Carved Acorn from CSA Cavalry Camp Today--Authenticated + New Pic

Well I log onto T-net and what do I see? A carved acorn BANNER for my good friend Quindy!
C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S!!!!!!!

A well deserved banner.
 

Best I have seen! Great piece of american history and tells a story about camp life.
 

Very cool finds. I never knew that soldiers would carve bullets, but I guess it makes sense. Probly just keeping their minds off of things when they had time to themselves. Looks like a very nice bullet, I wonder who actually carved it.
 

Congrats on the banner and another awesome relic Quindy! :headbang: A Massachusetts Yankee (Hogge)
 

Way to go Q!!! Congrats on the BANNER!!!!!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Breezie
 

To avoid continually bumping this post back up, I'll say "thank you" for all your kind replies one last time. Although the captured 14th Corps badge possibility is intriguing, I now believe that it was carved by a CS Soldier and I'll tell you why. There are 2 reasons:
1. The few 14th Corps badges I have seen in relic books recovered from U.S. camps consistently emphasize the "cap" on the acorn. The one i dug does not.
2. The F75 gave a reading of "46" on the display with the acorn. A U.S..69 cal. 3 ringer here at that 6-7 inch depth would read a solid "56 or 58". CS lead doesn't read as high as U.S. here and it may relate to the purity of lead used as many bullets in this early camp were probably field molded there.
We will never know for sure I guess. Thanks everyone and HH, Quindy.
 

Killer find Quindy! The 14th Corps adopted the acorn because they were forced to eat them to stave off starvation during a campaign. At least that is what legend has it. That is a quality relic and one you will cherish. Thanks for showing it and congrats on the banner. Well deserved.
Mike
 

I've seen some cool carved CW bullets but that is one of the nicest. I've found several drops and some other great CW relics but am still searching for my first carved bullet.
 

That is a FANTASTIC dig! I just had to sneak online and congratulate you on such a great find. :thumbsup:

Best Wishes,

Buckles
 

Congrats! I'd love to find a coffee can full of those acorns--ha! :icon_thumleft:
 

VOL1266-X said:
If you have followed my recent posts, you know that I (with Dman's help on Sunday) have been collecting iron relics for kids from a C.S.A. Cavalry Camp. I went back today and dug a few more. The non ferrous relics in the pic came from the same site this morning. I dug a flat button with intact shank and brass brad with the iron yesterday. The carved on .69 cal. 3 ringer looked odd. I sent pics to some relic friends and we all thought it looked like a crude carved bullet. I sent a pic to friends Tom Hays at Stones River Trading Company in Murfreesboro and Tennessee Digger. Both said "Turn it over, it's an ACORN" That never occurred to me. I have always wanted to dig one.
Tennessee Digger says I need to research where that group of Confederates were patrolling and fighting during 1862 as it could be a captured 14th U.S. Corps Badge. Notice the big untrimmed "sprues" on two of the balls-that was MM's CW lesson for today-LOL. Thanks for looking and HH, Quindy.
Update
In addition to Tennessee Digger (40 years digging experience) and Tom Hays, relic dealer (viewed bullet in person), Larry Hicklen from Middle Tennessee Civil War Relics has added his authentication to the soldier's art by viewing the bullet in person. I am disappointed that MM missed the chance to say "Even a blind hog will....you know. Q.
Wow!! nice carved, bullet I bet there is more there. Keep looking!!
flatbutonman
 

I just found a carved bullet with a piece added to it. was that stem added or is it carved from the original bullet.
 

That still is one of the nicest carved bullets that I've ever seen!
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top