CONTENTS:

Civil War Minie Ball/ Bullets

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These are the common "three ring" .58 caliber "minie balls" used by the infantrymen of the Union army. They were cast by huge machines in the arsenals of the North, such as Frankford and Allegheny Arsenals of Pennsylvania. After manufacture, these lead bullets were placed in individual paper sleeves that contained a pre-measured black powder charge. In battle, the paper wrap was torn (often with the teeth), the powder-charge poured down the barrel, and then the lead slug dropped down atop that powder. When the spark from the musket cap met the waiting charge, off spun the bullet down the barrel towards its distant target. Often in the fearful disarray of battle, troopers dropped these bullets. Thus, they laid upon the ground unscathed by any impact. As such, many "drops" or unfired bullets are found with an intact shape upon Civil War battlefields. As far as the truly "fired" bullets: When they hit something, the soft lead tended to mushroom or spread out into a harsh & deadly irregular shape.
 
Buckshot, Fort Donelson.

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This is a tray of approximately 40 lead "buck" shot excavated from Fort Donelson battlefield area. Early in the war, two of these buck were fired along with a musket ball from the older, non-rifled guns. They were supplied to troops in paper cartridge packages containing two buck, a ball and powder charge. Thus, they are known as "buck and ball". When excavated, they can be found separately as in this case, or adhered together in a lump of two buck and a ball. Later in the war, the more accurate rifled muskets started using the longer, cylindrical minie balls rather than such circular shot. These came from the old Colonel Vietzen Civil War and Indian Museum in Elyria, Ohio.
 
M1840 Pay Department Sword

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Essentially, this is the same sword as the 1840 Medical Staff Officer's sword that was used during the Civil War, but was also used by civil staff and ordnance storeskeepers. Entire hilt is heavy brass exactly the same as Medical Staff Sword but no applied letters in shield. The blade is pyramidal in cross section, 31 3/4" in length with deep fullers on all three sides. Narrows to a wickedly thin point at tip.
 
1863 Gallager Cartridge Package

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This is an original package with label which held ten "Gallager's" cartridges, and also 12 percussion caps. Pat. Dec. 15, 1863. Nothing in the box now, just the package for sale. You don't find these at yard sales!
 
Cylinder of Percussion Revolver

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Excavated relic from percussion revolver; possibly a Colt Navy. Can still see some of the cap nipples.
 
Model 1832 Foot Artillery Short Sword and Scabbard

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This is an extra fine example of the Model 1832 U.S. Artillery Short Sword along with its scabbard. It has a nice bright blade carrying many maker and inspector's markings on its ricasso. Made by the famous Ames Mfg. Co of Chicopee, Mass, suubsequent army ordnance inspectors would add dates and their intials to the base of the blade to mark their approval of quality. HKW /NJ/US/ADK/1855. We can also see the "NJ" for New Jersey, an uncommon state armory. Finding a leather scabbard so beautifully intact after 160 years is difficult since they would often molder, rot or be eaten by mice in closets and cellars. This one is superb!
 
1862 Norwich Contract .58 cal.

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This is the standard rifled musket used by Union troops during the Civil War. The Federal government made contraxcts with various large companies to supply these in large numbers to a quickly growing Northern army. THe Southern forces were not blessed by such a powerful manufacturing ability and needed to depend on imported European muskets of varying types initially. Bayopnets were still an important part of warfare during charges and desperate "last pitch" efforts in the trenches during the Civil War.
 
1864 Parkers' Snow & Co. .58 cal.

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This is the lockplate area of an 1864 Parkers' & Snow Union contract musket, showing the eagle cartouche and manufacturer's markings. Collecting military firearms is an entire specialty field unto itself. Yet I would guess that these Civil War muskets would seem interesting to any of us now. It is very exciting to unearth the pieces of an actual Civil War musket from the spot where a soldier dropped it over 140 years ago. Occasionally, vague remnants of these marking can still be seen if the iron has not rusted badly yet in the ground.
 
Wood Fragment Containing Minie Ball; Hanover Junction,1864

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A nice minie ball imbedded in a fragment of the tree it hit. Trees, fallen trunks, firewood and fence posts were often riddled with bullets. Years later they are found by running a metal detector over the wood. Upon splitting open the wood, there lies a bullet inside, sometimes mangled by impact and other times amazingly intact looking.
 
Fired Lead Musketballs

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Rounded musket balls were used in the earlier "unrifled" or smooth bore muskets and pistols of conflicts prior to the Civil War. Such weapons were less accurate than the later "rifled" muskets which fired the spinning, conical minie "balls." However, many earlier weapons were hastily carried into battle at the start of hostilities. These rounded balls are therefore found on Civil War battlefields right beside the pointed-dome minies. Round lead or iron shot (balls) were often incorporated as shrapenel within the explosive matrix of artillery shells and cannister tins too.
 
Soldier carved Minie into a split pea design

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Musket ball carved into cool split pea design. Could've been used as a sinker this way or simply a decorative fancy of a bored soldier whittling in camp...
 
