CIVIL WAR PICKET POST FINDS--WALRUS PHOTOS ADDED!!!

Hello All,

Kindafoundabuckle and I took a spin out to the site where we got the Spanish Silver and Large Cent last weekend.  Only trouble is--we never got there!  As we passed by one of our CW picket post sites, we noticed that the corn was cut!!  We just couldn't resist a hunt there yesterday because the field had been plowed since we last hunted it in the spring.

Well, hunting the field was a little problematic due to the corn stalks still about a foot and a half high in the rows.  We attacked the field though, and got some nice relics.  As we worked our way in, I took my Tesoro (but later switched to the Fisher).  Kindafoundabuckle had his White's XLT.  The first good hit I got was this mystery brass object.  I need help on this one folks.  It has to be the right era.  Very little has been found in the field besides CW stuff--the exceptions being an occasional pull tab or soda can.  I know what I suspect it is, but I'd like to see what y'all think.  I'm not too satisfied with my own ID... It is a little over an inch in length:

The front and back both have three raised dots on them.  On the back (below) you can't see them too well in the uncleaned brass, but they're there:

And on the end (a little tough to make out in the photo), there is a slit in the brass:

Soon KFB was laughing and I knew he found something...I asked "Is it brass or lead?" (thinking he might have found a button...)  The reply came back "Lead."  He'd gotten a beautiful dropped .69 cal minie.  KFB dug one more of those suckers before I replied with a pistol ball.  Then I got a .69 cal minie myself followed by a .69 cal round ball--I don't see too many round balls pulled, but this one has been. 

As we made our way out of the field, KFB got one more 69 and dug this interesting object.  He just stuck it in his bag, like I did with my mystery find.  Then on the way home, he stopped the car and took out the piece again, and said he thought it might have been a sword hanger.  Here's the piece:


Looking at some photos, I think he's right.  The arrow below points at the item in question.

Here are all the finds together:


Regards,

Buckleboy

Sorry about the lack of walrus photos.  My camera broke after the taking the first one--man, he was an ugly beast. ;)

As we made our way out of the field, KFB got one more 69 and dug this interesting object.  He just stuck it in his bag, like I did with my mystery find.  Then on the way home, he stopped the car and took out the piece again, and said he thought it might have been a sword hanger.

Actually, I think it may be the snap from a link strap, used to link horses halter to halter so that one man could tend to several animals at the same time.

As we made our way out of the field, KFB got one more 69 and dug this interesting object.  He just stuck it in his bag, like I did with my mystery find.  Then on the way home, he stopped the car and took out the piece again, and said he thought it might have been a sword hanger.

Actually, I think it may be the snap from a link strap, used to link horses halter to halter so that one man could tend to several animals at the same time.

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PBK,

That was FAST!  Your photos didn't load though...

PBK,

That was FAST!  Your photos didn't load though...

Check again!   ;)

PBK,

That was FAST!  Your photos didn't load though...

Check again!   ;)

Got 'em.  Thanks!  The hook does appear to have a swirling design on the top.  Fairly ornate for horse trappings, but I'll agree that the photos in your reply are pretty darn convincing.  Here's a close-up of what appear to be ivy leaves going down the clip: 

Any idea on the other mystery piece?

Nice relics for a nice guy!

Good job, Buck!

KirkPA

Nice finds BB.
Love the CW relics. Great pictures and info too.
Congrats,
MM

[BUT]

So whats the other mystery thing? A snap for a pair of galoshes?

If so, I've never seen them pictured in any CW related books. BUT, I have found the whole snap at a CW skirmish site over along he G. County/M. County line.

Burt

Dang!  I clicked on this thread looking for walruses. 

Better luck next time with the walrus photo. 

(Pssst......Nice Relics!)

I am the walrus....

Koo Koo Ca Choo     

I think that first unknown item is a CW pull tab. Very rare indeed!

nice finds BB thanks for sharing
hh
dave+bobbie

         Super Finds BB! CW Relics are getting harder and harder to find. Dman and I hunted a CW Camp used by borh the CS and US in Tennessee today and struggled to find 3 round balls, piece of a Borman Fuse, and a .44 cal. Henry cartridge. You guys had a good day.

Those are some great finds BB.  I think that the mystery piece kinda looks like it is the reed off of a single reed instrument....It is very small and interesting.  Either way, it was a good day.  I would agree with you as well that it is Civil War era.

Koo Koo Ca Choo     

LOL... I was gonna say that! 

