We have found several World
We’ve had such an increase of construction and growth War II artifacts in the past and seeing the reverence on
here in Barrow County, Georgia I would hate to know my three children’s faces, knowing that a soldier carried
what history we have lost, from arrowheads and beyond. or wore that item, is worth the price of any metal detector
What’s more, my door knocking on private property on any shelf.  They are interested in our past, in our his-
yields very little activity. Most landowners would rather tory. I know they’ll continue to be interested, whether the
it stay in the ground than to think that someone might next thing they find is either a coin, or a nail. 
find something of value or importance instead of them. I Brad Wilkerson
always make the offer that anything the landowner wants Bethlehem, Georgia
to keep they are welcome to. However, I’ve had families
that were selling their property, to be bulldozed and de- You are right, every day history is being lost to development
veloped into a subdivision, turn me down. We are losing with no chance to recover the artifacts before they are
our history at a rapid rate. 

Part of what interested me in metal detecting to begin

4 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1

destroyed and paved over. At one time, it was relatively picking one up and walking away
easy to get permission at construction sites as long as you with it. Maybe you could have a
waited until the equipment was done for the day. Now, competition for the best decorat-
however, in our lawsuit-happy culture, liability is a huge ed machine? I’ve actually thought
concern for developers and many refuse permission for that about painting one white, and
reason alone. Others are afraid of their sites getting shut me wearing sunglasses, so people
down if something is found, due to bad experiences with would think I was blind so I could
overzealous professional archaeologists and scholars. hunt in closed areas with impunity.
Chip Kirkpatrick
That said, some developers will allow relic hunting as Yulee, Florida
long as their rules are followed, including staying out of the
way and keeping a low profile. It all depends on the person We like the idea of “Best Decorated
being asked and the approach used in asking. The same or Painted Detector,” and invite
applies to door knocking. Some say yes, others say no, and readers to send pictures of their
not all sites you get permission on even have relics. But keep own detectors paint jobs or
at it, and know there are Civil War relics to be found even decorations...although in Butch’s
in areas with no recorded Civil War activities. As long as mind, it’s hard to beat that good ol’ red and black!-AD
there were soldiers living in the area, they made occasional
trips home on leave, meaning some relics followed them Leaverite
home. Here’s a tip: look for house sites that date to the Civil Terry Smith, vice president of the
War years.-AD Texas Association of Metal De-
tecting Clubs, dug this in the hunt
Suggested College Reading field at the 4th annual Moonshine
It was wonderful to receive the last issue of American Dig- Treasure Hunt held in Kentucky
ger® at college. It really lifted my spirits and was a great in September 2022. He said it was
issue to have. I had not brought any issues with me to part of George Washington’s wag-
college, so the last issue gave me something to read other on and you should put it on cover. I’ve withheld my own
than textbooks. Keep ‘em coming.  opinions about what it is or where it should be put.
Joel Chandler Mark Schuessler
Cedarville, Ohio Attica, New York

While we urge you to never neglect your college studies, Terry has indeed found an old rustycrusty, what we call a

man cannot live by textbooks alone. What better way to GOK (God Only Knows), and it is classified as a “Leaverite”

learn and be entertained at the same time than reading (as in “Leave ‘er right there”). Unfortunately (or, perhaps
American Digger®?-AD

Best Decorated Machine? Quartermaster General Relics
Since I know Butch is a Georgia “Daw-
gs” fan, he needs a detector like mine.
Note the red and black, Georgia col-
ors. This is my favorite of 13 detec-
tors (three are Garrett AT Pros). It was
“customized” because I had another
busted coil’s mouse ears and I opted
to repair rather than replace it, using
PVC fittings. To hide the sloppiness
(but effectiveness) of my workmanship
I painted it red. But I also had previ-
ously attended a huge hunt in Orlando
and saw that about a third of the detec- Specializing In Investment Grade Militaria
tors were AT Pros. Since many were left
in various locations between hunts, I John Harris, proprietor

imagined several scenarios of different quartermastergeneralrelics.com
hunters claiming the same machine or
somebody other than the owner simply 757-746-7567

January-February 2023 American Digger® 5

fortunately), our cover is full. As to the piece being from In Memoriam
George Washington’s wagon: while we are sure George
rode in a wagon or two, we doubt he’d know what it was, _______
either.-AD

First Impressions Ray Duane Ruggles
Just received my first issue of American Digger®. I am Feb. 10, 1942 - Sept. 26, 2022
very highly impressed at the quality of this publication, it
exceeds my expectations. We receive several magazines Marietta, Georgia
by mail and none are of this quality. First off it comes Civil War relic hunter, collector, and
wrapped in plastic (to protect it), awesome. Second, it co-founder of North Georgia Relic
has much more content than any of the other publica-
tions I receive. Third and last, the quality of the paper Hunters Association.
is amazing, the pages are heavier than most magazines _______
and glossy. Hats off to those of you who put this togeth-
er. Looking forward to sitting down and enjoying it this William “Ken” Mooney
evening. Oct. 15, 1934 - July 23, 2022
Jeffrey Waid
Canton, Ohio Old Church, Virginia
Longtime relic hunter, collector,
Thank you for subscribing to what we feel is the best maga-
zine available concerning the hobbies we love: metal detect- and history enthusiast.
ing and collecting history.-AD
_______
Cover Question
I was curious as to what the criteria is for selecting photos Joseph Anthony DeMarco
and relics to go on the American Digger® cover. Some- 1970 - Nov. 5, 2022
times I’ll see something fairly common on the cover, yet Millville, New Jersey
see things that are a lot rarer in the Just Dug section. It
makes sense to me that the rarest relics should be put on Owner of DeMarco Detector Sales &
the cover. metaldetecting.com, SunRay Elec-
Charles Brady tronics, and Patriot Headphones.
Richmond, Virginia
_______
While that makes perfect sense in theory, there are a num-
ber of reasons why the rarest pieces submitted to us are not Frank Warren
always used on the cover. The cover is meant to be a visual Sept. 15, 1938- Nov. 11, 2023
treat to represent what is inside the issue. Sometimes, a rarer
artifact will not reproduce well for this purpose because of Hixon, Tennessee
the poor condition of the item or poor photo quality. To be Avid southeastern relic hunter and
considered for the cover, the photo of the relic must be in
clear focus and a large size file (at least 5 mb, and 10 mb collector of Civil War artillery for
is not too large). While we can always reduce the size of a 60+ years.
photo if needed, to enlarge one often leaves it pixilated and _______
unsuitable for the cover. Also, since the cover is a visual treat,
there is the “pretty factor” and “cool factor.” In other words, If you know of the recent passing of a person in the world of artifact collecting/
an attractive, good quality photo of something that is cool (or metal detecting, etc, please send obituary information to publisher@
rare) increases the odds of an appearance on the cover.-AD americandigger.com. Although we extend our sympathies to all, we can only
publish if space allows.
Dog Tag Return
While hunting a location that was once a military camp, find anyone related in the
I found a perfectly preserved dog tag of a soldier that area of the address. I took a
once stayed in the camp. I spent a couple weeks research- break from searching for a
ing the name, address and next of kin info but could not while but, around Christmas,
thought it would be nice to
6 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1 get this back to the family
so I started looking again. I
found the name of a woman
who was related to the name on the tag. I called and left
a message; the next day I got a return call and it was the
daughter of the soldier. She was an only child and was

very close to her folks. She said when she heard my mes- hobby with others. We always invite clubs to contact us
sage she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. I asked for with information about their events so we can help promote
her address and got the dog tag back where it belonged: them anyway we can.-AD
with her. As a 15+ year detectorist, I can honestly say this
was the most rewarding thing this hobby has brought me.

It was found with a Minelab CTX-3030 on 10/27/21
in the woods of Pennsylvania. I posted a
video of the find with a cut-in of the letter
I received from the soldier’s daughter at
https://youtu.be/4sur-LSeRjc
Joe Sages (MetalDiggrz)
Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Thank You
I can’t thank you enough for the prize subscriptions to
American Digger® magazine that you contributed to our
club’s (N.E.W.) memorial hunt.  Over $2,000 was raised
with the money going to cancer research in Mike Lee’s
name. Mike, a member of our club, died of COVID and
his daughter is now battling brain cancer. On behalf of
our club, I would like to thank you again for your dona-
tion.
Michael Counter
De Pere, Wisconsin

Clubs hold a special place in our hearts, and we feel they
bring more camaraderie to the hobby of metal detecting
and collecting. They also do a lot in a civic way, not only by
raising money for good causes but also in creating goodwill
and additional interest in the community by sharing the

Tired of stressing? Try laughing!

No...I Won’t Shut Up!

By Butch Holcombe

Enjoy 16 years of The Hole Truth columns
as seen in American Digger® magazine. If
you dig, collect, or know someone who
does, this book is for you!

PO Box 126
Acworth, GA 30010

770-362-8671 or
email [email protected]
208 pgs softcover $19.95 (+$3 shipping)

January-February 2023 American Digger® 7

Q&A With

? Charles Harris

Ifound this brass token at a site of similar circumstances: Currency Earlier this year, my dad, Lanier
in Tennessee. It was shown in an was suddenly in short supply and Lowe, found this section of
article in your magazine a while enterprising businesses took up the rail in the river near the Nash-
back, but some people still don’t banner and started making their ville to Chattanooga Railroad line. It
know much about these “hard times” own substitute pennies to be used is 5 foot 4 inches long and weighs 78
tokens. I’m familiar with these but as temporary replacements in order pounds. We know it is a Civil War-
would like to hear your take. to keep businesses and the economy era “U” trail and sent it in for Just
Donnie Vaughn moving. It also did wonders as far Dug (shown in American Digger® last
as advertising and repeat customers year) but would like to know what
I imagine that many of our readers when given as change. you can tell us about it.
are familiar with the “Store Card” Aaron Lowe
and “Patriotic” tokens of the Civil The first era started during Presi-
War era. Surprisingly, a few of dent Andrew Jackson’s term of office That is a beautiful piece of a Confed-
the tokens actually remained in (1829–1837). In campaigning, he had erate “U-rail” or “hat rail,” as some
circulation up through the turn of the called for the abolition of the Second call it. There is a high demand for this
century, because they looked at first Bank of the United States. Once he design by collectors. This type is one
glance like pennies. We have had two won the election, he worked to weaken of five different designs of railroad
periods that tokens were in general the bank before its charter expired. rail found in use during the four years
circulation in the USA: between 1832 Without the Bank of the United States, of the Civil War.
and 1844 and during the Civil War. most of the state and private banks be-
Both periods of token use were a result gan printing large numbers of notes to Not only were different designs of
keep the economy going, which also fu- the rails themselves used during that
8 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1 eled inflation. era, there were different gauge tracks,
meaning that the spacing between
Speculation in public lands also them depended on which railroad
increased, causing the creation of the company laid them. Maybe you can
Specie Circular on July 11, 1836 which
stated that all public lands had to be
purchased with gold and silver coins in
payment, because the state paper money
was not backed up with specie. This Spe-
cie Circular set a panic into motion and
the public began hoarding all coinage
or specie. This devastated the economy.
The banks and businesses began to fail
and the nation went into a depression.
The Panic of 1837, during Van Buren’s
presidency, became known as the “Hard
Times.”

