ANOTHER "WHAT IS IT?" UNKNOWN

Here's another object, constructed of cast aluminum, that walked into the shop a while back. It appears that the lever caused the edge of a razor blade to protrude from its base, for whatever purpose we know not. Can you identify its usage?

RARE CONFEDERATE ARTILLERY FUSE IN 12-POUNDER SPHERICAL SHELL/CASE SHOT

This 12-pounder spherical shell was fired by Confederate artillerists during the invasion of the South and the Siege of Vicksburg in 1863. 12-pounders are probably the most plentiful artillery shells dug around Vicksburg. I recall that in the "old days" we were disgusted when we dug one of these, and even considered throwing it back in the hole. However, this particular shell was fitted with a Confederate fuse adapter that is so rare that it's not found in most books written on the subject. The only place I've found a photo of one is in Charles S. Harris' "Civil War Relics..," page 251.

1850-51 LETTERS FROM THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH

As I have said before, you never know what will turn up in our historic little town. Such are the five letters dated 1850 & 1851 from "S. F. McAlister" to his family members, who are McAlisters and Ewings located in "Rome Smith City, Tennessee," which apparently is Rome, Tennessee, located in Smith County. The letters are from a young man who experiences the terror of attacks by Indians and the fear of being a victim of a cholera outbreak, all while attempting to gain his fortune by mining gold - though he ends up making on average about $2.50 per day.

The first letter describes the beginning of McAlister's odyssey as well as one of his most terrifying experiences - an attack by Indians. Excerpts from all five letters are shown below. Note the very colorful names given the various gold camps.

1) The first letter is headlined "California, November 7, 1850" and was sent to "Mother & Father." It includes: "...I will give a small sketch of my trip across the plains. Left Independence the 23rd May. I had a tolerable pleasant trip until we arrived near St. Lake & then comes on hard times & troubles the train stayed together until they got there then the train split up the stock was divided equally in the messes of 8 mules to 6 men. Some packed and some took carriage... (I) took a carriage and a buggy it was more "incumberian" than I liked to have but owing to C. L. Hanes having his limb broke... ...pushed them until we got 300 miles from St. Lake... ...here we left the four horse carriage we then carried the other to "Krucley's?" River this side of the desert & there we sold the buggy... ...we got to the 1st digins. The Indians were very bad this season far worse then they were... ...they pestered us a great deal the worst place was on St. Marry? River they killed a great many emigrants & the emigrants killed a fine lot of them for they robed (robbed) several wagons of everything they had in the world... ...they tried to rob our train but the men were ready with loaded guns in hand... ...in 10 minutes 20 men to 200 Indians. I with 6 other men had crossed the river & was on the other side. ...they then crossed the river and pursued us to take our stock but by this time we had turned to the river for it was nooning (noon?) time so here came the hole number under whip and spur after us. We all ??? our gate to a ??? walk & when we got to the river there was no crossing place & we were in a large bend a 1/4 mile deep. We had no arms except  3 pistols the Indians all had guns or bow & arrows so here we were... the Indians thought they had us safe they came up in our rear & formed a column from point to point well what next... ...to cross we thought impossible for 1 bank was 12 ft perpendicular as far as we could see & the water deep & to go back to the Redskins that wouldn't do, so we thought we would plunge our horses off the bank & git them in the river & then swim over & over take the train & get the men & come back & give battle for our stock. ...Moore split the water first & I followed & after we got our ??? all in the river I saw a path 1 1/2 ft wide up on the rite side we got too of our stock out Moore and myself then Capt. Littleton told me to take my mule and over take the wagon & stop them & to have all ready with guns. I did so so we got clear & by night we paused? at one time ...mustered 4 or 500 men all armed. ... ??? in the mines the 1st of October. ...I left my miss on Deer Creek I moved to Auburn 40 miles from there & in 40 of Sacramento. ...William Bradley is on Bear River 15 miles from me..." McAlister speaks further of perhaps moving to the mines near Oregon City, or even to Texas and from there home. He goes on to state that the average miner is making $2.50 per day, though some are making more, and expenses are about $2.00 per day. One has to work, not play, to save any money at all. He then emphasizes the high cost of goods by listing prices for various items of food and clothing. In a short sentence written vertically McAlister adds, "The cholera is very bad in Sacremento a great many dying daly. None nearer than 4 miles of us."

2) The second letter appears to be dated January 24th, 1851; McAlister's location is difficult to decipher. It appears to read "Optziz" or similar spelling, and is addressed to his father and mother. I had a difficult time making out the words in this letter, for the ink had bled through from one side to the other. One oddity that I noticed was McAlister's referring to Tennessee and the eastern section of the continent as the "states." California became a state September 9, 1850, so perhaps McAlister was unaware that the "states" now included California.

Much of this second letter is devoted to personal conversation with his parents, but he includes: "...the mines in this section have failed almost entirely we can make from 2 bits to 3.00 per day, so have the mines failed in every part of the gold region so far as I can learn."

