Civil War Camp Lead???

[acm3]

I have read about this but never found it. Background: I have been hunting a piece of property where the CW Battle of Auburn took place. I have found an old axe head (previous post) and a CW Parrott Shell (previous post) on this same property. I am thinking this is camp lead but not sure. I cleaned it with water and an old tooth brush. Thoughts?

 

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[relic nut]

We find a lot of melted/camp lead at our CW camps. Most of what I find has the white oxidation. Bullets would get thrown in the fire or melted when they were destroying supplys. I also heard once that they would use the pre packed bullets with gun powder to start fires.

HH, Relic Nut

 

[Digginrebel]

Possibly, but unlike most I have found. Usually white from oxidation as stated before. Plus you referenced hunting a battle area. Of course camps were usually nearby somewhere. I have found CW bullets not oxidized though, because it was in wet low lands.

 

[stillwater]

i agree with previous posts. Is it reading 'lead' on your detector? If so, then most likely camp lead

 

[acm3]

Thanks all - out of the 50+ acres I am hunting, the area I am finding what i believe are camp items is in a much lower wet area (not sure it was wet back then but is now possibly due to neighborhood being built there in 1970s). I know for a fact due to historical studies that about half mile away was a large camp that was later fired upon and the battle of Auburn took place. so it was really an area of a battle and camp if that makes sense. It is kinda shiny on one side and not smooth and the other side is super smooth. The patina (or lack there of) is what has me stumped. I have only found one CW bullet so far in my life and it had the white patina. Nice to hear that is not always the case which means this may be camp lead.....maybe...

 

[Digginrebel]

If you are on a camp, you will find and abundance of the melted lead. Regarding dropped bullets - you may find some, if not many as I have, that show teeth marks. Many claim the troops chewed on these on hot days to help keep their mouths moist kinda like chewing gum does. And I am sure this did happen to some degree as did they use the them when in pain to chew on. However, I feel most of mine are what I and those I hunt with call "hog chews". Unfortunately we have a growing problem with wild pigs, plus the farm raised pigs and cattle that eat off the land that produce most of the teeth marked bullets. Sounds like you have a nice piece of ground to hunt for years. Treat it as your own, if you do not own it already that is, and it will be a great place to escape this crazy world for a while. Good luck and good hunting. Keep that coil low and level!