Paper Wrapped .54 cal. Ball & Charge for

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Lead bullets were often wrapped in a folded paper sheath that contained a pre-measured amount of gunpowder as well as the lead missile. The poweder went into the end of the gun first and then the bullet. Near the end of the Civil War, breech-loaded carbines started to become the norm, meaning that they were loaded from the rear of the barrel. By that point, brass casings began to appear with a firing pin or striking anvil on their backside to ignite the internal powder charge (as in modern bullets). Thus, at the end of the American Civil War, the muzzle-loading of exposed powder became obsolete. This .54 caliber bullet was manufactured prior to the advent of such brass-cased charges. It would have been carried along with others in a leather cartridge pouch that hung from the soldier's belt. Written in old ink ".54 ..istol", suggesting that it was for a pistol, but more than likely due to its size, it was manufactured for use in a musket.
 
Pulled Minie Ball lodged in a Wipe!

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Civil War soldiers often used the corkscrew tips of their musket wipes to remove bullets that got stuck in the bore cavity. These would be advanced upon the end of the ramrod to the point of obstruction and then twisted into the soft leaden nose of the stubborn bullet. We often find the impression of their sharp tips in discarded bullets. But in this case, the soldier could not later separate the two and discarded the wipe tip along with the bullet. The two have remained in such a conjugal union for over 135 years! This comes from an olden-time Virginia digger's collection!
 
Carved Minie: Interesting Shape!

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Bored soldiers, sitting around in camp, often carved the soft lead of their bullets into creative shapes, such as animals, chess pieces, fishing sinkers, pencils tips, people and practically anything imaginable. This mushroom shaped item could be interpreted in many, many ways... It was excavated along the old railroad lines near Corinth, Misssissippi. One can see the digger's ink notations still on the crown.
 
Hand Forged United States Revolutionary War Bayonet

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Revolutionary War American Made with tell-tale crude blacksmithing as to rolled socket, applied rim, and assymmetric sides to base of blade. Very nice shape. One open area at seam where socket was annealed closed. 19" long with 14 5/8" blade. Was this the one Mel Gibson used at the end of "The Patriot"?
 
A bent musket barrell

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When weapons were captured and meant to be kept from falling into enemy hands later, quick-moving units with no sdupply lines back to their rear would either dismantle pistols and muskets for parts or destroy them. In the case of this standard Union .58 musket, the barrel was heated red-hot above a pit-fire and then forcibly bent around a tree trunk to make it into an non-functional "U"-shape. Such heateded bending was also done with torn-up railroad tracks to prevent the enemy from rebuilding their lines. It was excavated near Fredericksburg, Virginia. We know where, but not who and why...
 
Excavated Enfield Musket with Affixed Bayonet

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This British Enfield musket was excavated from the Resaca, GA area. It was used by both Union and CSA forces, but moreso by the South which could not manufacture enough firearms for its armies and thus had to import from England. Its bayonet was affixed when this weapon was lost, suggesting that it was being used in battle. Since the barrel is slightly bent at its center, something nasty probably happened to the troop who carried it. No lockplate, trigger guard or butt plate were found. Either they were blasted away or scavenged for parts.
 
Sharpshooter's .45 cal. Cylindrical Whitworth

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A very nice example of the short-variety of the cylindrical .45 cal. Whitworth bullet with a dished-base. (1 1/8" long) Whitworths were tremendously accurate rifled-muskets mounted with scopes that were imported from England by the Confederate States. Their bore is hexagonal and their bullets follow that longitudinal profile. These guns were given to the South's best sharpshooters, who were quite deadly at picking-off Federal officers. This tended to confuse and disrupt regiments who'd lost their leaders. General Reynolds was killed on day one of Gettysburg by such a sniper, as was General Sedgwick soon after snickering that the rebels "could not hit an elephant" at their extremely far distance. This item came from the collection of an older gent who found it near the Perryville, Kentucky battlefield.
 
A Corpse-hook Bayonet

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This Civil War Enfield bayonet was dug from along the Railroad tracks, 300-400 yards down from the site of a Confederate camp just outside the Orange County Hospital. This camp was where typhoid victims were isolated. The bayonet has been bent to a hook on the end. These were often used to drag corpses off to burial. Could also have been used as a pot hook, but the proximity to a hospital dying-field suggests the prior use! Similar hooks were no doubt used after battles to clear the dead. More often than not, burial details, often made up of conscripted slaves, would toss bodies onto buckboard wagons or bury them on the field. Long trenches were dug with bodies laid side to side, the dirt from the next space tossed over to cover the previous body in line.
 
Excavated Sharps Carbine!!!! (Bermuda Hundred)

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The Civil War saw the rapid evolution of firearms. The carbine was a short rifle often used from horseback that employed a self-contained cartridge type bullets rather than the old method of stopping to ram gunpowder and bullets down the open muzzle end. Thus, carbines were "breech loading," meaning that the gun somehow pivoted open near the hammer to allow loading of a cartridge at the back end of the barrel chamber. The gun was then closed and fired. Cartridges started incorporating a firing charge within them at their rear aspect. Thus, the strike of the hammer would cause a spark-flash within the cartridge itself, setting off the rest of the charge in the brass casing and letting the bullet at the tip fly. Our modern bullets employ internal strike anvils and fire in this same basic manner. During the Civil War, this concept was fairly new and exciting, allowing much more rapid, relatively hands-free firing. But these firearms were expensive and not bought in large numbers by the two Governments for their troops. Oddly, soldiers were allowed to buy their own carbines and better-quality rifles privately if they got approval from command. The Spencer was an extremely popular firearm because it carried a number of cartridges in its stock which forward-loaded into place one by one. Thus, it was essentially a "repeating" rifle. There are reports of small forces of men during the Civil War who were luckily armed with Spencers and effectively decimated much larger opposing forces armed only with the old single-shot muzzle loaders. "They fired all day without reloading!" was the lament of the vanquished. This was excavated near the Bermuda Hundred Plantation along the James River in Virginia. Look at all the details still showing! You can see the outer release latch, the gutter for the shell, even the firing spring inside! This has been treated by electrolysis to remove rust concretions and then was treated with polyurethane to stall any further flaking/deterioration. Only about fifteen inches of the barrel remains.
 