This is when stores began creating
their own coinage, such as your Hard
Times token. Also the “Not One Cent
for Tribute” tokens began to be minted
soon after. Then, during the American
Civil War people began hoarding copper
coins, creating a shortage. During that
time, other tokens were minted of both a
commercial and patriotic nature.

now appreciate the comments about so we went to the source and asked
the rail travel during the Civil War, Jim Thomas, who confirmed the iden-
such as: “We came into the east side tity, adding that “based on the photo
of town and the train stopped. Then I believe it to be carved, whittled, or
we had to disembark from our train, what a friend would call ‘toyed with.’”
walk all the way through town and
then get onto another train.” Why Idug this odd bullet at a Civil War Ifound this near a river, at a farm
didn’t they just go all the way through site in Virginia. Some people say area near Mobile Bay, Alabama  It’s
the town? Because train wheels were it’s French, others say a Nessler, and rather big and I think it’s a harness
set to run on one gauge only, and others aren’t sure. It is about .69 caliber. buckle, but I’m not sure if it is for horses
switching trains often meant having Barb Connell or what, or how old it is. I have not been
to change railroads. Sometimes gaug- able to find anything that looks like it
es were different within a company. I’d always called this style French be- on internet searches.
For instance, the “N&C RR” (Nash- cause that’s what the old Mason & Diana Nichols
ville and Chattanooga) actually used McKee bullet book, Civil War Pro-
two different gauges on their tracks. jectiles, called them. Some old-timers I have been through all of my sources
The first was four feet and nine inches also call them shotgun slugs. Since and the internet looking for a similar
and the other was five feet even. That that time, much more research has buckle. So far, no such luck.  Note that
three inches difference between the been done, primarily by Jim Thomas, this sizable iron buckle has a loop or
two meant that trains that ran on one author of several bullet books, notably ring on one end. The loop is just the size
could not run on the other. the four-part Rimfire to Roundball to receive a snap link, so evidently this
series. They have now been confirmed buckle attaches another (probably small-
In other words, not only were as being a Confederate bullet made in er) leather strap to a larger one. The ring
there five different types of rail, but for the snap link is meant for a quick re-
there was not yet a standardization Raleigh, North moval of the other strap.  Knowing the
for the distance between the rails. If Carolina at the area it was found, it could be for use on
the rails are not consistently the same state school for a boat, maybe for tying it to the shore.
distance apart there are going to be the deaf and However, if nautical, I’d expect it to be
some obvious problems and delays in dumb. The basic made of non-ferrous metal, as iron is not
transportation.  design is called a ideal for prolonged exposure to water,
Nessler and was especially salt water. So until we know
Chartered in 1845 and completed originally intro- more, I believe it was some sort of tack
in 1854, the N&C RR was owned by duced in Bel- for a large draft animal.
the state of Tennessee and was 150 gium. But still, it
miles long. It had to tunnel through doesn’t look ex-     
the Cumberland Plateau near Tracy actly the same as
City. At Missionary Ridge in Chat- others I’ve seen,
tanooga the engineers found the only
rock in the whole ridge and put the
tunnel through at that point. I’ve also
heard, but can’t verify, that the Pan-
ama Canal Railroad, built in 1849
through 1855, used this same type
“U” rail. 

January-February 2023 American Digger® 9

STUMPT! We don’t know what they are. Do you know
what they are? Send your guesses, facts,
theories, ideas, and related correspondence to:

Stumpt, c/o American Digger®,
PO Box 126, Acworth, GA, 30101
or email [email protected]

Steven Szafranski found this token Several years ago, near Massies John Lynch found this “old man”
while detecting soil dumped after Corner, Virginia, Ray M. Culter and while detecting in Douglas County,
the dredging of the St. Lawrence Malcolm Price were digging a Civil Georgia. It appears to be made
River seaway. It is embossed “ONE War camp of New York soldiers. of pewter. While there is a good
DOLLAR IN TRADE” while the ob- They dug Union general service chance that it was mounted on a
verse shows an Indian chief sur- and letter buttons, New York but- walking stick once, we’d still like to
rounded by stars. We are hoping tons, and a lot of three-ring Miniés. verify that. Readers, can you show
a reader can help us learn more One item Ray dug was pieces of us this piece on a cane, if indeed
about it and when it was made. what appears to be silver plated that is what it is?
brass. A dime is shown for size.
Guesses so far include part of a Dan Nelson dug this crotal bell in
suspender buckle, insignia, or part northern Vermont and is wondering
of a medal. If you can identify it, where it was made and its age. It
please contact us. has an “I” (or possibly “J”) on one
side and an “R” on the other, but so
Charlotte Marek Wendołowski found this far the meaning of those letters is
Stevenson odd piece while metal detecting in a mystery. Oddly, those in the USA
has us stumpt Poland. It appears to be made of who were asked think it is English,
with this cast brass or other nonferrous metal. but those in England say it is North
brass disc she After posting it on our FaceBook American. There was a John Read
recently dug in “Can You ID?” page, it appears that of Aldbourne, England (late 1700s)
the Alton Park area of Chattanooga, it may have been from a rifle scope, and John Rudhall of Gloucester,
Tennessee. About one inch in but if so, what kind and what era? England (early 1800s) who made
diameter, it has the remains of Let us know if you can offer more bells, but this bell looks different
a single iron wire fastener on the information. than the ones noted. It measures
reverse. The figure looks to be about 1¾ inches in diameter and
wearing a heavy coat, a pointed has a casting scar on its side. It
hat, and carrying a bundle on a stick also has a lot of file marks where it
over its shoulder. But what the item was finished. If you can provide us
is, what the figure represents, and more information on this particular
how old it is all remain a mystery. bell, please contact us.

10 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1

January-February 2023 American Digger® 11

JJuusstt DDuugg Recent finds by our readers...

Charles Carter was water detect- John Colaneri was detecting on a Steve Evans was detecting
ing at an old swimming area in Middletown, Rhode Island beach around an old house site in Al-
Marion County, Florida and found and found this 1928 Herbert Hoover legheny County, Pennsylvania
this 10k gold ring. Mounted on it is presidential campaign ring. It was and made this find. The 1675 Pil-
an 1858 California gold token that about 10 inches down under a lar and Waves 2-reale cob was
is repoussed, i.e., 3-D. Charles rocky part of the beach. The ring minted in Potosi, Bolivia. Span-
found the ring on July 19, 2022. He was crushed when found, how- ish silver was a popular curren-
was using a Minelab Equinox 800 ever he was able to straighten it as cy in the New World due to its
when he made the find. Photo by shown here. These originally had known precious metal content
red, white, and blue enamel in the and a shortage of coins minted in
Charles Carter recesses. It was found on August the colonies. Steve made the find
12, 2022 by him with a Nokta Mac- on August 22, 2022 while using
ro Simplex+. Photo by John Colaneri an XP Deus. Photo by Steve Evans

Karin Kasupski was searching Ricky Hughes was water detecting Shane Doherty was searching a
around an old house built in the in Columbus County, North Caro- site in southwest Missouri which
early 1800s when she recovered lina and found these 1860s relics. was connected to Confederate
this artillery shako hat plate. The The sash buckle was intended to General Sterling Price’s cavalry
relic dates from approximately be worn by a member of a base- raid of September and October
1820 to 1830. The star above the ball club and is thought to date to 1864 in an unsuccessful attempt to
eagle designates it as being in- approximately 1865. The first of capture St. Louis. The Model 1851
tended for wear by volunteer mi- such clubs playing baseball as we sword belt plate was dug on Sep-
litias. The silver-plated stamped now recognize the sport were the tember 24, 2022; Shane was us-
copper plate was found near Mil- New York Knickerbockers, found- ing a Nokta Makro Legend. Photo
ton, Vermont on August 14, 2022. ed in 1845. Ricky uses a Nokta
Karin made the find with a Minelab Makro Legend. Photo by Ricky Hughes by Shane Doherty
Equinox 600. Photo by Karin Kasupski

12 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1

Michael Counter was detect- During the summer of 2022, Mark Kus was detecting in a Connecticut river
ing a site in central Wisconsin at a spot that was a yacht club in the 1890s to early 1900s. Among his finds
in August 2022 and found three there (and shown above) are numerous silver coins, including a Spanish half
antique fobs on the same day reale. Also found was a King George II copper and a pair of colonial cufflinks,
there. The most interesting was suggesting that the site may have been used long before the yacht club was
this one embossed, “20TH AN- formed. A Minelab Equinox 800 was used to make the finds. Photos by Mark Kus
NUAL REUNION/21ST REGT./
CHICKAMAUGA/1863/WIS. Elisabeth Cole was metal detecting a site in Skagit County, Washington
VOL’S/SEPT. 19-20/APPLETON and recovered this WWII-era artifact. The diecast metal scale model was
WIS./1907.” The Battle of Chick- manufactured by H.A. Framburg & Co in August 1944. One of 12 rec-
amauga was the first major en- ognition training models, these were used by U.S. sailors to help them
gagement of the Civil War fought identify Allied ships during the war. This one depicts the HMS Belfast, a
in Georgia and claimed the sec- British Navy ship. Elisabeth made the find in August 2022 while using a
ond-highest number of casual- Garrett AT Max. Photo by Elisabeth Cole
ties after the Battle of Gettysburg.
Mike found the fob at nine inch-
es deep with a Minelab Equinox
800.  Photo by Michael Counter

Fred Vela and his son Christopher Curt Baginski and Doug Kiser were detecting at a circa 1915 house when
were detecting at the ruins of an Curt walked into a section of the yard that was loaded with 18th century brass
Indian War-era fort in Texas and shoe buckles. Altogether over 30 complete buckles were excavated by the
recovered these late 1800s relics. pair, including small childrens’ size and iron shoe buckles. The property backs
Shown are a “WB” padlock (these up to what was once very large colonial homestead. Curt and Doug believe
are shown in the Wilson Bohannan that this ground was once the location of the cobbler’s den on the estate. The
lock company’s 1890 catalogue), a finds were made in northern Maryland in June 2022. Both detectorists use a
Hutchinson stopper wire from a blob Minelab Equinox 800. Photos courtesy of Curt Baginski and Doug Kiser
top bottle, a Henry casing, an intact
Henry cartridge, and a Springfield JJaannuuaarryy--FFeebbrruuaarryy 22002233 AAmmeerriiccaann DDiiggggeerr®® 1133
40/70 cartridge. The pair made the
finds on September 28, 2022 with a
Nokta Legend. Photo by Fred Vela

John Lynch was relic hunting a site Jason Foote of Dark Water Megs
in Douglas County, Georgia when regularly finds huge megalodon
he recovered this solid cast C.S.A. shark teeth while scuba diving in
(Confederate States of America) the rivers of the southeast USA.
waist belt plate. The Confederate But some are bigger than others,
buttons (two Georgia State seals such as this 5.41-inch-long speci-
and an “A” artillery) were found men he recently found, shown
nearby. Then near a ferry in the here after cleaning. Although the
same county, he found this sil- meat eaters could grow to 60 feet
ver identification shield engraved, in length, the average size was
“GHS/Co L/9th PVC.” It is believed around 32 feet; this one was prob-
to have been lost by George H. ably a little over 40 feet long. Meg-
Summers of Company L, 9th Penn- alodons roamed the oceans, which
sylvania Cavalry. Summers mustered in as a private on May 5, 1864 at that time encompassed much of
and was captured December 3rd of that same year. The finds were the southeast U.S., approximately
made in March 2022. Photos by Anita Holcombe 16 to 3.5 million years ago. Photo

In August 2022 Dominic credit, DarkWaterMegs.com
Geraci was detecting at a
1760s farm in southwest- Scott Ruetten was searching a site
ern New Hampshire that near DePere, Wisconsin and found
had previously yielded this WWII-era United States Navy
a dozen early colonial sterling silver ring. The ring is well
copper coins and count- worn with “USN” and an anchor on
less buttons, buckles, the top and an eagle on either side.
musketballs, and pewter It was found in the fall of 2022 at
fragments. After three eight inches deep using a Garrett
hours with few signals AT Max. Photos by Scott Ruetten
and making a handful of
finds, the sun was drop-
ping fast and soon it was
dark. Heading back to-
ward the car Dominic got
a solid tone and decided
to dig one last signal. At five inches deep, a rare 1707 Segovia reale
was unearthed. The silver coin was minted in Spain. Then on the first
day of autumn, while searching a former colonial tavern site (c.1767)
in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire Dominic stepped over a stone
wall and within two minutes got a scratchy penny/dime signal in an iron
patch. Assuming it wouldn’t be anything significant, Dominic detected
around the area some more before finally deciding to dig the target. It
turned out to be a beautiful 1721 2-reale Spanish silver pistareen. The
finds were made while using a Minelab XTerra 705 w/18 Khz DD coil.

Photos by Dominic Geraci

14 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1

Bill Siesser was detecting at a site in Teresa and Charles Riley were sur-
Nashville, Tennessee in August, 2022 prised to find what was left of a U.S.
and found a Civil War-era Union army Civil War-era belt plate far from the
bayonet blade. He went back to the site active campaign areas of that war.
two weeks later and found the socket Probably lost by a soldier on leave
not far away, along with a Mercury or a veteran, it was unearthed in a
dime. Photos by Bill Siesser farmer’s field in Brooklyn, Connecti-
cut. These accoutrement waist belt
plates were originally filled with lead
to make them sturdy, but in this one
the lead has been melted out, leav-
ing only the fastening hooks and a
portion of the thin brass face. The
buckle was found on October 9,
2022 with a MInelab Equinox 600.

