Confederate Camp, New Hanover County, NC

[Papa Bear]

Yesterday I recovered my first Civil War era bullet, a Confederate Pattern 53 Enfield bullet at a Confederate campsite in Wilmington, NC that had long since been built upon with nice houses with big yards.

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,450827.msg3188334.html#msg3188334

Today, The Basque and I went MDing at the same campsite. The property owner, a Professor with a PhD in Civil War Studies, again cautioned us that the campsite had been hit hard by relic hunters from the mid-70's to the early 80's, before development moved in, but he was happy to let us give it another go and wished us luck.

When all was said and done we had found a percussion cap and two pieces of musket lead. One piece was in a roll form and the other was in a folded flat form. When the property owner looked at both pieces of musket lead and he advised that he had found pieces in the area of the campsite in both styles. He had never found a percussion cap at the old campsite so we gave it to him as a way to say thank you for the opportunity to MD on his property.

This was our first campsite. We look forward to the next one. If anyone wants some company of a hunt, let me know.

Thanks, PB.

 

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[Ifoundit69]

Awesome finds , yeah I no the feeling when you get to a site and told well it was hit in the 70's makes me wish I was into the hobby back then ,those guys cleaned house !

 

[Papa Bear]

It's all good. We got our feet well and truly wet on this campsit. The fact we found a percussion cap and the property owner had never found one was good enough for us. We have an open invite back anytime. I will go back for sure and knock on some other doors too. Good times.....

 

[ModernMiner]

Congrats to you.
I just found my first percussion caps on Saturday.
I have a hollow piece of lead too like your 2nd photo. I've always wondered what it was used for.
Thanks for the post.
-MM-

 

[Papa Bear]

Anytime MM. My buddy pinged the cap, but it took both of us to find it (I need a pin-pointer). My buddy found his musket lead not two feet from where I had found the Enfield at a depth of about 15 inches. I must of missed it during my post bullet finding, delirious state....

 

[crazyjarhead]

Anytime MM. My buddy pinged the cap, but it took both of us to find it (I need a pin-pointer). My buddy found his musket lead not two feet from where I had found the Enfield at a depth of about 15 inches. I must of missed it during my post bullet finding, delirious state....

What, no pin pointer That a mortal sin in this hobby. Nice that you are finding CW goods and have the base as a back up too Look forward to your next find. Regards, Ron

 

[Papa Bear]

CJH...I just corrected my deficiency tonight. I should get it in two days.

 

[Deno]

Nice hunt PB, all things considered.

I wish I would have started in the 70's

At one time I thought a pinpointer was a waste.

I can't live without it now.

 

[crazyjarhead]

CJH...I just corrected my deficiency tonight. I should get it in two days.

You have to have one of them..............like looking for a needle in a haystack

 

[Marinehunter]

Class act Papa Bear giving the property owner the cap, real nice.

 

[Papa Bear]

Thanks MH!! It was the right thing to do. I have an open invite to go back. I may have to get a better, bigger, badder detector so I can scan deeper. My buddy found the tubed musket lead less than two feet from my bullet find but at least 6 inches deeper. My BH Tracker IV only goes so deep on tone mode....

 

[beachdjdigger]

Hi, I live in Wilmington and would like to go detecting with you guys. It is hard to find people to go with. Let me know the next time you are planning to go and I'll see if I can't get away to go with you.
Beach DJ Digger