Found a a round ball not white patina at a 1700’s Fort

[Truth]

This round ball is different then all my other round balls it’s brown with a crude line around it with a short steam cut off. I doesn’t stick to a magnet and measures at roughly.55 inches, 251 grains weight. It’s was found at a Colonial era fort. The first small fort here was erected by the French in 1701, before the founding of the city of New Orleans. After Louisiana passed to Spanish control, a larger brick fort was constructed at the site of the old neglected French fortification. Louisiana passed it back to France and then to the hands of the United States. The fort was decommissioned in 1823.

My question is, is this a Revolutionary round ball from early 1799’s? I’ve also found a French Infantry Button and a 24 pounder Howitzer Canister Ball in this exact location. Thanks for the input.[emoji1317]

Some of the other few things I’ve found here

 

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[Rege-PA]

Great finds! Wondering if your musket ball could be pewter? It definitely looks old.

 

[Truth]

Great finds! Wondering if your musket ball could be pewter? It definitely looks old.

I know it looks older than all my lead white patina ones. Isn’t pewter brittle this one’s hard as a rock?

 

[Rege-PA]

Actually they were frequently used in a pinch, as stated below.

Pewter musket ball


You may not realize that the last battle of the American Revolution was fought in Washington County. A group of 100 Shawnee warriors attacked Rice’s Fort in September 1784. This force was sent under the orders of Capt. Bradt of Buttler’s Rangers. The Rangers were a British regiment that fought with the Shawnee in the West during the American Revolution. After a failed attack at Fort Henry, Bradt sent 100 warriors to attack outposts along the frontier. On Sept. 14, the warriors arrived at Rice’s Fort and attacked. The men, women and children who were in the area ran for the fort. Six men – Jacob Miller, George Lefler, Peter Fullenweider, Daniel Rice, George Felebaum and Jacob Lefler Jr. – made it to the fort. As the day wore on, the defenders of the fort began to run low on their supply of lead. George Felebaum’s wife began fashioning musket balls from pewter utensils for the men to fire from their muskets. Although more brittle than those made of lead, the pewter musket balls were sufficient and helped the men to successfully defend the fort.

They are harder than lead and would shatter on a hard surface but did well on flesh

 

[villagenut]

I find pistol balls and musketballs with both while and brown patina....depends on the soil where I dig it. Love that button, is that a letter or regiment button?

 

[Truth]

Actually they were frequently used in a pinch, as stated below.

Pewter musket ball


You may not realize that the last battle of the American Revolution was fought in Washington County. A group of 100 Shawnee warriors attacked Rice’s Fort in September 1784. This force was sent under the orders of Capt. Bradt of Buttler’s Rangers. The Rangers were a British regiment that fought with the Shawnee in the West during the American Revolution. After a failed attack at Fort Henry, Bradt sent 100 warriors to attack outposts along the frontier. On Sept. 14, the warriors arrived at Rice’s Fort and attacked. The men, women and children who were in the area ran for the fort. Six men – Jacob Miller, George Lefler, Peter Fullenweider, Daniel Rice, George Felebaum and Jacob Lefler Jr. – made it to the fort. As the day wore on, the defenders of the fort began to run low on their supply of lead. George Felebaum’s wife began fashioning musket balls from pewter utensils for the men to fire from their muskets. Although more brittle than those made of lead, the pewter musket balls were sufficient and helped the men to successfully defend the fort.

They are harder than lead and would shatter on a hard surface but did well on flesh

Then I think this might be one!!

 

[Truth]

I find pistol balls and musketballs with both while and brown patina....depends on the soil where I dig it. Love that button, is that a letter or regiment button?

That’s a Louisiana French War of 1812 Infantry button

 

[smokeythecat]

Truth, that type of musket ball can come in numerous colors, it just depends on where it was found. In Eastern US soils that are planted, they generally come out white. In New England, a lot of places they come out a more gray color like yours is. A lot of the red clays and pine forests can produce reddish musket balls. Gray ones also come out where there is grey soils or clays underneath, so the color doesn't matter a lot.

That being said, it is hand cast, and could date anywhere from 1650 to 1850 or even later. If found near the "I" button, then I'd date it to about the War of 1812 period.

 

[Truth]

Truth, that type of musket ball can come in numerous colors, it just depends on where it was found. In Eastern US soils that are planted, they generally come out white. In New England, a lot of places they come out a more gray color like yours is. A lot of the red clays and pine forests can produce reddish musket balls. Gray ones also come out where there is grey soils or clays underneath, so the color doesn't matter a lot.

That being said, it is hand cast, and could date anywhere from 1650 to 1850 or even later. If found near the "I" button, then I'd date it to about the War of 1812 period.

Thank you smokey that good enough for me. What would you say it’s make of because it’s differently not lead?

 

[smokeythecat]

It is probably lead. Pewter coming out of the ground tends to flake badly, especially pewter that old.

 

[CASPER-2]

Ive found over 1000 musket balls - different shades of grey - white - brown - black
I have found some that were flaking too - not all lead is 100% the same - down south has different minor minerals than that found in mines up here
in New England leads -
Like others have said - they may have been running low on their regular supply and threw in whatever they could find to make whatever they could
Pewter canon balls have been found in NY around Rev war sites too

 

[Possum]

Great find Brother!!! Wish things would slow down here at work and I can get back out there with you!!! "D"