         Super Finds BB! CW Relics are getting harder and harder to find. Dman and I hunted a CW Camp used by borh the CS and US in Tennessee today and struggled to find 3 round balls, piece of a Borman Fuse, and a .44 cal. Henry cartridge. You guys had a good day.

Thanks!  I saw your post, you had the hexagonal bore bullet?  So that was a Henry after all?  Cool finds.  I agree that sites are getting more difficult to find, but persistence pays.  Hey, nice choice in detectors   Fisher strikes again!  ;)

Regards,

Buckleboy

cool

PBK,

That was FAST!  Your photos didn't load though...

Check again!   ;)

Got 'em.  Thanks!  The hook does appear to have a swirling design on the top.  Fairly ornate for horse trappings, but I'll agree that the photos in your reply are pretty darn convincing.  Here's a close-up of what appear to be ivy leaves going down the clip: 
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Any idea on the other mystery piece?

It is 1/2 of a broken spur... I got a bunch of them... good find!!!

MonkeyBoy..

Cool finds Bud! I love seeing that CW stuff.

Nice relics BB!

Hey BB....I just spent about an hour looking for the mystery find,for the life of me I couldn't find anything that even resembled that.I'm thinking it must've come off a personal item of some sort...I tried.Look's like you're into some nice find's....Best of luck to ya!!

Why is everyone saying great finds BB? KFB was there also. I was there I seen him!

Sorry KFB....Sweet dig's,you Both did good  ;) Tis the season for the relic's...

I agree with PBK, I do think it is probably a snap.  But I have also seen Sword Hanger hooks that looked like that too.

I agree with PBK, I do think it is probably a snap.  But I have also seen Sword Hanger hooks that looked like that too.

I could go either way on the item.  As for the other mystery brass (at the top of the post), I'm going to post a few cleaned-up close-ups on the Whatzit forum.

KFB--you are making the next post.    I know it'll take you two months to type it, but hey--ya shoulda had that typing class back in high school ;) 

Regards,

Buckleboy

I agree with PBK, I do think it is probably a snap.  But I have also seen Sword Hanger hooks that looked like that too.

I could go either way on the item.  As for the other mystery brass (at the top of the post), I'm going to post a few cleaned-up close-ups on the Whatzit forum.

KFB--you are making the next post.    I know it'll take you two months to type it, but hey--ya shoulda had that typing class back in high school ;) 

Regards,

Buckleboy

WHa t du yoo meen? I TYPe realy gooder

This piece would have been sewed to a uniform.  The picture of your "Whats It" looks like the receiver to this piece.  Notice the 3 rivet holes which is similar to your "Whats it".  The picture that I have included was sewn to the shoulders of a frock coat to hold epaulettes AKA shoulder scales.  Your piece could be the "receiver" to the piece I have pictured below....IF not, than your piece definitely looks similar and looks like a piece that would be sewn to the uniform. IN addition, that would explain the "gap" in the middle of it=that would be where the fabric of the uniform or the metal of the epaulette would be.  I could be wrong....but I think that it is a very good guess.

The mystery object to me appears to be a hasp.  Looks like it was riveted onto the end of a leather strap (hence the rivets and gap between the pieces), and would flip over a hoop or very likely the object Sentinel posted, and it would fasten.  Quite like a modern lock hasp. 

Hey, check this out.  After seeing your stuff (great finds by the way) it reminded me that I found a very similar item to the one you posted!

Cheese, that is the exact point that I was making.  Thanks for the back up.  To both I and Cheese, it looks like the hasp to the item that I pictured above which is a fastner for the Epaulettes that were worn on the sholulder of an officer.  IF this is not the case, than it may be the hasp to a personal item such as a diary.

P.S.  I actually found one of these (part of it that has been broken off from the base) on my battlefield site that I hunt:

This is an excellent guess, Sentinel.  We have found five shoulder scale buttons like the one pictured above at the site.  Thanks for the ID idea.  I'm going with either a hasp to a scale or a hasp to a diary or personal item. 

Regards,

Buckleboy

Those are great finds. The CW stuff is awesome! I wonder if that first piece could be something that came off of a door. The piece that surrounds where a skeleton key would go into the door.

Those are great finds. The CW stuff is awesome! I wonder if that first piece could be something that came off of a door. The piece that surrounds where a skeleton key would go into the door.

I think it could be too small.  It is only an inch long--would be a pretty darn small key!  But I see what you're talking about.  We haven't found any house site-related-junk in this field though--ever.  At most, we've found a few pieces of old iron from farming, and a few soda/beer cans. 