Exceptional Officer's Baldric Cartridge Box

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This is a beautiful Officer's Dress Baldric Cartridge box, worn from 1840-65. Shown in Lord's great Civil War treatise, Vol.I, page 6. This is both stunning in design and embellishment: Deep black leather that is not cracked or flaking; the box is just over 6 inches across, with a gothic scroll insignia "GHG" and brass "1" Regimental number on outside of flap. The box is maker-marked "J.H. Mc Kennet, New York" on underside flap. The sides of box are constructed of sturdy brass endplates linked to brass mount-loops at end of the sling. The leather of shoulder sling is dark black, solid and fairly supple (no cracking). Upon sling are mounted the brass lion face, bearing two of the three original brass chains which attach decoratively to a brass shield bearing an eagle. The adjusting buckle uses tension tongs at back. When the Civil War began, some of these fancier items of prior generations went to war, but soon, they were found to be too cumbersome and gaudy for battle. In a line of potential tragets facing the enemy, one might do better NOT to stand out as something showy or interesting! Plain leather cartridge boxes replaced these, and eventually shiny metal decorative embellishments that made good targets disappeared as well.
 
Star-based Minie: Chess Piece???

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This is great. A star based .58 Minie carved to a probable chess piece: bishop or knight. When soldiers had no games in camp, they invented ways to play amongst themselves. Lead bullets were made into checkers, dice, chess pieces, and poker chips.
 
.44 Remington Army Revolver

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A dug pistol from Fort Donelson. This .44 caliber, six-shot percussion weapon had an 8" octagonal barrel. It was one of the major handguns of the Civil War. This example has been stripped of its hammer, mainspring and loading lever. Otherwise a good looking relic. Officers and cavalry were lucky to carry revolvers, for they could get off six-shots in fairly rapid succession whereas infantry troopers had to load their musket once every 20-45 seconds. Most handguns were still fired using the percussion cap method, therefore requiring that a brass cap be placed over the nipple leading to each round chamber. Typically, an officer would not just throw away a handgun. Thus, these were either lost in battle or abandoned after being stripped for parts. This was probably the latter case, since pieces were missing when found.
 
Relic Savage Percussion Pistol

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This is a Savage brand of percussion revolver from an unknown Civil War sdite. It is a shame when relic were recovered but not tagged with their site of discovery. It disconnects them a little from their true past. In this case, the weapons is intact except for its loading lever and the wood grips which rapidly decay when underground. Who knows what this gun faced in the hands of a Union officer? Was it lost, abandoned or fallen from a mortally wounded hand...
 
CW Period Dirk with Scabbard

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A unique dirk or boot/fighting knife, found together with Civil War and G.A.R. pieces in an estate sale. Its method of construction fully suggests the CW period, with "S" shaped metal hand-guard and dark hardwood handle, possibly ebony, which is typical for the period on medical instruments and better cutlery. The sheath is most interesting, suggesting a field construction during the CW. It is apparently made from the end of a .58 US bayonet sheath with a top metal collar added at throat. Leather is crackled but sturdy with firm stitching. The blade is engraved with initials "S.J.W." on one side and the face of a hound on the other. This blade point is rounded from someone using knife to pry things. There is a metal ferule that is German silvered between guard and handle. The handle is nicely shaped with an acorn motif on tip. There is an age crack in the grip but it is not objectionable and stays sturdy with handling. It measures 12 1/8" overall length with sheath; 10 1/4" knife tip to tip; and 5 3/8" blade. One must wonder who used it...
 
Acorn shaped Sinker

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Carved from a minie. It bears resemblance to an acorn but is pierced to be hung, probably as a fishing line sinker. Troops often fished in the creeks, rivers, ponds and lakes near their encampments.
 
Dirk excavated in Munfordville, Ky

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This is a "dirk" or boot knife that was excavated in Munfordville, Ky. It is constructed in the style of Civil War period fighting knives. These were carried as backup weapons for close hand-to-hand fighting. If your rifle was empty, you'd want to have your own "last resort" in order to defend yourself. Thus, soldiers on both sides during the Civil War were allowed to carry dirks, Bowie knives and even boot pistols which were their private property. This item is what we call a "field pickup" or "field recovery" for it is not extremely deteriorated. Therefore, it was likely found upon the ground within a short period of time after the Civil War. The wooden grip had already rotted away, but the metal was only slightly rusted. Souvenier hunters combed forests and battle areas for decades after the War in search of such items. In fact, surving troops came back as older men and walked the grounds they fought upon, looking for momentoes. Some local shop owners even bought items from farmers and relic hunters hoping to sell them to these aging warriors who returned as tourists with their proud families years later.
 