Photos by Charles Riley

Rodney Fowler was water hunt- Chip Kirkpatrick was detecting a house
ing in Columbus County, North site in Fernandina Beach, Florida and
Carolina and found this gold 1928 found this 1837 “hard times” token for
class ring. So far, no information the Smith Clock Establishment in the
has been found about the school, Bowery, New York. Such tokens were
Charlotte High School. There is minted by a number of commercial enti-
a hornet’s nest on the onyx face; ties from 1833 to 1843 as unofficial cur-
this symbol came about after Lord rency and also as a form of social and
Cornwallis, withdrawing from the area during the Revolutionary War, political protest over several Federal
reportedly said, “...this place is a damned hornet’s nest.” Since then, the policies. Chip made the find in October
hornet’s nest has been used with pride by Charlotte institutions, even 2022 with a Garrett AT Pro. Photo by
appearing on the city’s official seal. Not long after, he was water hunting
and found this early Boy Scout button, ca. 1911-1920s. Rodney made Chip Kirkpatrick
the finds in mid 2022 while using a Nokta Simplex + detector. Photos by

Rodney Fowler

JJaannuuaarryy--FFeebbrruuaarryy 22002233 AAmmeerriiccaann DDiiggggeerr®® 1155

Damina Tim Bowman Charlotte
Notnagle was detect- Stevenson
was metal ing at a 19th- was busy dig-
detecting at century house ging relics in
a colonial- site in Hardin 2022. In April
era home- County, Kentucky, which has pro- she found this
site located duced several early coins as well Union car-
in south- as other relics. This day, November tridge box sling plate, aka breast-
east Virginia when she found 9, 2022, he dug this 1842 Seated plate, atop a dirt pile at a con-
this Confederate Civil War relic. Liberty dime with a New Orleans struction site in Chattanooga,
The coat-size Louisiana button mintmark. 2,202,000 of these silver Tennessee. She returned in
was made just before the war by coins were struck that year at the September to find this aluminum
the Scovill Manufacturing Com- U.S. Mint in Louisiana. The facility token for liquor dealer E.R. Bet-
pany of Waterbury, Connecticut. began in 1838 but was shut down in titon. The Union engineer’s button
Damina made the find at about 1861 at the dawn of the Civil War. It was also found there. That same
seven inches deep on November reopened in 1879 and operated until month, she visited Warrior, Ala-
12, 2022 while using an XP Deus. its final closure in 1909. bama and found another token,
this one for the Youngstown Mining
Photos by Kelley Rea Photos by Tim Bowman Company employee’s store. Com-
pany stores were noted for creating
James Stottlemyer was digging a dump site when he found this brass situations where employees were
Gibson Girl brooch. The piece was once gold plated or gilted and dates all but forced to spend their wages
from around the turn of the century. Gibson Girls were meant to represent at retail businesses owned by the
feminine qualities and beauty in women. The term “Gibson Girl” came same companies that were paying
about in the 1890s as Charles Gibson began to spread the ideas of dress them. To ensure this remained in
reform, women in the workplace, education, marriage, manners, and po- place, any change from the mer-
litical power. These ideas spread across the nation like wildfire through chant was issued in tokens like this.
magazines and the Gibson Girl became a fashion and political statement She made the finds with a Garrett
all in one. James was later walking a creek bed and spotted this vintage AT Pro. Photos by Charlie Harris
enameled Pennzoil sign sticking out of the mud. Both were found in the
upper peninsula of Michigan in July 2022. Photos by James Stottlemyer

16 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1

On May 10, 2022 Larry Ehlinger was detecting a wildly overgrown cellar hole
in upstate New York when he dug what was left of a .44 caliber percus-
sion derringer. The rich damp soil along with years of being underground
ate away all of the wooden handle. Research showed that this particular
model was made between 1850-1860. Photo by Larry Ehlinger

Ben Motisher was In September 26, 2022, Ariel Rose
detecting at an old and her father Bryan were search-
school site in north- ing an old homesite in southern
west Ohio when he Michigan.  While there, she found
dug this 1840s “hard this early 1900s U.S. Army of-
times” token adver- ficer’s hat badge. Bryan says, “It
tising James Mof- was 100 degrees outside, but she
fet, a brass founder was real trooper and didn’t want
in New York City. to stop finding our treasures that
As the depression day. We were using my Minelab
caused by the Panic of 1837 deepened into the worst financial crisis the CTX 3030.” Ariel found her first sil-
country had yet experienced, U.S. coins became extremely scarce due to ver coin, a 1937 Mercury dime, in
bank failures and public hoarding. Hard times tokens were privately issued 2021 at age five, and that was the
pieces nearly identical in size and weight to copper large cent and half cent start of her becoming an avid de-
coins, and as they entered circulation in the late 1830s, they came to be tectorist. Photos by Bryan Rose    
accepted as legal tender in lieu of the government minted coins. In fact,
they could occasionally still be found in circulation well after the depres-
sion ended, which might help explain how a New York hard times token
eventually made its way to Ohio. Ben found the token with his Minelab
Equinox 800 on August 7, 2022. Photos by Ben Motisher

Nate Long recovered all of the items shown Robert Devilbiss found this den-
here during a one-day privy dig in upstate tal plate while metal detecting a
New York in September 2022. Among his Civil War camp in Uniontown,
better finds was a barrel bitters, two com- Maryland. The teeth appear to be
plete pots, and colored bottles including porcelain and are mounted in sil-
cranberry, green, and aqua. Nate locates ver. Robert made the find about
his privies by using an Easy Radar GPR. four inches deep in October 2022
while using his XP Deus. Photo by
Photos by Nate Long
Robert Devilbiss

JJaannuuaarryy--FFeebbrruuaarryy 22002233 AAmmeerriiccaann DDiiggggeerr®® 1177

Tristan Sprout Riley Bryant, Maryanne Irish was detecting in
was detecting videographer what is now a sports venue parking
a field near for American area in Kansas City, Kansas and
Olin, Iowa and Digger® mag- dug this brass “POLICE” equipment
found this rel- azine, was on tag from North American Aviation.
ic. Known as a panel plate, these a relic hunt in The aircraft factory built over 6,000
circa-1850 belt buckles were used Mississippi. B-25 Mitchell bomber planes for the
by militias of the period. These After a fairly successful dig in USAF, RAF, and other allies from
were made of stamped brass and the woods, he relaxed by walk- 1941-1945. Maryanne’s father was
are often missing the soldered- ing the banks of the Mississippi a USMC pilot in Okinawa during
on fasteners, as is the case with River, which was experiencing that time and may have flown one of
this one. Tristan made the find extremely low water levels. In ad- the planes built in Kansas City. The
on October 29, 2022 while using dition to several Civil War bullets, factory photo shows the plant during
a Minelab Equinox 800. Photos by he eyeballed this U.S. cartridge WWII. Maryanne made the find on
box plate. The accoutrement September 10, 2022 with a Garrett
Tristan Sprout plate has both wire loops present AT Pro and Viper coil. Photos by Mary-
and is in extremely good condi-
tion. He made the find anne Irish, factory photo courtesy of Library
in late October 2022. of Congress
Follow Riley on Tiktok
to watch his digs live.

Photos by Riley Bryant

Ari Koutsouradis was detecting in J.C. Hinton was metal detect- Todd Yerks (aka CTTodd) was de-
Carroll County, Maryland when he ing at a site near Stauton, Vir- tecting at a New York cellar hole
found this 1807 Draped Bust silver ginia and recovered this War nicknamed “the GW site” due to
dime. He made the find on Novem- of 1812-era 12th Regiment of several George Washington buttons
ber 1, 2022 with a Minelab Equi- Infantry button. The one-piece having been found there. At the site
nox 800. Photos by Ari Koutsouradis button is silver plated and was in August 2022 he found this 1794
made in a mold, as seen by the Liberty Cap large cent in excellent
18 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1 seam on its reverse. J.C. made dug condition. Todd made the find
the find in October 2022 while with an XP Deus II using his “deep
using a Nokta Legend detector. coppers” program. Photo by Todd Yerks

Photos by J.C. Hinton

Rodney Hiers was at a South Michael Craig Burns
Carolina Dirt Digger’s relic hunt Sanderson was hunting an
near Beaufort when he found was relic old farm prop-
this rare button at an old home- hunting at an erty [in Arkan-
site located on the property. The 1863 Union sas], digging
silver-plated one-piece button is camp located one  shotgun shell headstamp after
backmarked “Earl & Lee/New near Shelbyville, Tennessee another for two hours, all reading
York” and was made for the and made these finds during 14/15/16 on his Minelab Equinox
Irish Volunteers of Charleston. a one-day hunt. Most notable 600. After yet another signal with
This militia group, organized are the two cast brass Indiana the same numbers, out popped his
in Charleston about 1798, first badges. These were sold by greatest find to date, an 1846 2½
saw active service during the sutlers stationed in the Western dollar gold coin. Craig dug it on No-
War of 1812. Publisher Butch theater of the Civil War. Michael vember 2, 2022. Photos by Craig Burns
Holcombe was only feet away found most of the bullets with a
when Rodney dug it, and as- Minelab Etrac metal detector, Stan Hanewich
sisted in identifying it. Rodney then switched to a Minelab was detecting
made the find on October 28, Equinox, went back over the near Newport,
2022 with an XP Deus II. Photos same ground, and found the New Hamp-
two badges five feet apart from shire and dug
by Rodney Hiers each other. He made the finds up this important piece of U.S.
in November 2022. Photos by colonial history. The 1787 Fugio
cent was the first coin minted and
Michael Sanderson authorized to be put into circula-
tion in the United States. Designed
Dan Patterson by Benjamin Franklin, these were
was relic hunting only minted in 1787. Stan made
at a Civil War-era the find on October 30, 2022 while
plantation occu- using a Minelab Equinox 600. You
pied by Confed- can see this and other finds on his
erate troops near YouTube channel, Admonish the
Vicksburg, Mis- Metal. Photos by Stan Hanewich
sissippi and made
these finds. The
gold watch wind-
er is fitted with
a ruby or red stone. The CSN (Confederate
States Navy) button is a cuff size with a “Fine
Treble Gilt” backmark. Dan made the finds in
the fall of 2022. Photos by Dan Patterson

JJaannuuaarryy--FFeebbrruuaarryy 22002233 AAmmeerriiccaann DDiiggggeerr®® 1199

In Their Own Words:
Just Dug with a Personal Touch

“In August “While detecting “[On March 22, 2022] I was deep
2022 I hunted at a private park cleaning my home [ca. 1839, lo-
a construction around Milton, cated in White Plains, Alabama]
site in middle Massachusetts, getting it ready to sell. As I used a
Tennessee with I got a shallow broom to get in the corners [and]
my  Minelab quarter signal baseboards, I heard a jingling. I
Equinox. This area is known for and out popped a coin I never found this silver cross which was
Civil War camps. I was able to dig a thought I’d ever find. It is a Massa- almost gone under the wall; only
few bullets and part of an iron spur. chusetts state copper, either 1787 the ring at the top prevented it from
As the sun was going down I dug or 1788, and a major bucket lister. sliding completely under the wall.
this 1859 Seated Liberty half dime This coin that was made a year or It reads: ‘Oct. 29th St. George’s
minted in New Orleans. This coin two before George Washington Communicant Association 1856/
has a low mintage of 560,000. You became the president. Shocking- Do This in Remembrance of Me.
can see damage to the coin from ly, it was only about an inch down. “I know about eyeballing, but what
getting hit by the heavy equipment. It was found with a Minelab Equi- do you call finding something by
I am glad to save a few more relics nox 600 on September 17, 2022.” ear?” Thom Cole
from being lost forever due to devel- Danielle Suarez
opment.” David Johnson