Regards,

Buckleboy

This piece would have been sewed to a uniform.  The picture of your "Whats It" looks like the receiver to this piece.  Notice the 3 rivet holes which is similar to your "Whats it".  The picture that I have included was sewn to the shoulders of a frock coat to hold epaulettes AKA shoulder scales.  Your piece could be the "receiver" to the piece I have pictured below....IF not, than your piece definitely looks similar and looks like a piece that would be sewn to the uniform. IN addition, that would explain the "gap" in the middle of it=that would be where the fabric of the uniform or the metal of the epaulette would be.  I could be wrong....but I think that it is a very good guess.

I agree on your ID Sentinel and that is a cool find to boot! I have never seen one as complete as yours. We have found several of the "mushrooms" in this particular field and it only makes sense to me thats what it is. What do you think BB?

KFB

Hey, check this out.  After seeing your stuff (great finds by the way) it reminded me that I found a very similar item to the one you posted!

How do you keep your hands so clean? Yes it looks to be the same as the one above but is it cw era? Take care.

KFB

Your mystery item looks very much like a ornate bottle opener to me.

Your mystery item looks very much like a ornate bottle opener to me.

Yes the soldiers north and south sat around many a camp fire drinking a diet Dew.

Your mystery item looks very much like a ornate bottle opener to me.

Yes the soldiers north and south sat around many a camp fire drinking a diet Dew.

LMAO @ KFB.   No, I took this the other night while we were talking about it.  I had not actually gone out hunting that day.  Yes, it is from the Civil War, found near a big battlefield of the Seven Days' campaign here in VA

Your mystery item looks very much like a ornate bottle opener to me.

Yes the soldiers north and south sat around many a camp fire drinking a diet Dew.

Heh - you're such a wit (well at least half of one) 

I'm not suggesting that it's from the civil war - obviously not everything found in a corn field that has seen continued agricultural activity for a long time is from the war. For all I know it could be a fitting from Ewells wooden leg but when you post a request for suggestions.....

Your mystery item looks very much like a ornate bottle opener to me.

Yes the soldiers north and south sat around many a camp fire drinking a diet Dew.

Heh - you're such a wit (well at least half of one) 

I'm not suggesting that it's from the civil war - obviously not everything found in a corn field that has seen continued agricultural activity for a long time is from the war. For all I know it could be a fitting from Ewells wooden leg but when you post a request for suggestions.....

I understood what you were saying. My reply was in good fun and WAS NOT intended as an insult in anyway shape or form. Im just a natural born smart a$$. Sorry if I offended you. Have a wonderful day.

KFB

I understood what you were saying. My reply was in good fun and WAS NOT intended as an insult in anyway shape or form. Im just a natural born smart a$$. Sorry if I offended you. Have a wonderful day.

KFB

Sentinel,

Don't worry, smartassin' is a Kentucky thang. ;)

Hello Buckleboy. I am including a few pictures of a clasp end that I found at a Civil War campsite in Georgia. The item on the right is like yours and I think it was a dispatch case
clasp. I have included a photo of the end where the leather, or canvas, was attached. The other item on the left was found at the same campsite and each piece swivels. I would appreciate any guesses on what it is, because I have no idea. Both items appear to be brass.

I hope this helps your identification process.

Ron
 

Ron,

I'm sold!  A clasp end!  Thank you for posting the pictures.  The object in the photo is the right size, shape, and composition as the object I found.  It even has the three rivets and the spread design where it was fastened to the leather at top.  So am I to assume that some sort of brass piece went through the hole at the bottom and then was turned (much like a shoulder scale "mushroom") to hold the strap in place?

Regards,

Buckleboy

Ron,

I'm sold!  A clasp end!  Thank you for posting the pictures.  The object in the photo is the right size, shape, and composition as the object I found.  It even has the three rivets and the spread design where it was fastened to the leather at top.  So am I to assume that some sort of brass piece went through the hole at the bottom and then was turned (much like a shoulder scale "mushroom") to hold the strap in place?

Regards,

Buckleboy

Thats what I told you the second you dug it! A clasp! You never listen.

Hi Buckleboy and Kindafoundabuckle. You guys are a hoot.
The dispatch case had a small brass turnkey that was attached to the side of the case. The turnkey was inserted through the hole in the clasp and turned to fasten.
I was glad to help.
Ron

Great CW digs!  Anything from that era that comes out of the earth is a story in itself.  Awesome stuff!

Nat