Part of a Civil War Sword Scabbard

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This is a 20 1/2" fragment of an iron scabbard for a CW officer's sword. It has one hanger loop still on it. It came from private land in the Richmond area. Perhaps a CSA use??? There are no markings. It was broken off at a little more than half its original length. And one must wonder, what would happen to the man beside it if such steel were shattered in helklish warfare?
 
.58 Skin Catridge

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The American Civil War was a period of great innovation and advancement in design of weaponry. One variation of bullet design included the use of pouches or "skins" holding the powder charge that were glued or tied to the rear end of each lead bullet. The skin is intact in this specimen, although quite dried and shriveled after 140 years. It was never fired. Found in Virginia. Paper was coated with shellac in order to prevent further breakage or deterioration.
 
Lorenz 4-sided Bayonet

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This is a Lorenz CW period bayonet for the imported Austrian rifles which were usually used by Confederates. It has a nice gun metal patina. No locking ring. The 4-sided blade measures 14 1/2" which may have been shortened in the course of its use.
 
One bullet shot through another in flight!

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When lead bullets were flying upon the battlefield as thick as gnats on a hot bayou, occasionally two would collide in mid-air. Such is the case with this marvellous dug relic. One bullet plowed straight through the center of another! I would not want to be in a conflict with missles that thick in the air!!!
 
Belgian pre-CW period Boot Pistol

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These single shot percussion boot pistols were common in America at time of CW from the previous generation. They were often taken as extra precautionary weapons. The Belgians produced many firearms used in pre-CW and CW period here. This lovely boot pistol bears a Belgian Hallmark. The barrel unscrews as shown in photos. There is hand-engraving on body, base & backstrap. As hammer is pulled back, the trigger drops down from being flush to base. The walnut grip is carved into ribs and scalloped. Bore is good. This is a pretty little weapon that might save your life in combat when the regulation musket was already empty and they kept on coming!
 
Lead pig or bar for casting bullets, marked

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During the Civil War, this type of small lead bar was often used to field-cast needed bullets. The bar was melted over a fire in an iron pot or ladle, the molten metal then being carefully poured into an appropriate bullet mold. This lead bar is marked "WIND" and could well have been used by the Confederate forces. Of course, larger bars were also used in armories and larger supply depots but would be unwieldy for use near the front lines.
 
Lead Bullet Melting Cone

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This cone of lead shows a three-ringed minie and the impression of another bullet's base melted into the conglomerate. Apparently, melted bullets were poured into holes in the ground to form lumps or bars of lead for later recasting. This is one that they did not come back to collect. Recycling was very important to the armies of the Civil War, particularly the Confederates who were sorely strapped for raw materials.
 
Variant CSA Whitworth Sniper Bullets from Spotsylvania

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Who knows how many gallant men fell prey to this CSA sniper who nested in a Confederate trench near modern route 208 in Spotsylvania! Union General Sedgewick was apparently dropped at Spotsylvania just after he snidely commented that the Reb snipers "couldn't hit an elephant" at that huge distance to the trees. These perfect examples of the .45 caliber hexagonal bullets for a sharpshooters rifle were found by the private landowner lined-up in a row as if laid out to cool from having just been molded on site. One can still see the slight mold seams that were not yet filed down. The base is flat, not dished, probably indicating a local CSA rendition of the English mold, in which they skipped the more-complicated mold piece needed to dish the base. These are 1 3/8" long, having a lovely white patina.
 
Ivory Handled Fighting Dirk a la Gangs of New York

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A CW period Ivory-handled Fighting Dirk, probably madein England but no maker's mark left showing. It is fine quality. The squared ivary grip has some small age-shrinkage cracks that do not affect its strength. A brass hand-guard bears a variation of snake-shaped guards on other dirks. The blade is steely-toned with some faint peppering after having been cleaned in the past.(see the picture of tip) This is the type of side-arm that troops took as "back-up" weapons in case of hand-to-hand trench fighting.
 
Bullet used as a makeshift nipple cap for a musket

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This shows the inventiveness and adaptability of soldiers! A standard 3-ring lead minie was modified into a nipple cap for a musket. The nipple was a small raised protrusion or attachment to the rear (stock side) of the steel barrel. A tiny metal cap was placed down over it. That cap contained a charge of dried fulminate of mercury which would ignite to a flash or spark when struck by the musket hammer. The spark then traveled down the hollow shaft of the nipple into the powder charge within the barrel. In order to prevent debris and denting of the vital nipple, caps were often devised. The Enfield rifles from Englank often came with caps held to the gun by chains. By American muskets had no such nipple caps. Thus, soldiers improvised. The shape of the nipple can be seen on the underside of this modified bullet, while the musket hammer's impression is seen on its top.
 
Minie imbedded in center of Limb with X-rays!