“We went metal detecting on a hot August “I found this printing plate from
2022 afternoon to a new area. There weren’t Tilden & Company in mid August
many signals but on the way back I stumbled 2022 with a Minelab Equinox 800
upon a 91 on the VDI scale that didn’t sound in New Lebanon, New York. I be-
deep at all. Thinking that it maybe was the lieve it was used to print labels for
usual suspect (an aluminum can), I started to medicine bottles. In 1824, in New
dig the hole and out pops a ‘US’ staring back Lebanon, Elam Tilden established
at me. Immediately I knew what I had! I flipped Tilden & Company, which became
it over to see if it was a buckle or box plate the first pharmaceutical company
and I saw both iron attachments on the back in the United States. It closed in
for a box plate. [Found in central Virginia with 1963. This is a great piece of local
an XP Deus.]” Hunter Garrett history.” Matthew Carr

20 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1

“In Septem- “I was on my 1820s farmhouse permission in northern North Carolina and
ber 2022 I was was not having much luck. I’d found a hammer and some aluminum, but noth-
down in New ing for my special finds box. I was swinging my Nokta Simplex + when [the
Jersey for the property owner’s] brother who lives across the street came over and asked
Deep Search me to check out his front yard. He said there used to be a strawberry stand
Metal Detect- there and I could probably find some coins. Well, I didn’t find any coins, but
ing Club’s 40th I did find this beautiful 1872 Horace Greeley presidential campaign medal. It
Anniversary hunt. While I had a rang up around 78-82 and is made of copper. Horace Greeley was the presi-
great time at the hunt this find dential candidate for the ‘Liberal Republican’ party in 1872. He ran against
was not part of the hunt. I de- Ulysses S. Grant and lost. I’ve been metal detecting for about eight months
cided to head down the beach and I’m not sure how I’ll ever beat this find!” Savannah Hayes
on my own and test my luck. I
ended up finding this beautiful “Two buddies and I were hunting a recent [tree] cutover looking for
14K rose gold necklace with a Civil War leavings. We knew an old house site was there with Confed-
bountiful amount of diamonds. erate potential because of a prior expedition, pre-tree cutting. Pickings
I was using my Minelab Equi- were pretty slim with an occasional round ball or coin, not much else.
nox 600 and it rang up a nice I was using a new XP Deus II and working some fairly heavy iron. Got
13/14. This was my first time a signal that was marginal but repeating. I commenced to dig and hit
finding any gold, let alone with every nasty root there was. In fact, roots on roots. Finally I got down
diamonds. I’ve included some about eight inches where the pinpointer vaguely sounded. More dig-
pictures as well as a link to the ging. I used every [digging] tool I had…and finally, my pocket knife.
video of the find.  https://youtu. The pocket knife was the only thing that would fit in the space. Got to
be/SpLRJ_oFpak”  Josh Parker where I made contact with the object. I felt some roundness, but not
(YouTube.com/508Magnets) sure if it was a breastplate or shell. Took out a small magnet I carry; it
attracted but barely. So, no shell. Maybe a plate. Got to where I had a
“I found my first trime at Digstock portion uncovered and saw lead back and oval shape, so not a breast-
on Saturday, October 29 using plate. I pulled, tugged and wiggled but that sucker wouldn’t break free.
my Minelab Equinox 600. I was Back to the pocketknife. Another five minutes of whittling dirt and this
searching a cornfield when I got broke free from about 12-14 inches deep. It was a nice U.S. box plate
yet another 14 signal. This time in great shape. It was found on the Virginia Peninsula in early October
it was the trime and not another 2022.” Cory D. Rind
piece of aluminum.” 
Scott Haskins JJaannuuaarryy--FFeebbrruuaarryy 22002233 AAmmeerriiccaann DDiiggggeerr®® 2211

“On September 11th, 2022, I was metal detecting a harvested cornfield “On September 1, 2022, I was
near my house in Connecticut when I heard a loud 25/26 on my Minelab detecting an old homesite that’s
Equinox 600. After breaking the ground open, I was greeted with the been turned into a park in north-
edge of a big copper coin—always a pleasant sight! I didn’t have much west Ohio when I got my coil over
hope for an ID, given that every copper I had previously dug out of this an upper-mid tone target that the
field was toasted, but...this very special copper was an exception to the detector said was pretty much at
rule. Immediately, I was able to see the pointed rays and ‘NOVA’ along or near the surface. This section
the edge of the coin. Nova Constellatio coins are exceedingly rare, as of the park is relatively free from
they were the first coins struck under the authority of the United States, modern trash, but I assumed this
but were never intended for circulation. It is estimated that the variety was going to be a pull tab. When
I’ve found (Crosby 3-B) is limited to under 1,000 pieces in existence. I I stooped down to get it out of the
still can’t believe my luck that out of all of the toasted coins in this field, way, the pinpointer confirmed that
this one remained in phenomenal condition. This Nova Constellatio is it was close to the surface, which
my most historically significant copper dig to date and holds a prominent was covered with a layer of dead
spot in the relic room.” Stef Tanguay grass clippings in between the
tufts of growing grass. I flipped up
“On August 28, 2022 I was lucky a patch of the dead grass in prep-
enough to take an overnight trip aration to poke the ground with
with my parents up north to around my probe, and a tiny, thin brown
Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. Dad and disk lifted off the soil surface along
I were out and about and I pulled with it. ‘A play coin,’ I thought as
these two blobs of corrosion out of a I picked it up, but straining my
couple inches of horrible, loamy soil eyes to see through the crud, I
around oak, balsam and white pine. was in disbelief to see a large ‘C’
The kind of soil that is really just one surrounding a Roman numeral III;
giant surface root system of acidy a trime, basically sitting on the
pine needles and leaves which really surface! The trime proved more
makes my detector go haywire and difficult to clean than most other
give strange signals—which these silvers...but I think it turned out
were. They were only about two fantastic, even revealing the 1853
inches down and I thought I had dug date. The 1875 Seated dime was
[Lincoln] Memorials because of how found earlier in the day. It just
badly damaged they were and the fact that they rang up as zinc. I took goes to show that oftentimes lo-
them into the sun and hit them with my squirt bottle and saw the shield cation and dumb luck are at least
and knew I probably had an Indian Head. I got them back to where we as important as equipment or skill
were staying and did some work on them, hoping there was a date left. in this hobby. Both were found us-
After some Dawn dishwashing liquid and patience I could make out what ing a Minelab Equinox 800…and a
I thought was 1878 and was so happy—I finally made the 1800s club! Garrett Pro-Pointer II.”
After getting them home and going to work with my cleaning pencils and Ben Motisher
a loupe I have an 1873 and 1868. What a way to join the club! [Photos
show coins before and after cleaning.]” Rachel Charboneau

22 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1

“I consider this one of my rarest finds in over 20 years. It’s a British 64th (2nd
Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot infantry belt buckle...  Called the ‘Blacknots,
this regiment was formed in December 1756. The 64th took part in the first
action in 1775 on American soil in Salem, Massachusetts and in 1779 the regi-
ment moved to the Southern theater.  In April 1780 they fought in the siege of
Charleston, South Carolina and remained there as guard troops after Charles-
ton surrendered, while Cornwallis moved north. Eventually Cornwallis and
many of the 64th regiment surrendered at Yorktown. Also pictured is a 1780s
USA entwined button dug on a plantation within fifteen feet of the 64th buckle;
both British and Continental [soldiers] moved in and out of the area during the
war. The sailing ship ring was dug with other items dated between approximately 1800 up to 1865. These were
all dug in the South Carolina Lowcountry [during the second half of 2022] with a Minelab Equinox 800.” Bill Leckie

“Donnie Vaughn, Gary Henry and I stumbled upon
an old homesite deep in the woods in Williamson
County, Tennessee in March 2022. Donnie made
the comment before we started: ‘We’re in the area
where CSN [Confederate States Navy] buttons
have been found over the years.’ Two hours later, I
found the two CSN buttons with a rare ‘HEBBERT
& CO/LONDON’ backmark within 10 minutes of
each other. The 1840s hunting button with horse
and Spanish reale were found in the same area along with a Confederate spur
[not shown] dug by Gary. Some speculate that some of Nathan Bedford Forrest’s
cavalrymen were equipped with surplus Confederate Navy jackets or vests, as
a number of these rare buttons have been found where Forrest’s men camped
and...raided Union blockhouses along the railroads in middle Tennessee. 

“In August and September of this year, Gary, Henry, and I discovered extensive trash pits dating as early as
the 1830s up to the Civil War in Nashville. This dig is still continuing and a few of the highlights were this solid cast
block I button and 1850s scrolled flask . Many seated coins, pipe bowls, eagle buttons and flat buttons have been
found, along with several dozen rare bottles dating from the 1840s to 1860s. Stay tuned for a feature article being
written for American Digger® on this incredible site!” Tom Williams

JJaannuuaarryy--FFeebbrruuaarryy 22002233 AAmmeerriiccaann DDiiggggeerr®® 2233

“On Father’s Day, June 19, 2022 “On August 3, 2022 I went out and
my dad and I went out first thing in about here in northwest [Paulding
the morning to beat the heat and County] Ohio to try and locate a
swing for a little while. It started off place to metal detect. Farm fields
slow; we were detecting a house are pretty much my only option for
site that he had been to for the last finding old stuff in my area and most
20 years. I got a loud 78 signal on fields are planted. I came across a
my Nokta Makro Simplex+ that field that had been plowed then disc-
just about blew my eardrums out. smoothed that held a cabin or trading
I dug a deep plug, pulled it out the post; there is no documentation on
ground with my shovel, and there it. The site was a pasture forever
lying face down was what looked then got plowed three years ago. I
at first to be a spoon bowl. I picked had previously found 10 large cents
it up and realized I had just dug all pre 1835! I also found a fourth
a complete U.S rosette. It was my of a half reale and a friend dug a
best find ever, and to do it with my 1834 Capped Bust half dime. It was
dad on Father’s Day made it even too hot to dig so I returned early
more special. It was dug in Spot- on August 4th. I dug several flat
sylvania, Virginia.” buttons and a nice 1827 large cent.
Zachary Mastin Not long after I got a 93-94 signal on
my XP Deus II. After breaking apart
“I found this [mid-1800s] Pamplin the brick-like clay clod, I saw a large
clay pipe bowl in Millen, Georgia in silver coin. Now, my eyes are not good unless I have my glasses but
June 2022 while metal detecting a they usually stay at home. I thought I was seeing a two-reale but much
Civil War camp. It was just lying on to my surprise it was a 1807 Draped Bust quarter! Excited about it I
top of the dirt as if it had just been took many pics, texted several friends but kept digging. My last coin
dropped! It is glazed with no cracks was a Draped Bust large cent with no date, of course. This was a day
or chips.” Ryan Price I won't forget anytime soon!” Mike Speiser
24 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1

“[In October 2022] I dug this CS “Keith Morgan and myself, both
“rope border” plate right in the members of the Historical Recov-
heart of intense fighting that took ery Association of North Carolina
place during the battle of Iuka, Mis- (HRANC) metal detecting club,
sissippi on September 19, 1862. I were detecting a recent permis-
was using a Nokta Impact metal sion that Keith had received. The
detector when the find was made. permission was located in Beaufort
I was able to enjoy this killer find County, North Carolina, where the
with my 15-year-old son, Jonah notorious pirate Black Beard’s ship,
Gray. We have been relic hunt- Queen Anne’s Revenge, was said
ing partners for the last six years.” to have run aground. [The site] was
Benjamin Gray also known to have seen Revolu-
tionary War action, along with Civil
War activity. I received a screaming
signal. Digging down approximately
three or four inches, I recovered a cannonball that weighed in at 22.8 lbs
and with a diameter of six inches that is believed to be from the Revolution-
ary War. The property owner had requested that any finds be kept quiet
as he ‘did not want a bunch of [strangers] showing up on his farm fields.’
I excitedly ran to tell Keith about what I had found, and Keith immediately
reminded me to calm down and to discreetly get the find in the truck before
anyone saw what I had recovered. I hid the cannonball under my shirt and
hightailed it back to the vehicle. We can only imagine the look on some of
the faces of the people in passing vehicles seeing a 65-year-old male get-
ting ready to give birth to a 22.8 lb cannonball! Needless to say, both myself
and the cannonball are recovering nicely. [Found October 20, 2022]”
Joe DeMoranville

