A pile of copper cartridge cases-1866 to 1870s

[jagdpolizei]

A pile of copper cartridge cases-1866 to 1870's

Had a stellar day on the river 1 Mile from the fort. 50-70s, all benet primed 45-70s, and a bunch of Henry 44 rim fires. Best of all a 218 grain, .434 dia. fired .44 S&W American bullet ( fired from S&W Model 3 Scofield pattern revolver). Found out this was the very first cartridge revolver used by the US military from 1871 to 1873, so at least one soldier at the fort had one. And all in 6 hours of digging.

 

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[Loco-Digger]

Congrats, Looks like you found your share today.

 

[trapperart]

Congrats that's a lot of digging

 

[CRUSADER]

So you found the practice Firing Point?

Hopefully there are some other losses nearby.

 

[jagdpolizei]

So you found the practice Firing Point?

Hopefully there are some other losses nearby.

All these pertain to foraging and, maybe, skirmishes with Indians during the period. Lots of documented brushes between troops and Indians from diff tribes, yet never spoken about in history books. The fort was in place in 1866 and was manned by us troops thru mid 1890s. When I first got into digging only a few years ago, I lucked into permission on private property just a few hundred yards from the fort and actually found the firing range. 100s of bullets and brass and exploded 12 lb spherical case shot fragments (Bormann fuses as well) from the Mtn howitzer.
Today's finds are on annew place 1 mile away on river where I have newly obtained permission. I think I am the only person to ever dig here, but that's not unusual in Montana..... It's not that big of deal here and it seems that very few really care about the IW history.
Regarding your comment about other losses nearby, you are absolutely right but I'm gonna have to be patient..... There are dozens of 'good' signals I detected before leaving but I was so tired and dehydrated I could take no more

 

[Gridwalker306]

Looks like you certainly are in an area with IW activity, chances are good that something really awesome will pop up sooner or later. You really know your ammo info. I'm going to take some pics of the shells I found at my NWMP site, would you have a look at them and see if any of them fit the criteria of being from that era? I'd like to have more relics to attach to my buttons.

 

[Calabash Digger]

Man you did some digging got to be some buttons and coins around there .

 

[A2coins]

Wow be glad its many years after all that.Great job!!!!

 

[jagdpolizei]

Looks like you certainly are in an area with IW activity, chances are good that something really awesome will pop up sooner or later. You really know your ammo info. I'm going to take some pics of the shells I found at my NWMP site, would you have a look at them and see if any of them fit the criteria of being from that era? I'd like to have more relics to attach to my buttons.

I would be glad to..... I love researching

 

[jagdpolizei]

Man you did some digging got to be some buttons and coins around there .

I have found only 5 uniform buttons and one button mArked US Indian Department showing a man plowing and with the obverse wording 'God help this who help themselves' but that was later in the 1880a once the plains wars were winded down. Finding civil War era 3 ringers as well. Coolest find 3 digs ago was a bayonet scabbard tip, but it was for the 1861 Springfield of civil war ear, so it positively came from the earliest military presence in Montana and was used on an Allin Conversion 50-70 rifle.... I thought that was so amazing.... Covered two period in us military history; CW and IW

 

[jagdpolizei]

Wow be glad its many years after all that.Great job!!!!

Yessir.... Much agreed... It is so addicting .... Like Xmas waiting for the
the next trip out