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Many bullets ended-up fired into trees during battle. Those that survived continued to grow with the lead bullets imbedded in their limbs and trunks. Years later when they tree died naturally or was cut-down for firewood, these bullets were still held deep within their cores. In battle areas, a relic hunter can often run his metal-detector over old, fallen trees and get the characteristic electronic "ring" of a bullet!!! By breaking open these chunks of wood, a bullet is then found nestled in the center, sometimes gnarled-up from impact, and other times, looking amazingly unscathed after hitting and living in a tree for 140 years! I recall a story from some relic hunters which bears repeating: They were looking for bullets on an old battle site with little luck. But then, it began to downpour and thunder. They ran into a deserted barn to escape the rain, and while there, they started running their metal detectors over a rotting pile of firewood, simply as a joke. To their utter joy, they found four or five logs that contained actual Civil War bullets. They found more hiding inside from the rain than relic hunting the fields! This chunk of tree wood is not from that episode, but it could have been. It was found because it gave the signal of heavy metal such as lead or brass, as well as had a weight much greater than mere wood when tested in the palm. The collector had it X-rayed to see what was inside. And lo and behold, a Civil War minie ball revealed itself, as seen in alignment to the marking arrows. It still remains unopened to this day. Comes from the Battle of Rock Face near Dalton, Georgia.
 
Enfield Saber Bayonet

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Besides the typical triangular blade design for socket bayonets, there were "Saber" bayonets. These were found on some models of both American and European muskets. This one comes along with its original leather scabbard. Possibly made by the famed German blade manufacturer Kirschbaum due to the knight's head marking on ricasso of its blade. It is interesting how various European armaments found their way into both the North and South in order to supply the needs of the Civil War.
 
Excavated Model 1861 .44 caliber Remington

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This Model 1861 Remington Revolver was found at a Cedar Creek, Virginia battle area in 1941. The hammer still draws back upon an intact spring. No trigger, cylinder or loading lever. To think that a Civil War soldier pointed this same item in battle is an awesome thought. As time goes on, fewer and fewer of these relics are left in the ground, and the ones that are... are flaking away...dust to dust.
 
A smiling animal minie!!!

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This happy looking carved minie ball might have reminded a troop of his dog back home or a relative who would never stop chattering.
 
A Percussion Double Barrel Shotgun : Brandy Station

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This was found in an old barn in Brandy Station, Virginia. It is a neat, old double-barrelled percussion shot gun. No maker's marks seen. It is smashed in half at base of barrel, breaking the wood where the forestock takes off at the front of the trigger guard. Brandy Station was the site of some major action in the Civil War. Who knows why this was smashed: in a shirmish... in a battle... or to prevent local citizens from using it against visiting Union forces??? There is no other exact history on it. Just left to your imagination!
 
Ames Model 1840 Artillery Saber

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This is a very nice example of the 1840 Artillery Saber which has obviously been to battle and brought home by a trooper. It has some minor dings to brass and one edge nick that likely came from impact with another sword eith during masneuvers or battle. The Ames marking "Ames Mfg Co. Chicopee.Mass" is slightly light from weear during use and cleaning blade. As is typical with most Union Civil War swords, it carries both a date and an inspector's marking on the base of blade itself (area called the ricasso. The leather on grip and wire binding are present as is a leather collar called a "bumper guard" which keeps guard from clanging & banging into throat (opening) of the scabbard. This blade has never been sharpened or chromed. Sadly, which soldier carried it to war is unknown.
 
Carved Minie: A Gaping Serpent???

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Between battles, bored soldiers used their pocket knifes to carve the soft lead of bullets into various whimsical shapes... Was this supposed to be a gaping serpent... or a really ugly drill sergeant that nobody liked???
 
1816 Model Bayonet, South Carolina allotment

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This is a standard 1816 socket bayonet that is 19" long overall. It is fluted a little more than half the blade length and of course no lock ring yet. It is marked US/SC, meaning it went to South Carolina as part of its allotment as set forth by the Militia Act of 1808. A bayonet likely still used by Confederates early in the Civil War. Has an overall slight rough spotting but solid with a pretty dark patina.
 
69 caliber ramrod from Harpers Ferry

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A flared tip ramrod of the type used on .69 caliber muskets. Used to shove the round musket call all the way down the inside of the barrel till it sat against the black powder charge at the bottom. Recovered in Harpers Ferry area from private land. 32 1/2" long. Rusted, rough but solid.
 
Dug Caps from the Wilderness

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These are musket caps for a percussion rifle which were dug in the Wilderness. They were individually placed upon the "nipple" at the base of the musket. When struck by the release of the firing "hammer," the impact ignited a fulminate-of-mercury in the cap, sending a spark down the nipple shaft and into the waiting powder-charge within the musket chamber. The blast would send the bullet flying. These are "fired" or used caps. Used one-at-a-time in the heat of a desperate battle. Whose quivering fingers handled these? What side was he on and what were his circumstances in the greater scheme of the fray? Finally, did he survive that day?
 
High Hump Richmond Lockplate

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A very rare High Hump Richmond Musket Lockplate. It was dug in Petersburg VA.
 
Model 1855 Lockplate: Stones River, TN

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From the battlefields of Stones River, TN. comes this Model 1855 Harpers Ferry Musket Lockplate. When the wooden parts of an old musket rusted away, pieces like this lockplate remainded in the ground to alert us to the conflicts of the past.
 