“I found the other half of the colonial- “I found my first- “I went after work in late 2022
era silver cufflink [that I found over ever .69 caliber to metal detect a site [in west-
a year ago]. This one has a ‘G’ on Civil War bullets ern Maryland] that had activ-
it; the other one has an ‘O’ and was from the Battle ity throughout all of America’s
in American Digger® in July-August of Pleasant Hill history. I first found a crusty
2021, Volume 17, Issue 4. What are in Pleasant Hill, Indian Head penny, then two
the odds on finding the other half in Louisiana. On Spencer carbine bullets [both
the same field shortly after telling a October 20, ca. 1860s]. I found the sash
friend that was with me that in this 2022, I dug a .69 cal. Confederate buckle a little while later. Now
field I’d found a silver cufflink a year Belgian,and on October 26, 2022, I that it gets dark faster I only
ago. Twenty minutes later I had the dug a .69 cal Tower Enfield. My ma- had a short time to hunt. As I
other half. I had to sit down in the chine is a Minelab Equinox 800.” was leaving, on my way out I
field and think about that. I love this Bret Pollard dug two 19th-century flat but-
hobby.” Robert Devilbiss tons, back-to-back. It was a
great day for variety! I use a
Garrett AT Max.” Mike Seavolt

JJaannuuaarryy--FFeebbrruuaarryy 22002233 AAmmeerriiccaann DDiiggggeerr®® 2255

THE
LOST
RELICS
OF THE
1836 TEXAS NA y

BY BOBBY J. MCKI n EY In 2015 I was informed by a private party (first
& JOHN A. CULBERSON name Kevin) that he had acquired some buttons
said to have been found on Galveston Island, Tex-
Precious metals were used to create some of the insignia and buttons. as in 1971. These buttons were described as hav-
Shown are silver and gold navy buttons and insignia, plus a gold Marine ing a slanted anchor and star with the name “Brutus”
Corps button. These were intended for officers as a private purchase. At on it. My first reaction was one of skepticism. I’d been
the top of this page is a solid silver Texas Navy belt plate. digging relics in Texas for over 40 years and had never
seen or heard of any such button. I did, however, rec-
26 AAmmeerriiccaannDDiiggggeerr®®VVolo.l1. 19,9I,sIssusuee11 ognize the name Brutus as one of the ships of the 1836
Texas Navy, so of course my interest was immediately
aroused. However another revelation hit me when I
learned that he had other buttons which had the names
“Invincible” and “Liberty.” These were the names of oth-
er ships of the first Texas Navy. This was just too much
to digest. I had to see these buttons for myself and find
out what the case was behind these unheard-of anoma-
lies. Thus, my probe for answers began.

My friend and former Congressman, John Cul-
berson, shared the same rationale for inquiring about
these buttons, so together we asked to be sent a va-
riety of them. What we didn’t realize at the time was
that they were also made in an overcoat and cuff size.
This just added to the mystique of these finds. We

were perplexed as to the possible origins of these buttons as
these were like nothing that we had seen before. In inspecting
them we saw that some had been cleaned, while others were
still heavily bonded with a greenish muddy/sandy soil. They
appeared to be correct for the likes of a coastal dug button
(I’ve dug my share of them) and had no sign of a “Miracle
Grow” fake patina. Next, we examined the construction of the
buttons themselves. They were convex, light die-struck but-
tons with the motif of an anchor and star, and lettering all in
proportional balance. They were also slightly thinner than
most one-piece buttons and not as finely detailed as I would
prefer; the shank also looked a bit weak, plus they were made
of copper. Regardless, they were still intriguing- looking but-
tons. However, it puzzled me as to who would have these but-
tons made with all the names of the Texas Navy ships, and also
have them made in three different sizes.
This was our first encounter with these finds, and we want-
ed to know the provenance of their recovery. The account given
to us was that back in 1971 a couple of friends by the name of
Stan and Nash (their first names) were beachcombing in the
tidelands of Galveston Island several days after Hurricane Edith
had wreaked havoc across the island. While searching, they
came upon a partly exposed aggregation of unidentified relics
protruding out of the mud. These muddy clumps were then This stack of 18 various unissued hat plates are shown bonded
gathered up in buckets and stored away in a garage and appar- together as they were found. Many of the items were encrusted due
to the saltwater environment.

ently forgotten about until their rediscovery by Nash’s daughter
some decades later. We were told that the artifacts were in the
possession of Nash’s daughter, as her father was deceased. This tag with the number “20” stamped on it (which was how many
was all that was related to us of their origins. stars were in the bundle) and also had an engraved Roman nu-
John and I were still uncertain as to the genuineness of the meral of a “III” and a “IV.” We assumed this to be some type of
buttons, and shared these finds with other button collectors. inventory tag. We were stunned at this point as this was nothing
They were as bewildered as we were. John and I were keenly in- that we had ever seen dug or even encountered before!
terested to learn if there were any other artifacts. Knowing these Bruce Marshall’s book, Uniforms of the Republic of Texas,
buttons were referencing the 1836 Texas Navy, we encouraged showed rank insignias for navy commissioned and warrant of-
Kevin to see if there was anything else found. We were contacted ficers. We also found illustrations of these insignia online at Wi-
about three weeks later and shown some small crusty insignias kimedia Commons: “Military Rank Insignia of the Republic of
bearing the motifs of a speaking trumpet, sextant, Staff of Ascle- Texas Navy.” What we saw next were photos of oval plates with
pius, bosun’s whistle, broad axe, horn of plenty, telescope, fouled the motif of an upright anchor and star. The plates were similar
anchor, and several different sizes of stars. Some of these crusty in style to the 1812 dragoon hat plate (American Military Insig-
insignias were wired together as a pair. One stack of stars was nia, 1800-1851 figure 10, by Campbell and Howell). They were
heavily bonded with a greenish sandy-type concretion which also wired together in bundles, and contained an inventory
was wired together in a bundle. Attached to it was a small metal tag. This was an incredible sight! We were told that there were
multiples of other plates found in these mud
clumps that were curiously lined in a row as
if they were factory packed that way. Some
of the hat plates even had remnants of rot-
ted leather under the rear attachments. The
archeological hallmarks on these finds were
startling! We and other collectors began to
acquire some of the pieces and showed them
to our digger friends, but upon seeing these
artifacts in their as-found condition, they
Many of the items were found with warehouse inventory tags attached, as shown here. At left were as baffled as we were. The burning ques-
and right are a stack of stars and ovals wired together as they were stored in the warehouse tion was always the same: Why hasn’t anyone
before the hurricane struck. ever seen these before? A great amount of

JaJnanuuarayry-F-Febebruruarayry22002233AAmmereirciacnanDDigiggere®r® 27

The Texas Navy was the
only fleet in North American
history known to have insignias
specially designed for each
ship. Shown at left are belt
plates for all four Texas Navy
ships: the Brutus, Liberty,
Independence, and Invincible.
At right are shown the hat
plates, very similar in design.
Other insignia include hat stars
for the Brutus and Invincible,
along with a Brutus banner
insignia, shown below, along
with ships’ buttons. All are
shown here after cleaning and
conservation.

thought and creativity had obviously more dies had to be created in order
been put into the design of these in- to make all these various insignia.) It
signia, which made them that much OVER THE NEXT 24 was clear that a great deal of time and
more profound. Over the course MONTHS, MORE expense had been invested in this col-
of the next 24 months, more insig- INSIGNIA CAME TO lage of artifacts.
nia came to light as we realized the LIGHT AS WE REALIZED There was another privately ac-
enormity of this find. There were belt
and shoulder plates, shako plates, THE ENORMITY OF quired insignia collection of these
THIS FIND. relics in Houston which I had the
hat stars, more buttons and a host opportunity to see. It was an in-
of other regalia, with some items be- credible assemblage of perhaps
ing made of silver and gold! Kevin 200 plus pieces. There was a pile of
told us that over this period of time 18 assorted copper hat plates still
he had acquired around 20 boxes of bonded together in situ with over-
such relics from the daughter. tones of a greenish oxidation within
I compared the belt and shoulder the matrix. There were copper and
plates with the construction of those silver engraved buttons, die-struck
shown in American Military Plates, buttons, collar insignia, banners,
by O’Donnell and Campbell. The de- hat pins and small cuff and collar
sign of the artifacts, which included stars. I also saw several buttons and
the rear attachments whether they be a star insignia made of gold. A pen-
tongue and belt loop bar, hooks, pin nant with star collar insignia quickly
and catch, crimp over or holes for sewing, were caught my attention. This was a navy rank in-
consistent with those of the 1830-40 period. One signia for a captain. I had seen an illustration
thing that we noticed was that a slanted anchor of a Texas Navy captain wearing them in Bruce
always specified the Navy and an upright anchor Marshall’s book, Uniforms of the Alamo and
always specified the Marine Corps. By now we
had seen a large number of these artifacts and the Texas Revolution and the Men Who Wore
Them: 1835-1836. There was also a painting by
it was our opinion that this appeared to be an artist M.S. Franco of Commodore Moore of
original stockpile of period artifacts, obviously the Texas Navy wearing them on his uniform.
intended for the Texas Navy. Eventually an en- There were copper and silver Navy and Marine
tire variety of insignia having the name of all four Corps belt and shoulder plates, hat stars and
ships — Brutus, Invincible, Liberty and Indepen- buttons. There was a crossed cannon hat insig-
dence — were revealed. This was in conjunction nia adorned with a star and T-E-X-A-S in the
with buttons and insignia for the Texas Marine Corps, too. By points. Some of the buttons and plates had the letters “MC”
now, the sheer number of these artifacts was overwhelming, as (Marine Corps) on the face. They also had small clumps of
the combined number of buttons, plates, insignia, and stars for concretions with different insignia protruding from its edg-
the Navy and Marine Corps were estimated at near 1,500-2,000 es. I also saw more of those wire-wrapped plates and stars
pieces, with 200 or more varieties of insignia, buttons, banners, with attached inventory tags. With so much to see, I spent
stars and plates. (Let me emphasize that this meant that 200 or several hours studying the collection.

28 AAmmeerriiccaannDDiiggggeerr®®VVolo.l1. 91,9,IsIssuseue11

Left, a Texas
Marine Corps cap
badge, and right, a
cartridge box plate.
Note the leather
remnants under
the tabs, showing it
was once attached
to a cartridge box.
The warehouse not
only held insignia,
but also leather
accoutrements.

It was suggested that more in- showed to be made of nearly pure cop-
formation might be obtained per and not an alloy. A silver belt plate
with a forensic analysis of the with the name Brutus came next. XRF
artifacts, and an environmental determined it was 73.96% to 82.40 silver
study of the matrix that these artifacts alloyed with 6.01 to 8.77% copper, and
were in would be a worthwhile start. the possible source of silver was spe-
A laboratory analysis of the matrix cie from Spanish reales. A gold button
concluded that it was a mixture of which XRF tested showed to be 83.72 to
mud and sand with gravel and shell 87.44% gold with trace elements of bro-
fragments buried in situ with plant mine, calcium, platinum, selenium and
material. The matrix was indicative thallium. This percentage would be near
of sedimentary deposits made from 18 to 22 karat gold. An independent
a storm’s overwash (tidal surge) in a spectrometer test performed by the jew-
shoreline salt water environment. The elry firm of Dostal’s Designs on a gold
organic fragments in the matrix were navy hat pin also tested to be 18 to 22
grass-like plants which, when geo- karat. It is speculative that the gold used
chemically analyzed, were revealed in making some of these insignia may
to be from a marsh-type vegetation. have come from coinage that was mined
Micro species found in the matrix in South Carolina during the gold rush
were said to be common to bay and of the late 1820s-‘30s.
nearshore environments of the Gulf Marine Corps plates possibly for a percussion Once again, the copper used for the
of Mexico. The matrix in which these cap pouch or cartridge box. Like the plates
seen above, these were warehoused already plates, buttons and other items was al-
artifacts were found was from a soil fastened to the leather. most pure, having no mixed-in alloys.

