Oh NO! Update--Rev War musketballs

bergie

Bronze Member
Aug 2, 2004
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(An expert on the area just told me the exact location I was searching was used in the 60s and 70s as a live firing range for re-enactors, so I've been finding their bullets, not those of the original soldiers. Explains why there are no other artifacts. That area was probably picked over years ago. Wish the guy hadn't told me, then I would still think they were real.)

I hit an area adjacent to this site of Washington's troops (link below) and found a large flat area about the size of half a football field in the woods. I started hitting musketballs and they were everywhere in several sizes, from the regular about the size of the end third of a fat thumb and almost perfectly round except very bottom is flat, to smaller ones about the size of a pencil eraser (but almost perfectly round). Also many fired ones (flat or mushroom shaped). Weird thing is I found nothing else at all. Very strange not to find any buttons there or anything else with so many musketballs. I covered only a fraction of the area, but should have found somthing else. There could be hundreds of musketballs there, as I was finding them every few swings of the coil. I have to go count, but I found around 20 or so (corrected: just counted and it's closer to 50). Will be going back to see.
Thanks. Any ID on that more modern looking bullet (1800s?) appreciated. It's hollow in the back and has three grooves around the circumference. Also, given this was Washington's troop site, at least some of the guys who lost these must have known or met Washington.

http://www.revolutionaryday.com/usroute9w/windsor/default.htm
 

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Re: Rev War site--pocket full of musketballs

somebody had a bet who could"long ball"the target contest bottle,can,hat on a stick just a guess
 

Re: Rev War site--pocket full of musketballs

Sounds like it could also be a training ground /target practice area.You should find alot more there in the future!
 

Re: Rev War site--pocket full of musketballs

Quit a bit of history there! Does sound like it was possibly a training range. HH, Mike
 

Re: Rev War site--pocket full of musketballs

Nice Finds Bergie
 

Re: Rev War site--pocket full of musketballs

I have only hunted a couple of Rev.War sites, but your right I have always found other relics mixed in with the musket balls. Even if it was a range or training area you would expect to find something else. Keep hunting there has to be more there, keep us posted. trk5capt... PS... At least now you know why there were no other relics present at the site. trk5capt...
 

Re: photo added--Rev War musketballs

We figure a firing range for sure. These are being found on the far side of a hill and on the other side of the hill is another flat area where they must have fired from into the hill. The ones we are finding went over the hill. This explains why there are only musketballs in the area and not buttons, etc. Unfortunately, where they fired from is a protected historical area and can't go there.
 

Re: photo added--Rev War musketballs

Very nice Bergie. That spot should keep you busy for a long time. Keep looking. If there were targets or something, someone had to go over there to put them up. Congrats...Lance
 

Re: photo added--Rev War musketballs

It may be that you will need to get most of the lead dug before you find start finding the other artifacts. I have dug Civil War Camps like that and once most of the bullets were dug we started finding more buttons and camp relics. Good luck. Tsgman
 

Re: photo added--Rev War musketballs

WoW! :o

Very nice Bergie!!

Nana ;)
 

Re: photo added--Rev War musketballs

It's too bad Revolutionary War stuff didn't happen anywhere near me. That's the one war that truly fascinates me. I guess I'll just have to dream about finding big Civil War finds! :D
 

(An expert on the area just told me the exact location I was searching was used in the 60s and 70s as a live firing range for re-enactors, so I've been finding their bullets, not those of the original soldiers. Explains why there are no other artifacts. That area was probably picked over years ago. Wish the guy hadn't told me, then I would still think they were real.)
 

I was thinking that when I saw your post,,, Though I had replied to it,, but I guess not...
You think some of them could still be the real deal,,, some of them you have are white'ish in color while others are not...
Maybe you got some of the originals a long with some of the others... ???
Good luck & Happy hunting~
 

I agree with LEON.

Unless they were Fireing Originals, The White ones are Probably Real.
 

Some day an archaeologist will dig this site and find repro accoutrement's and clad coins and will wonder what's going on. ;D ;D
 

how long does it take for a musket ball to turn white in the ground?
 

I was thinking as well with a few of the others about the white on some of the balls. I have heard before that depending on the soil conditions ( ie. acidity)affect the whiting process . I am no expert in this area though. HH Art...
 

I don't Either, However The Man Told him the site "was used in the 60s and 70s as a live firing range for re-enactors"

? Since Some of the Balls are NOT White, I'd Guess those are From That Era, And the White ones MUCH older.

? ?How else would you Explain Some White & not All, (Being They were All Dug in the Same Ground)? IF they Were All dropped Within a 20 Year Period.
 

My question is for the "drops". Those which obviously had not been fired. How deep?? Unless you have incredible stable soil there 230 year old musket ball should be deep whereas 30 year "drops" should be shallow which would only be a few inches. Of course all bets are off if the area had been extensively plowed Although I have found 1700's era? musket balls in undisturbed sites in Ohio pretty shallow at 6" these were the exception. What was the complete depth range you were finding these balls?? Were the white oxidizd balls deep?


George
 

? ? ? ? I've never seen any re enactments before, so I was just curious.
Why are the re enacters out there firing live rounds? I'm sure they don't do it during battle scenes.? I'd think that would be paying too much attention to detail. Unless of course they wanted their casualties to look real.? ? ? ? Anyway,? ? Cool finds!!? ? ?HH
? ? ? ?
 

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