1860 Cavalry Saber Cold Harbor

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Too neat for words! This gnarled fragment of an 1860 Union Cavalry saber was found atop a trench many years ago at Cold Harbor!!! The broken blade is now poly coated to prevent further deterioration. The drag 3 branch guard is twisted as if by a powerful explosive force. Whoever was carrying this during the famed battle certainly did not leave the field unpright. Awesome relics do not get better than this!
 
Bull Horn powder horn

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This is an actual bull's horn made into a powder horn as used by hunters and soldiers prior to and during the Civil War. More likely carried by Southern troops if machine fabricated brass powder flasks were not available. As war progressed, paper cartridges had powder inside and pouring-your-own powder was no longer necessary. Unclear if this was used in war or not. About 9 1/2" long. Has some chew marks from bugs (not sure what eats horns...)
 
Fired Whitworth Sniper Bullet

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The Whitworth rifle was a high precision long-range rifle imported from England mainly by the Confederacy for the use of snipers. By eliminating the enemy's senior staff officers, effective tactics and quick decisions about troop movements could be delayed during pivotal times in battle. General Reynolds was killed early in the course of The Battle of Gettysburg by a sniper's bullet, requiring the quick intervention of Hancock and others in his stead. As the Civil War progressed, Union officers obtained permission to dispense with their prominent shoulder straps which clearly made them marked-men on the field. This bullet shows the classical Whitworth octagonal shape at its base. But the nose is flattened from a direct impact. While a blow to a human bone could do that, it is more likely that a tree or ground flattened the front of this lovely relic. Site unknown. Not for sale.
 
Gardner's Explosive Bullet

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A most feared item! A lead bullet with an explosive internal charge. It was ignited by an interal fuze about 1 - 2 seconds after being fired from the musket. Thus, the bullet might well be lodged in an unfortunate enemy soldier's body when it exploded! And even if these had exploded before hitting their target, they were transformed into a raw, jagged missile of great lacerating and destructivbe power. Thirty three thousand of these were bought by the Union Army, being used between 1862 and 1864. Deemed cruel, they were soon banned in Europe and not used by U.S. Troopers past the era of the 1870's...
 
CSA Slug

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This big lead slug was used by the Confederate forces for their shotguns. These are not common. It is a very heavy projectile which was capable of a lot of physical damage. But only accurate at very close range. OUCH!
 
1860 Officer's Sword Guard

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This is an ornate, heavy brass fragment of a handguard from a Model 1860 Union Field Officer's Sword. It is typical of that carried by the ranks of Lieutenants through Majors. The knuckleguard is broken off of it. It is hallmarked "E.L." with three stars on its underside, making it most likely a commonly-imported French destined for the hungry Union and Confederate markets. It was recovered in Chickamauga from private lands with permission. Imagine the sheer explosive force needed to tear such a heavy brass item apart!
 
Sergeant's Enfield Multi-Tool

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An uncommon find indeed! The rusted shaft of a company Sergeant's Enfield musket multi-tool! Used to enact repairs on imported British Enfield rifles in the field. This came from a relic hunter who typically worked the private lands (with permission) just around Gettysburg.
 
1840 Medical Officer's Sword

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This is the Model 1840 Medical Officer's Sword which was supplied to Union Surgeons during the Civil War for dress purposes. It has "M.S." within a shield of stars. The grip shows an eagle and has hancy curved quillons sticking out to side. The blades are usually etched with words Medical Staff. As you can see, even the scabbard is highly decorated. These men being officers and desperately-needed physicians, it is no wonder they were treated to such fine swords. Usually they were dressed in bloody smocks with rolled up sleeves during and after battles. The sword was for better days of dress-parade & relaxation between doing rushed amputations.
 
1861 Ames Naval Cutlass

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This is the commonly used Union naval cutlass of the Civil War period. It was made by Ames, but company name has since worn away. However, the deeper 1861 date marking can still be found on one side of the ricasso. The brass handguard cup is intact & sturdy but has dings and edge nips. The leather is still intact on handgrip which is unusual since the salt water often ate it away quickly on ships. The brass guard has a rack number stamped into it "20M 574"... There are numerous edge nicks (called "flea bites") to the cutting side of blade, obviously from repeated hard impacts against other blades. Were these obtained during friendly sparing with other sailors or during life & death Naval battles in port or at sea??? We can only be left to imagine!
 
A rare Mississippi Saber Bayonet

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This is a rare and unusal "Mississippi Rifle" (Snell Alteration) saber bayonet from the Civil War era. It sports a 22 3/8" blade which is mostly grey with overall scattered age staining (often called "peppering" by collectors)... It has an untouched brass handle with nice medium honey-toned patina. Just a few bumps and dings from its illustrious military usage. The front muzzle-ring is marked "C 50". Such Confederate bayonets are extremely rare and treasured by specialty collectors. Imagine being a Northern soldier and seeing a young adrenalin-charged Confederate lunging toward you with one of these awesome blades in the trenches just outside of Petersburg in 1864?
 
Super Cavalry Saber Grip and Rustng blade

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This is a very attractive "historic relic" grade Civil War cavalry saber recovered from private lands with permissiuon around Chancellorsville, Virginia. The branched grip is in the Horstmann Brothers (Philadelphia) pattern of the 1840's to 1850's that was still being carried by many career officers. It is slightly bent from whatever disasterous end befell its owner during this huge pitched battle of 1863. An 18 inch rusted section of its blade remains. With the tang slid through the opening in the bronze grip, it looks very cool. The wood or ivory components of the grip, as well as the tip-end of the blade, are long gone~ either corroded away or blasted away in this fitful battle. No scabbard.
 