deposit that was made from a mixture The major use for near-pure copper at
of land soil mixed in with marine sed- this time was for sheathing the hulls
iments from a storm’s tidal surge. The report explained that of wooden ships. It was
this would be from the counterclockwise rotation of a storm speculated that these in-
pushing seawater mixed with erosion soil landward, thus signia may have been cut
re-depositing this sediment onto the island’s tidal flats. This from sheets of sheathing
analysis of the matrix confirmed that the artifacts had been copper. The shipyards of
recovered in a marshy area and that erosion from a storm had New Orleans would have
exposed an earlier layer of geological strata. This meant that been a good place to ob-
the artifacts were buried in a previous storm’s overwash and tain this, and is also the
then uncovered through erosion during the 1971 hurricane. likely place of origin for
This supported the account of the insignia having been found these insignias’ manufac-
in the tidelands on the island. ture. In Edward Miller’s
Next to be professionally analyzed was the metal in which New Orleans and the
these insignia were made. Utilizing digital imaging under vis- Texas Revolution he stated
ible light and X-Ray fluorescence (XRF), tests were performed that, “In New Orleans one
on a variety of the pieces. One of the Liberty hat plates tested of the largest centers of Marine Corps hat plate with
under XRF indicated that it was made of near pure copper militia companies in the remains of inventory tag wire.

and was “not an alloy.” A Marine Corps greatcoat button also south, advertisements for

JaJnanuuarayry-F-Febebruruarayry22002233AAmmereirciacnanDDigiggere®r® 29

Above, a Texas Navy captain’s banner insignia, worn on the collar. The
portrait at left shows an identical insignia worn by Edwin Ward Moore,
commander-in-chief of the Navy of the Republic of Texas. The original portrait
hangs in the courthouse in Moore County, Texas. Portrait photo by Billy Hathorn,

courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Front and back of star and anchor insignia worn by military supplies and militia insignia were commonplace in
an officer or “passed seaman.” Note that Commodore the local newspapers.” Also, The Directory of American Mili-
Moore wears this device on his epaulets, as seen in the tary Goods Dealers and Makers, 1785-1915 shows that mili-
above portrait. tary accoutrements, caps, clothing, flags, tents, tack, uniforms,
guns, swords, cannon and insignia could be purchased in New
30 AAmmeerriiccaannDDiiggggeerr®®VVool.l.1199, ,IsIssuseue11 Orleans. In the article “The Introduction and use of Copper
Sheathing” (in the 1985 Bulletin of the Australian Inst. of Mari-
time Archeology) by Mark Staniforth, Staniforth explained that
19th century copper sheathing was made in the gauges of 22,
24, 26 and 28-ounce sheets. Analysis of the copper belt plates
tested fell in the range of 0.723 to 0.793, putting them in the cat-
egory of 22 gauge copper. Using copper as a base metal would
have sped up the manufacturing process as copper, highly mal-
leable and ductile, could be easily rolled and hammered. There
would have been no need for the extended process of melting
and casting brass.

We were fortunate in having some scholarly and
archaeological help from others. Theirs, along
with our own research, started to produce the
answers we had been searching for. We were
anxious to know who was responsible for having these aston-
ishing insignia made, and how they subsequently became lost.
A major clue unknown to us was already at hand, Galveston
Island. The research came to a focal point of two men, Samuel
M. Williams and Thomas F. McKinney. Ardent Texas patriots,
they were wealthy merchants, and entrepreneurs with trade ties
from New Orleans to New York City as well as abroad. McK-
inney was also a founding father of Galveston Island to whom
Texas historian James Bevill referred to as “always actively
thinking, doing and strategizing.” They were arms dealers who
furnished (DuPont) gunpowder and ammunition to the Texas
army and navy.

In D.W.C. Baker’s A Texas Scrapbook, published in 1875,
the author refers to McKinney as one who “never spared either
trouble or expense in his private capacity to procure all neces-
sary supplies for the soldiers.” Being men of stature and influ-
ence, they were authorized to borrow money and execute bonds
on behalf of the Provisional Government of Texas and even lent
$99,000 of their own money to the subsistent Government of

Texas. More than that, it was they who were
responsible for the creation of the Texas Navy,
having bought the first two ships, the Liberty
and the Invincible, and sending them to New
Orleans to be outfitted as ships of war. (The
Texas Navy Association declares them the
“Fathers of the Texas Navy.”) McKinney was
even appointed captain of the Invincible but
chose Captain Jeremiah Brown to take his
place. (Note: It’s interesting that only on the
belt and shoulder plates for the Invincible are
the words “Texas Navy.” Furthermore, it’s the
only “ship named” belt and shoulder plate that
is in the shape of an oval. Was this someone
showing partiality to the Invincible?) Without
a doubt, these ambitious men were anxious to
see a navy established, as the Mexican Navy,
blockading the Texas coast, had previously
seized their trading vessel Columbia. Know-
ing the character and of the high degree that
McKinney and Williams played in helping
finance and create the Texas Navy, and tak-
ing into consideration their ties to the dealers,
merchants and manufacturing firms in New The Texas Navy of 1836 had their own distinctive belt plates. On the top row, a cast
brass plate for the navy is shown front and back. The second row shows a pair of silver
Orleans, it was concluded that these men, at plates for the ships Liberty and Independence.

their own expense, were the source respon-
sible for the insignias’ origins. There was more
information which pointed to the same conclusion. goods of all kinds had either been swept off or were found in a
The McKinney and Williams firm also had a merchandise ruined condition scattered over the Island.” Another report said,
warehouse on Galveston Island. The book, The Paper Republic, “One of the national vessels, the Brutus, was nearly split into and
by James Bevill features a copy of an 1836 map of Galveston, a privateer’s man of war, Thomas Toby, was capsized upon the
showing the location of the firm’s warehouse and also that of the beach. Human suffering in the meantime was immense. Men,
naval yard. This tied McKinney and Williams directly to Galves- women and children were seen floating upon boards, logs and
ton Island, where the insignia had been found. However, there small boats for days and nights in every part of the Island.”
was one more important piece of historical information which These contemporary newspaper accounts made it clear that all
brought it all together. of McKinney and Williams’s ware-
A newspaper article house merchandise ended up being
found in the Houston Tele- lost and scattered across the island.
graph and Texas Register, This storm put an end to the
dated October 11, 1837, first Texas Navy, which had lasted
gave the following account for less than two years. The Lib-
of a hurricane named erty was sold in June 1836 for lack
“Racer’s Storm” devastat- of funds for repairs, the Indepen-
ing Galveston Island. “The dence was captured by the Mexican
Brig Jane of Saybrook, Navy in April 1837, the Invincible
Connecticut was dashed wrecked on the shoals of Galves-
against a large three story ton in September 1837 while being
warehouse of T. F. McKin- pursued by two ships of the Mexi-
ney and S. Williams which can Navy, and the Brutus—having
had just been enclosed, and lost her rudder—had been towed
the whole [building] fell to the Galveston naval yard, and
with a awful crash into a sank during the October storm
heap of promiscuous ruin. while moored.
The scene up on the Island Like a jigsaw puzzle fitting
Midshipman insignia. after the storm was over, together, the answers that we had A surgeon’s collar
was of utter desolation. been seeking were finally falling in insignia depicting the
Provisions, furniture and place. This final account disclosed Staff of Asclepius.

JaJnanuuarayry-F-Febebruruarayry22002233AAmmereirciacnanDDigiggere®r® 31

Above, this outstanding traveling exhibit of the 1836 Republic of Texas Navy includes many of the finds from the destroyed warehouses. It is
presented by Robert Bushnell and can be seen at several shows throughout the southeast, including those sponsored by American Digger. Below
center, a Texas Navy hat plate. These were sewn directly to the sailor’s cap; note the four holes.

that the insignia were being stored in the forms. John Powers, in his book, The First Tex-
Galveston warehouse when the storm as Navy, details how navy crewmen rarely got
demolished the building, thus explaining how paid, and the difficulty the navy had of finding
they ended up being found in the tidelands qualified seamen. All work and no pay would
of the island. It’s easy to visualize wooden
boxes or maybe a crate of these insignia not be a very enticing proposition.
Powers also noted that there were times
washing helter skelter across the landscape when some of the ships stayed in port because
and finally coming to rest in a muddy marsh.
Bobby and I had often wondered if there of a lack of crew. Sales to crewmen would have
likely been minuscule, as who would have
could still be more insignia buried on the wanted to buy insignia, when the little money
island. As mentioned before, some of the
smaller insignia and numerous hat plates they had was much needed elsewhere. It’s also
possible they intended to sell these insignia to
still had remnants of rotted leather under the Texas government and were rejected, as
their attachments, which is physical
evidence that there were some leather President Sam Houston had no favor
for the navy. Bevill explains in his book
goods mixed in with these insignia. THE ENTIRE STOCK that purchasing agents for the Texas
With this being such a substantial REMAINED IN STO a GE government were expending loan
money on buying guns, ammunition
amount of merchandise and all of it IN THE WAREHOUSE. and military supplies for the war effort.
relating to the four ships of the Navy
and also that of the Marine Corps,
it cast the impression that these in- In John Jenkins’s book, Papers of
signia had never been sold or issued the Texas Revolution, he gives the ac-
and whatever the original intent was count that Texas purchasing agents in
New York were already buying surplus
for the insignia, it never came to pass. U.S. military uniforms. According to
This would further explain why these
insignia had never been found or re- Marshall’s book, the navy was trying
to “Texanize” whatever uniforms they
covered elsewhere before. They were could find, by adding the new Scovill
Wnever distributed.
hy this was so may navy buttons. Several other circum-
be explained in the stances may have given cause for these
circumstances of the insignia not to be distributed. It has yet
times. It could be that to be determined when M & W placed
they were intended to be sold to the the order or received the insignia from
their manufacturer.
In a conversation with James Bev-
officers and crew of the newly formed ill, he stated that the phrase “Republic
Navy as neither they nor the Marine
Corps (explained by Bruce Marshal) of Texas” is not used in any official doc-
ument, note or bond until after March
had yet to be issued a standard govern- Various buttons once stored in the warehouse 2, 1836, which was when the Texas
ment uniform. With the insignia they included these for the Marine Corps, individual government formally declared its in-
could adorn their own makeshift uni- ships, and Republic of Texas navy. dependence from Mexico. Since some

32 AAmmeerriiccaannDDiiggggeerr®®VVolo.l.119,9I,sIssuseue11

AB

This 1836 map of Galveston Harbor shows the location of the McKenney & William’s warehouse on Galveston Island before the hurricane
destroyed it. The location of the Brutus wreck site is also shown. Map courtesy of Texas State Library & Archives Commission

of the plates and buttons are inscribed with the phrase “Republic About the Authors
of Texas,” it is speculated that they were ordered for manufacture Bobby McKinney has been digging relics in Texas for over
sometime after that date. However, in June of 1836, the Liberty 40 years. He has also been in several videos on metal
was no longer part of the Texas fleet, having been — as already detecting Civil War and Texas Revolution sites. He is the
noted — sold for nonpayment for repairs. This meant that all author of the book, Confederates on the Caney: A Search
the insignia with the name “Liberty” would have been no longer for Texas, and his latest, The Lost Insignia of the First Texas
valid for issue. Another factor to consider is that Bob Shelton’s Navy and Marines: 1836-1837. He is an avid relic collector
book, Uniform Buttons of the Republic of Texas, shows that in and has also written several previous articles on relic
September of 1836 the Republic of Texas government was or- hunting for American
dering buttons for the navy from the Scovill company. What was Digger® magazine.
the firm to do with all the buttons which were rapidly becoming John Culberson has
out of date? Perhaps this was the case of a lost cause for the firm, been an avid relic
due to uncontrollable and unforeseen circumstances. With that hunter and Texas col-
being said, the entire stock remained in storage in the warehouse lector for over 30
until their unfortunate demise. Although the first Texas Navy years. He has collabo-
had its share of problems, it still played a pivotal role in Texas rated on many differ-
gaining its sovereignty from Mexico. ent worthwhile Texas John Culberson, left, and Bobby McKinney.
relic hunts, including
At this point we had learned more about the artifacts and those tracking the retreat route of the 1836 Mexican Army
the inner circle of the men and the origins of the Texas Navy in what is known as the Sea of Mud. He also was one the
than we could have ever expected. All those months, days and detectorist volunteers during the archeological dig at the
hours of archival, circumstantial, archaeological and analytical San Jacinto Battlefield. John is also a fossil and mineral col-
research had finally answered our questions of who, where and lector and amateur astronomer. He served seven terms in
why these treasures of the first Texas Navy were created and the Texas House of Representatives from 1987 to 2001,
only later to be lost and forgotten. and nine terms in the United States House of Representa-
tives from 2001 to 2019.
A special thanks is given to Gary Wiggins and Meigs Brainard
for their photo contributions to this article JaJnanuuarayry-F-Febebruruarayry22002233AAmmereirciacnanDDigiggere®r® 33

Overnight
Artillery

By Joe Haile

Hood’s Confederate army traveled this old road as they
left Alabama headed to Nashville, and ultimately, their
ruin there. Along the way, a lone Confederate artillery
unit stopped to camp overnight. What ultimately became
of these men is unknown, but over 150 years later, the
relics they left were discovered by a relic hunter. Above, artillery relics and Colt .44
caliber revolver bullets found at the site.
___________________________
______________

M any years ago a couple of friends were tell- I could find anything that the army may have lost, and
ing me about all the relics they were finding came to a place with a high spot on one side of the road.
in an area they said I had hunted. I rode As soon as I reached the high ground I heard square nails
around the area and saw nothing that got everywhere. Fighting the iron, I then found about a dozen
my attention, so I chalked off their comments as merely dropped .57 Enfield bullets and three iron-backed block
having been an attempt to mess with me. Fast forward “I” infantry buttons. Two are the standard two-piece and
about fifteen years later and I am detecting that area one is what we often call a Tennessee Style, which has a
again. One of the roads that the Confederate army took wider rim. When I would get about ten yards from the
going from Alabama to Nashville runs through it. I de- road the signals would end. Finally I moved on, looking
cided to search along the sides of the old road to see if for other spots.

