BUCKLES FROM THE VICKSBURG BATTLEFIELDS

For every nice US or CS marked buckle relic hunters dig from the battlefields or the siege lines, they dig probably three dozen or more buckles of the everyday garden variety. These buckles aren't fancy, but they were just as necessary to the soldiers in the field as the brass ones that supported their pants or their swords. Their variety and usages are endless. Most were made of iron, but many were of brass, and some were even made of pewter. Perhaps some gifted writer will someday attempt to catalog and describe this common and ubiquitious artifact of war.

RARE CIVIL WAR 2.9" PARROTT CHILL NOSE BOLT

Dug here in Vicksburg, this is one of only three chill-nose 10 pounder Parrott artillery shells I've dug or acquired from here in Vicksburg. I've dug probably twenty of the flat-nose variety, but the chill nose is scarce as can be. I'm currently listing this one on eBay as I have the opportunity to acquire another. The "chill nose" or "bottle nose" bolts were, I've been told, designed for use against heavily fortified positions, such as artillery or cannon emplacements.