Modern Brass Bullet in Wood

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Even in hotly contested battle zones, not every bullet found imbedded in old trees is from the Civil War period. Sometimes huntewrs and target shooters later freqented the more deeply-forested areas in the ensuing 100-plus years. Then it becomes a matter of digging away some 9of the wood to see what it actually cradled inside of it: the caliber, shape and material. In all those features, this smaller caliber brass bullet was not from the Civil War. Still attractive and a great comparison piece for teaching courses at Scouts & schools. The bullet a mere 3/4" long, looking much like a 45 slug.
 
Buck & Ball Sets from Siege of Port Hudson

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The Confederate soldiers lining the trenches in the marsh were armed with obsolete .69 caliber muskets... but they waited until the ranks of oncoming Federal troops were very close before letting loose their volley. They fired that old-style "buck-n'-ball" from their aged guns: one lead ball and two small lead buckshot. The hail of death was fiercesome at close range. And thus, they staved-off the onslaught of a much superior force, now reduced to a wounded, disheartened shambles! These buck-n'-ball sets come from the long-drawn-out Union siege of Port Hudson, LA.
 
Iron "Brass Knuckles"

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If you are in a "last ditch" despoerate fight for your life in the trenches with no gun, no sword, no nuthin'... well it never hurts (you) to have a piece of molded iron over your fist called a "brass knuckle." It is far better to knock out your enemy with a punch than to get shot or jabbed yourself! You can figure out what to do with your unconscious prisoner later! These are a nicely preserved set of brass knuckles dug from an unknown Civil War campsite. Ouch!!!
 
Five-shot Percussion Revolver from Murfeesboro

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From private lands at Stones River, Murfreesboro comes this very interesting relic: A dug percussion cap 5-shot cylinder revolver from the Civil War! All of its parts are still present though slightly surface pitted by being in the ground for a hundred years. One might wonder why the wood handgrips did not rot away in the earth over that period of time. Simply, it was settled in mud. when preserved in just the right underground environment, the iron does not flake or spall too rapidly and the wood can stay well-soaked and moist enough that it does not decay away! Even leather and cloth can occasionally still be found under these conditions! No bullets left in the chambers. Since all its parts seem intact, it was likely simply lost during a quick charge or retreat when the owner had no time to stop and look for it. Such "intact" handguns are hard to find since most were picked up and used for parts by other soldiers or souvenir hunters just after battles.
 
Imported Double Barrel Percussion Pistol

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This is a double-barrelled percussion pistol from the 1840-1865 era. It has markings from a European maker, probably Beligian, where most boot pistols of this period tended to originate. It has an engraved scroll design on sides of body. Has a circle marking and what appears to be an "A V." It is non-functional. Missing wooden grip and some spring parts. But a nice-looking relic of the period that soldiers on both side would've taken to war as a "backup" weapon. Site unknown. Approx. 6 1/4" in length. Octagonal double barrel. Cool!
 
Globs of melted lead & metal

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From a Fredericksburg homestead used as a Civil War camp. Larger is lead and others lead or zinc. The troops often "recycled" lead by putting it in firepits or cauldrons over the flame. It could hold heat to warm them but also be repoured into molds for bullets needed in the field, especially pistols whose ammunition might not be standard military issued. They often carried specific caliber molds for just such a use. I have also seen melted lead used to fashion desperately needed temporary parts for guns and equipment: plugs, catches, fishing sinkers, musket nipple covers and fanciful carvings
 
Confederate Side Knife from Cold Harbor

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This is a large excavated side knife discovered on private land with owner's permission near Cold Harbor, Virginia. It was made by Joseph Rogers who produced top quality weapons during the Civil War era. It has the traces of a bone panel on each side of the iron & brass grip. The brass guard is very heavy and intact. The 7 1/2" blade is rusted and pitted but solid and not flaking. It does has some edge loss in a few places from being underground all those years. This is a very attractive weapon. Most often carried by Confederate troopers as a backup weapon for hand-to-hand fighting after muskets were emptied. Overall length is an impressive 12 1/2." Big knives for big brave men!!!
 
Burnside Carbine Block & Lever from Malvern Hill

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This is a very nice remnant of a Union Burnside carbine as carried by mounted troopers. It is the block, nipple and loading lever. It was excavated near Malvern Hill, Virginia from private land with owner's permission. To think that a young Union Hellion on a horse charged into smoke and a deadly hail of lead while pumping this lever to fire return shots at his enemy.
 
Rare Custom Made Confederate Fighting Knife

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This is indeed a rare item recovered in Chickamaga area which was probably custom made for a Confederate trooper. This large knife has a blade that was likely a cut-down cavalry saber turned into a very long & hefty D-Guard knife for hand-to-hand fighting. The blade is a whopping 15 inches long! The iron hangguard is custom forged by a period blacksmith. The blade has typical pitting to its metal but is solid & sturdy with no flaking. Such large Southron fighting knives are indeed now rare as hen's teeth. It came to us from an old collection.
 