34 AAmmeerriiccaannDDiiggggeerr®®VVolo.l.119,9,IsIssusuee11

The next time I hunted
it I hit the jackpot

with two Confederate
belt plates.
__________

A couple of months later I was rid- On one of the first hunts at the site, the author was rewarded with not one, but two
ing by this site again and noticed a rise Confederate-issued belt plates. Both sides of the rectangular C.S.A. and gutter back
to a flat area well back from the road. frame buckle are shown here.
I got permission to hunt it. I soon re-
alized that it had already been hunted, ______________
but a number of deep targets started
coming up. I located a number of small
flat buttons, along with two plain-
backed eagle “I” infantry buttons. The
next time I hunted it I hit the jackpot
with two Confederate belt plates. On
the following hunt I started finding a
few unfired .44 caliber Colt bullets. All
but one bullet found after that were the

Asame older model Colt revolver bullets.
lot of bigger iron targets
were present, so I started
concentrating on those. I
found old plow points, sickle
mower blades, and other farm equip-
ment, but also the occasional Civil War
period item. I also dug an old padlock
and a small collar iron, probably for use
by an officer.

Next I got a brass piece that turned
out to be a folded-up breast plate with
the lead removed. When I showed it to
the property owners and they asked why
the lead was removed, I responded that

“When I showed it to

the property owners

and they asked why

the lead was removed,

I responded that the

Confederate troops were

nice guys, and since the

plate was Union they

just wanted to melt and

After melting the lead from this Union eagle return the lead part to Hoping for another buckle, Haile next
sling belt plate, the thin brass skin was rolled the Yankees.” found a different type of plate, as seen
up and discarded.
here. It is thought to be a mess plate.

January-February 2023 American Digger® 35

the Confederate troops were
nice guys, and since the plate
was Union they just wanted to
melt and return the lead part
to the Yankees. They got a real
laugh out of that.
Next came a target that read
iron one way and brass the other
way. It turned out to be the handle
backstrap for an early model Colt
pocket pistol. In the pictures you
can see the serial number as well
as the three initials of its owner. If
anyone has any information on
the identification of a Confeder-
ate artilleryman with the initials
“DAB” please contact the author
through this magazine.
I roamed off away from the
main area of the camp and re-
ceived a big brass signal, the
kind that all relic hunters love. I This backstrap once was attached to an 1862 Colt pocket pistol, according to the serial number,
thought I had another Confed- 13200. What is assumed to be the owner’s initials, “DAB,” are scratched into the bottom.
erate belt plate. At two feet deep
______________

it did turn out to be a Confeder-
ate plate. However, it was a mess
plate not a belt plate, (a cruel
trick of the relic gods).
I was returning to the main
area when I walked over a big
and very deep target. At twenty-
seven inches down, after remov-
ing enough dirt from the side of
the hole to get my whole arm and
shoulder in the hole I was able to
lift out a Confederate cannonball
for a 12 pdr. Seven feet away an
iron artillery hammer came up
and ten feet from that I was up
to my shoulder, again lifting up a
12-lb Selma-made shell with its
underplug still intact.
While researching the site I
found a reference to a unit that
came up late because they were
fighting at another spot. I believe Civil War-era padlock and collar iron left behind by the soldiers. Such personal irons would gener-
my camp is an overnight camp ally belong to an officer, as the rank and file soldiers in the field had little use for pressed uniforms.
of that unit. The only way I know
______________

to verify this is to find the name and unit of the owner of Joe Haile of Tennessee has been metal detecting since
the Colt revolver above. Any help with that would be greatly the late 1970s, mostly for Civil War relics. A graduate of
appreciated. Incidently, all items I found here were given to the University of South Carolina, Joe has relic hunted
the property owners, later to pass on to future generations. with several of the archeology professors there, as well
as the archaeologists doing work on the various Franklin
Battlefield projects.

36 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1

Vol. 24 No. 2 March - April • 2013

STAY INFORMED! Featuring “the reality
privy di ing”
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iooelqDrg0ano2rntsynl3LnsngnFatuosbuatl ’gPoahha hle0HXtsattnogeon aeesmcey eheaoUenOse tourlftxc,et1ebc rKWnrehnlwtashin. y-tirc.ooRezDniwdecipsi8WmaejderRepgnlRrmeSmSho,.eiheiNlih,irnlbHrh eVeleyiGlaeenmasMpsteieDnenH aatve vsihcrang%,abaWenLnclenegwgeofehWenQoelonntretrrgHmeRt-tenftudra t.-oithyQwys,eUtmaW-i-imiiGt2GsdKtltrtsnioh-ee lHRe7gle, QsDtUhRe THE MONTHLY Privy
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January-February 2023 American Digger® 37

Better Digging
Through Radar

By using a ground
penetrating radar he
designed himself, combined
with a metal detector, this
digger is uncovering things
he never dreamed of.

By Karl Harrar

M any months ago the sale of a large lot in
downtown Augusta, Georgia was spotted
by my faithful digging partner Pat Oliver.
He is the best scout you could have, as being
retired he often cruises the streets of Augusta looking
for demolition and most any kind of earth movement. I
received a call from him and he was very excited about
the sale of not just a lot but a huge lot of almost two city
blocks! As this area was the edge of downtown, and being
under concrete for probably half a century, the prospects
looked exciting. I pulled the Sanborn maps out right
38 AAmmeerriiccaannDDiiggggeerr®®VVolo.l.191,9I,sIssusuee11

This Confederate States Navy button was shipped through the block- away and noticed over 25 structures in place by the late
ade, and found over 150 years later while detecting the dirt from a 1800s. Upon further investigation of my panoramic aerial
privy. On the opposite page, inks from a privy dig. The top spread view from 1872, I saw that about half the property was
shows bottles stacked like cordwood, every privy digger’s dream. taken up by structures.
Most are early straight-sided Coke and Sheenan sodas.
Permission took months, and at one point I almost
gave up after dozens of phone calls to the owner: a large
company which was building apartments on the property.
I tried all sorts of different techniques to get a return call
as the only person I could talk to was a secretary. I always
like to take it slow and ask just for permission to scan the
property with my Easy Radar ground penetrating radar

JaJnanuuarayry-F-Febebruruarayry22002233AAmmereirciacnanDDigiggere®r® 39

(GPR), knowing that the images would be so intriguing
that the owner could not say no to excavation. After two
months I finally sent a box containing a half dozen or so
very nice bottles to the owner and his father. These were
great examples of bottles I had found in other locations
in Augusta and thought it might prompt a response.
After two more weeks still nothing, and during this
same period I got Covid and was pretty sick. Right in
the middle of my illness I received an email from the
owner giving me permission! I was so happy and excited
about it that I got over the Covid in record time.

Some of the author’s finds made by detecting the spoil dirt from
privies located with a GPR: Top, Federal buttons dating from
pre-Civil War into the late 1800s; Above, Confederate* but-
tons included a cast brass “I” infantry, a two-piece “I,” a pair of
Georgia state seals (*the three-piece, from the state guards, dates
to about 1870), a South Carolina militia, and a CS navy. At left,
this fire badge once had a station number affixed to the shield.

________________

The lot was entirely fenced and I was given access
to the property any time I wanted before actual
construction started. Very excited, I packed up
my radar and Pat and I met at the lot. It was
huge! Where to start? The Sanborn maps showed there
were two rows of houses that butted up against each other.
This looked great, as the privies should be in the back, and
once I found one the others would probably all be in a

40 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1

Front and back of a
sheet brass mid-
1800s Southern mi-
litia plate. A good
number of these
were worn into
war in the early
days by Confeder-
ate recruits. Shown
below, the Civil
War-era U.S. belt
plate from the dig.

_______

row. Using the radar, I found the 1872 map. This is where
a line of pits about 50 feet we found a privy that was
behind the back of each row halfway intact and had only
of dwellings. Very excited, been grazed by the sewer line
we probed to confirm glass trench. Old Augusta never
and started to dig test holes, had many alleys, and all
only to hit broken glass plumbing was brought to the
and large pieces of sewer front of the home’s street and
pipe. Being on the outskirts connected to the main line. I
of town at the time these should have noticed this was
houses had received plumb- one of the only older parcels
ing very early, around 1895. that showed an alley. Run-
The pipes had gone directly through each privy on the way ning lines through the back yards had destroyed so much.
to the house where a bathroom must have been added to Still, the privy we discovered contained a fairly rare drug-
the outside of each home. We did manage to find a few gist bottle from Charleston, ginger beers, and unembossed
bottles, but moved probably a couple of tons of dirt for pontiled bottles. It was very fun, as we had finally found
each. We decided to go for the early dwellings shown on something good.

Despite the privies having been damaged Two embossed mineral water bottles: The author holds a case gin bottle only
when they were replaced with plumbing B & C and Harris. seconds after extracting it from the privy.
in the late 1800s, most still held a few un-
broken bottles. Above, one of many iron
pipes removed from the privies.

January-February 2023 American Digger® 41

A fter this we used the ground penetrating radar the spot with flags and then come back and probe. This
unit to scan other large sections. Because saves a tremendous amount of time over the practice of
almost the entire lot was once concrete there simply probing every few feet.
was about 18” of incredibly hard bedding that
we could not probe through. My trusty 60-volt DeWalt The lot yielded several more privies and trash pits
hammer drill handled this job by drilling just through with lots of straight-side Cokes, Sheehan bottles, and a
this bedding, and then we returned with the standard very nice Dr. Dennis, San Francisco cobalt iron pontil
probe and felt for glass. I always do this as radar images mug base.
are very subjective and it is very difficult to distinguish
between a pile of bricks or construction rubble and a The lot was so big that we knew that it had other
privy or trash pit. After scanning with the radar, I mark relics, so we decided to break out the old detectors. Pat
42 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1 still loves his old machine and I had a $100 detector in
my truck that barely worked. We hit it hard, and things

This GPR unit, called an Easy Radar, was designed and built by Karl. He
now sells the units at www.easyradusa.com At right, Karl digs deeper into
the privy discovered with the Easy Radar. On the opposite page, some of
the better bottles from the privy, after cleaning.

________________

started coming up, as the pictures on page 40 show. Over your vehicles, house and any damage that may be done
15 Confederate buttons, the best being a Confederate during your hobby. Look into it; it usually only runs
States Navy and probably 30 Yankee buttons, plus an $100 more a year.
early fireman’s coat or hat badge, and a clipped corner I’m very blessed to have received permission. It’s
Confederate belt buckle. One of the best buttons was an still a ton of work to make such finds; nothing comes
unknown 4th Regiment button from the War of 1812 easy. I could have been sitting on the couch watching
period, made by W. Wallis. I was told that the button was TV or YouTube, but I quit that stuff years ago in favor of
probably a blank sold by Wallis and stamped here. The spending all my spare time hunting for bottles and rel-
4th has quite a history in Georgia. ics. Good luck to all, and remember
After this I decided to buy a that just because one hole is empty,
more modern detector and settled on the chances are better that the next
a Makro Nokta Legend. It was, in my hole will be full. Keep on digging.
opinion, the best value for the mon-
ey. After using it a few other items
were found, but the older detectors
had done a great job on their own.
This was my first serious metal
detecting effort and I assure you it This 60-volt DeWalt hammer drill was Electronic engi-
will not be my last. As I get older (am used to break through hardpan in order neer Karl Harrar
60 now) metal detecting is looking to probe and dig the privies underneath. of Aiken, South
better all the time. Pat at 73 is a great Carolina is an
digger and I hope to dig privies until ________________ avid amateur ur-
I am at least 80. After that, I’ll just ban archaeolo-
gist. Frustrated
Tmetal detect. that there was
he thing to remember is not an affordable GPR on the mar-
never give up on a permis- ket, he designed and built his own.
sion until the person says He now builds and sells the Easy Ra-
“No” at least twice. Try to dar GPR units to others, offering a
address their fears. Insurance helps reliable ground penetrating radar at
but is not always good to mention a fraction of the cost of
this first, as this makes property other devices. You can
owners think of possible liability. A find out more about the
blanket policy is available from all Easy Radar by emailing
insurance companies and will cover [email protected]

January-February 2023 American Digger® 43

44 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1

The Bullet Pit: One Thousand,
One Hundred Ninety-One Reasons

to Dig Those Deep Tones

By Wes Dennen
__________________________

Iwant to start by stating a little about myself. I’ve been because they almost cost me this amazing find.
relic hunting for over 20 years, and have had a lot of I started digging in the spring of 2000 when I purchased
memorable hunts. Some were memorable because of
the relics that I found. Some were memorable because a VLF detector online and was instantly hooked. I still vividly
of the people that I’ve hunted with. Some were memorable remember my first relic, a knapsack hook that I found off
from the unusual and crazy things that happened while I was Blockhouse Road in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. To this day
out hunting. That includes having a black bear walk right up I could still take you to the exact spot I dug my first Civil War
to my digging partner and me at dusk, having a pack of five bullet! I’ve spent thousands of hours and have walked at least
coyotes charge at me one foggy morning on Robert E. Lee that many miles in the woods and fields of Spotsylvania and
Drive, and being harassed by a highly intoxicated gentleman Stafford counties with my detector I named Lucille.
who thought I was the one his wife was cheating on him with.
All of those days are memorable for many reasons, but let’s While most college students spent their free time drinking,
just say that September 26th, 2021 is a day of relic hunting I partying, and trying to stay out of trouble, I spent much of
won’t soon forget. Before I get into that hunt I’d like to talk my time researching places to dig around Radford University.
a little about my stubbornness and detector loyalty I’d had I’ll never forget coming back to my university apartment and
for most of my relic hunting career. The reason for that is showing my roommates bullets and other relics I’d found from
the battle of Cloyd’s Mountain near Pulaski, Virginia. They
all thought it was “neat” until I came back one day with a live

January-February 2023 American Digger® 45

The bullets were discarded as intact cartridges, probably because they became wet. Note the gunpowder and fragments of cartridge paper
mixed in with the lead Miniés. The cartridge as issued consisted of a bullet and powder charge, both enclosed in paper.

_____________________________

artillery round. I explained that it was a Parrott shell that I had great my machine was. Whenever I would hunt with someone
found buried around two feet deep on a steep hillside of a farm I always had a competition against them. I almost always dug
field. They wouldn’t let me bring it through the front door, and more than anyone who I hunted against that had the new state-
I had to store it in my car until I drove home to get the late Sam of-the-art technology. I spoke out to new diggers about getting
White to disarm and clean it for me. an old detector like mine instead of
I’ve also always been very the newer Garrett, Minelab, Deus,
competitive in every aspect of my life. I knew that the Minelab GPX and Nokta machines. I knew that
While playing flag football I always machines had their place in the Minelab GPX machines had their
wanted to win. My friends and I would “hot” ground in Culpeper, but place in “hot” ground in Culpeper,

have fishing competitions whenever we didn’t think they were needed but didn’t think they were needed
went out on the boat. I’d even compete in places where the ground wasn’t
with my friends when we’d work out in places where the ground heavily mineralized. Needless to say,
and play video games together. That wasn’t heavily mineralized. I was reluctant to believe that the

competitiveness carried right over to GPX detectors were all that they were
metal detecting. I was very proud of how well I knew my old hyped up to be. My old VLF unit went deep and I just refused to
detector. I loved how well it did compared to other “newer” believe that other machines went even deeper. I finally decided
machines my buddies hunted with. When people praised newer to see what all the hype was about, and it didn’t take long to see
machines I’d be quick to dismiss them and stated just how why some people swear by them.

46 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1

Despite a lot of dirt having to be removed to get the 1,191 Union three-ring Miniés out of the hole, the digger took pains to cover it as well

as he could, especially once the property owner showed concern over the huge hole and asked him to leave once he had finished.

_____________________________
This memorable hunt started off like any other day
hunting when you’re out looking for a new spot. hole so I could get the search coil of the detector in there. The
I drove around scoping out potential places that tone became significantly louder and much bigger. I stuck my
I wanted to ask permission and saw somewhere pinpointer in the hole again, hoping it was a deep plate or big
brass, but again there was only silence. I dug down to around
that looked promising. The landowner came to the door not three feet and put the coil of the machine into the hole and the
knowing what this strange man dressed in dirty pants and an tone was still as loud and big as before. Surely the pinpointer
“Employee of the Month” T-shirt wanted. I started off with would pick up on it now, right? Nope! It was at this time that
my rehearsed speech that we all have after introducing myself I started to believe that something was wrong. I figured the
and making small talk. What was initially a “I don’t think so” machine was getting fooled by hot rocks, EMI, a sewer pipe,
turned to a tentative “yes” after mentioning what I would be or something. I thought about giving up on it and filling in the
doing, and the history of her property. I promised to dig small hole, but had a feeling that there was something worth digging
holes and to fill them all in so that once I left she wouldn’t even awaiting me at the bottom.
know I had been there. As I walked out into her front yard I just Still skeptical, I decided to open up the hole more and dig
hoped to get a relic to know that stuff was still there. She had it deeper. I picked up the detector again and checked the hole
mentioned that the property had been searched extensively, so and the signal was blowing my ears off and blanking out on the
I wasn’t sure what to expect. GPX. I was now down around four feet deep and decided to stick
I had only hunted with a Minelab GPX 4500 pulse detector my pinpointer into the hole yet again, thinking surely it would
on two previous occasions, so I was hoping not only to find pick up on something. Still dead silence! I wasn’t even thinking
some relics, but to learn that machine better, as well. Almost about what I told the landowner when I got this permission:
immediately I dug a few bullets and realized that this could be a “No worries ma’am, I’ll dig small holes, and you won’t even be
good hunt! I’ll never forget the next tone that I heard. I heard a able to tell I was ever here.” I’ll get back to that in a minute.
faint, looooooooooong, low tone that seemed almost too big to I dug down to around four and a half feet and stuck the
dig. At first I almost thought that it was a false tone, but decided pinpointer in. Finally, I got a tone, albeit a faint one. I dug out a
to explore it more after listening to it from several different little more dirt expecting a sewer pipe, car hood, or fire hydrant
angles. I dug down a foot. I put the pinpointer in the hole and and leaned into and reached way down into the hole. The
heard nothing. I dug down another foot and expanded the pinpointer was now going crazy all over the bottom of the hole.

January-February 2023 American Digger® 47

Miniés like those from the bullet pit were issued as shown, with the the dirt didn’t settle right, but she asked me to fill in the hole
bullet and powder charge contained in a paper tube. Rarely does immediately and leave.
the paper survive in the ground, leaving only remains of the black
powder and the solid lead bullet. Photo courtesy of www.horsesoldier.com I was heartbroken, as there were still bullets absolutely
everywhere in the bottom of this hole. I knew that something
_______________ like this would probably never happen to me again, so I
decided to appeal to her once more about wanting to finish
It was at this moment I spotted a single Minié ball at the bottom digging the hole. This crate of Minié balls had been lying in
of the pit. I knew then and there that this find was going to be the bottom of this trash pit together for the last 159 years and
needed to stay together. Maybe she felt sorry for me looking
Asomething very special. up at her while covered in dirt and sweat. Maybe she sensed
s I took my digging tool and scraped the bottom that the passion I had for metal detecting caused me to do
of the hole I saw nothing but bullets everywhere something like this. Maybe she sensed the desperation in my
mixed with gunpowder left over from each paper voice. Whatever it was, I didn’t care. To my surprise she agreed
cartridge that had long ago disintegrated. I sat to let me finish detecting this hole, but made me promise to
there in complete shock as the most bullets I’d ever found cover everything back up and leave after I had it finished!
before in a single hole were 136. Well, I climbed down into the I thanked her at least a dozen times and I continued to dig
cavern that I had created and started pulling out handful after handful after handful of bullets for the next hour until my
handful of bullets! Everywhere I dug and everywhere I looked pinpointer went silent. In all, 1,191 bullets came from the pit.
there were just bullets, bullets, and more bullets! I’d reach in
for a handful and there were handfuls of them under that! I was hoping that there would be some bottles, buckles,
guns, or something else in the bottom of the trash pit that was
Well, let’s get back to the elephant in the room from filled in by Union soldiers over 150 years ago. But there were
earlier. When I obtained this permission I didn’t expect to only bullets, one busted scabbard tip, some uniform cloth,
get into any trash pits or huts. I knew this camp had been and parts of the ammo crate. I spent about another hour
searched, but I figured I’d dig a few bullets, an eagle button, filling in the crater that I had created, and did my absolute
or maybe get lucky and dig something really cool like a plate. best to make it look as presentable as possible. I hauled sack
Although my life’s motto has always been “I’d rather ask for after sack of bullets back to the car, and thanked the property
forgiveness than permission,” this was an innocent mistake. owner once more for letting me explore her property. I again
We’ve all been there while digging — when you get so excited told her that I would be willing to re-sod the hole, and come
and overcome by the “dig” that you forget about anything and back and check on it to see if it sank in and settled.
everything else that you said, or what’s happening around you.
This was a special find for me and I wanted to find a way
Well, as I was down in my newly created catacomb I heard to display these rounds that would show the magnitude of
a woman’s voice coming towards me. I remember poking my this find. I purchased a reproduction crate online and placed
head out of the dirt like a startled groundhog and hearing her everything that came out of this pit together in one case. I
ask, “What in the world is going on here?” I looked at her, she feel blessed to be the caretaker of these artifacts. Since this
looked at me, I looked down into the mineshaft I had created, hunt I’ve come to the realization that though one can have
looked up at her again, and then gazed over at the gigantic brand loyalty and do well with old machines, it’s necessary
pile of dirt next to the hole I was in. I had no clue what to even to upgrade with newer and more advanced detectors. There
say. It was at that moment that I realized: (1) I was in her front is no way that I would have heard this hoard of bullets with
yard; (2) this may not end well; and (3) that I’d said “Don’t the machine I had bragged about for so many years. The GPX
worry, the holes will be small, and you won’t even know that has gotten me into several more huts and trash pits since this
I was here.” I know I had to be stuttering and stammering hunt. Some have yielded eagle plates, bottles, and buttons, but
through my words as I tried talking to her about what I had nothing nearly as significant or as special to me as what was
found and how special this was. She was only worried about waiting for me in my bullet pit. As frustrating as relic hunting
the enormous sinkhole that I was in. To be honest, I couldn’t can be, it’s hunts like this one that keep you going and let
blame her, as I’d have had the same questions and concern as you know that “it’s still out there!” My advice to new diggers
she did, if the roles were reversed. I assured her that I would would be to keep the coil to the soil. It’s still very possible to
fill in the hole, and that I would even come back and fix it if have a “legendary” day.
Wes Dennen is a 41-year-old relic hunter who was born and
48 American Digger® Vol. 19, Issue 1 raised in Virginia. He is an avid snakehead fisherman and has
been a relic hunter for over 20 years. He loves combing central
Virginia for Civil War relics, particularly artillery shells.