1862 Shiloh Battle War Log riddled with Bullets

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This is a long piece of a log that was riddled with Union Civil War minie balls or three-ringed bullets. These were fired by Federals towards Confederate forces in the fierce 1862 Battle of Shiloh Church that left 23,000 casalties in two days of intense warfare. They say that the bullets flew so thickly all day that forest trees were gradually cut down by the continual chipping away from the minie balls. Those trees that survived engulfed the lead bullets into their center trunks till they later grew old and died. That is how this "war log" came to be found over a hundred years later on a private farm (with the permission of the owner). It lay on the ground slowly deteriorating to a natural mulch. But this 25 inch by 8 inch section was found intact with three bullets lodged in it! It is interesting to imagine who was hiding behind the tree as a shield during that harsh battle. Did he fall or survive the fray? Only this remaining fragment of the war log knows for sure!
 
Civil War Period Double Action Pinfire Revolver

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This is a small double-action pinfire revolver from the Civil War period. It has markings on it which I believe indicate Belgium as its source. Many revolvers were imported from France, Belgium & England to help supply the early needs of the Southern States before their own small, new factories could jump into production. Some of these pinfire revolvers were already privately owned and simply brought along to war as back-up weapons. This revolver is complete and movements work perfectly. Very nice example with foldup trigger. Grip dark walnut in fine shape. The "pinfire" was a bullet on a brass casing that actually had a raised pin on it. The hammer struck the pin and drove it into the gunpowder chamber. In the mid-1800's there were many methods tried for setting off the powder charge in bullet casings: caps, rimfires, even combustible skins. Eventually, the small "anvil" on the base was favored. It is that round dimple that you still see on the bottom of our bullets today. About 6 1/2" long.
 
Wonderful Pinfire Conversion!

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This is a Civil War period pinfire revolver that was converted to fire .38 caliber rounds by having its hammer modified to a striker. This is a very neat firearm which shows the evolution of weapons during the CW period from caps and pinfires to rimfire cartridges. The weapon is still lightly marked "Meyers Brevet."
 
Wood Plug Enfield

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This is an Enfield lead minie found at site of famous Antietam Battle. It still has it's wooden base plug locked into curved lead from impact.
 
Fractured Artilleryman's Saber from 1864 Spring Hill

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This is a broken rusted Model 1840 Artillery Saber found on a farm in Spring Hill, Tennessee. There was a battle there in 1864. No markings can be seen on pitted ricasso of blade. Wrap is gone but grip is still sturdy. Such blades were often made by Ames. This could have been in possession of either a Union or Confederate Artilleryman. The label that came with it says "Confederate" saber but I am not sure how they could really tell that. Blade broken. What remains is solid. No scabbard. Background: Spring Hill was the prelude to the Battle of Franklin. On the morning of November 29, 1864, following the inconclusive Battle of Columbia, Confederate General John Bell Hood’s Army of Tennessee marched from Columbia toward Spring Hill to isolate major portions of Union forces from each other, hoping to defeat each in turn before they could unite and overwhelm him. Union Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas's Army of the Cumberland was north of Spring Hill in Nashville, Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield’s Army of the Ohio was south in Pulaski and divided into fragments. Hood sent the corps of Lt. Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham and Lt. Gen. Alexander P. Stewart on a flanking march north, crossing the Duck River east of Columbia while the corps of Lt. Gen. Stephen D. Lee on the southern bank diverted a Union division under Brigadier General Jacob D. Cox across the river. Hood rode near the head of the column and hoped to catch Schofield by surprise. Cavalry skirmishing between Brig. Gen. James H. Wilson’s Union cavalry and Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Confederate troopers continued throughout the day as the Confederates advanced. Forrest had executed a wide turning movement with 4,000 troopers that forced Wilson north to Hurt's Corner, preventing the Union horsemen from interfering with Hood's infantry advance. However, Wilson did manage to warn Schofield of Hood's advance and the Union trains—800 wagons—were sent north in the direction of Franklin. [edit] Battle While Hood’s infantry crossed the Duck River and converged on Spring Hill, Schofield sent troops to hold the crossroads there: Maj. Gen. David S. Stanley, commander of the IV Corps, with two divisions under Maj. Gen. George D. Wagner and Maj. Gen. Nathan Kimball. Starting at 4:00 p.m., close to sunset, the Federals repulsed infantry attacks launched by Cheatham's corps. The attacks failed for four reasons: poorly coordinated, piecemeal attacks by Cheatham; excellent Union defensive artillery support and a decision by Hood to leave most of his artillery pieces in the rear; mispositioning by Hood of Stewart's corps, left too far to the south at Rutherford Creek to support Cheatham until Hood released it after dark; and the failure of Forrest to arrive before dark. By nightfall, the Confederates had finally positioned their corps where they could attack and severely damage Schofield's force, but they erred by allowing the Union army to maintain possession of the road and keep a route open for withdrawal. Believing the battle largely finished, Hood left command of the field to his most capable commander, Maj. Gen. Patrick Cleburne (the "Stonewall of the West"), after sending the order to attack Schofield. However, due to a communications failure of unknown cause, Cleburne never received the message, and never attacked. When Stewart arrived, his corps merely went into bivouac next to Cheatham and the soldiers of both corps cooked their supper and went to bed.