3) The third letter is headlined "Diggers Pt. Bear River, August 17th, 1851," and is addressed to his brother and sister. He has the usual personal tidbits to say, reminds his siblings that he may be returning home in November, then goes on with "...I have just heard that the cholera has broke out very bad in New Orleans & at Panama? as if the cholera is on the rout (home) then I shall not start until it subsides." 

4) The fourth letter is headlined "California (Middle fork of the American River), October 1st, 1851" and is addressed to McAlister's brother. Excerpts: "...I am now on this river have been here 2 weeks & will leave this place to morrow and go 15 miles further up the river this is at what is called Slap Jack Base. I will go to Volcano Base. There has been some very good digins struck there & I am going up with the intention of buying into some of them... ...I suppose that there can be an interest bought for $500.00 if it can I will buy and stay this winter... ...Dyer's letter give me but little news it only stated that father & mother was dead & the property the Negroes had was divided... ...there will be a crowd starting home next Sunday from here... ...it seems to me that a Tennessean or a ???? has no business in this country... ...tell the girls that I will come home ???? & if they are not all married I may ??? some of them but for fear I may not want some one of them if they get a chance they better mary (marry)."

5) The fifth letter is headlined (once again) Optziz or something similar, January (I think) 24th, 1851, and is addressed to his sister, Sarah B. Payne at Wirts College, Summer City, Tenn. The stampless "cover" has an April 19 Gallatin, Te (5) hand postal stamp, so the date of the letter may not be January 24. The letter is difficult to read, but in it McAlister describes how the diggins have played out, and that new diggins have been located 6 miles from Sacramento. He adds, "...tell Booker to kiss my foot."

RARE ca1810 US INFANTRY BUTTON FROM VICKSBURG - ALBERT'S GI-49

I dug this one on February 2, 2003, from an old campsite near Vicksburg. Identified as Albert's GI-49, the button is seldom dug in this area. It probably dates to around 1810, and was probably associated with the War of 1812.

VERY RARE VICKSBURG JUG

I've never come across another like it... "J & A GENELLA/VICKSBURGH." It was in bad shape when I found it many years ago, and I made the regrettable mistake of having the remnants of the spout cut from the remainder of the jug. It's small, 3 5/8" base diameter, and estimated 7" tall if whole. Nevertheless, it's a rarity.

JUST-DUG SOUTHERN-MADE CONFEDERATE ARTILLERY OFFICER'S COAT BUTTON

Last Sunday afternoon I decided to get out and check a lot near downtown Vicksburg where an old house had been demolished by the City. The lot had been cleaned quite well, so the scanning with my Troy metal detector was a breeze. Strangely, my very first signal turned out to be this Confederate artillery officer's coat button; afterwards, although I had great expectations, not one additional Civil-War-related artifact did I dig. The button was it! I've had similar experiences before, and still I have difficulty explaining why or how. One relic of the War? And no other? Strange.

The button needs cleaning, but I hesitate to work on it since it is delicate and I can do more harm than good. I did clean a bit on the reverse, enough to verify that it was produced by the firm of E. M. Lewis & Co. of Richmond, VA. Further, it's identified as Tice's CSA240A1, 23MM diameter (Albert's CS116). It's a great find that looks good in my collection.

SCARCE CIVIL WAR BULLETS/MINIE BALLS

One of the most common finds during the hunting of a Civil War battle site or camp is the lead bullet. Lead oxidizes after years underground, thus accounting for the beautiful white lead oxide patina found on most bullets. Bullets found in creeks or especially wet areas sometimes avoid this effect. Photos below illustrate some of the scarcer types of bullets and Minie (named for the Frenchman who invented the projectile) balls I've dug over the years. Except for the single cartridge-type bullet shown, most of these bullets were forced into the rifle or musket barrel by a rammer after a charge of black powder has been inserted. Many bullets were merely dropped, accounting for their near pristine condition, while others are recovered after being fired. Bullet collecting is so popular among Civil War relic collectors that there have been several books published that describe and picture the various types - and there are thousands.

1928 NEW ORLEANS MARDI GRAS PIN

Like the man said, you never know what's going to walk in through the front door. In this case, it was a Ducal pin from the 1928 New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration. They are very collectible.

AN UNIDENTIFIED CIVIL WAR LEECH AND RIGDON SPUR?

Granted, there is no spur in any of the collector books that looks like this half spur that I dug in a lot on Cherry Street here in Vicksburg way back in 1986, but there is one, and only one (that I've found), that features a star in the position shown on the half in the first four photos below - and that is the famous Leech and Rigdon "CS" spur shown in the latter four photos.

As far as I know, this half spur is the only example of this type that has been found. Below is the famous Leech and Rigdon "CS" spur. This example sold for nearly $1900 on eBay.

THE VERY RARE MEMPHIS NOVELTY WORKS/LEECH & RIGDON CONFEDERATE SPUR

RARE! ONE OF THESE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION RECENTLY SOLD ON EBAY FOR OVER $1800. THIS PIECE CAME FROM A DITCH HERE IN VICKSBURG WHERE A CONFEDERATE OFFICER MUST HAVE THROWN IT AFTER IT BROKE IN HALF. THIS PORTION HAS THE STAR AND THE "S," WHEREAS THE MISSING HALF WOULD HAVE THE STAR AND A "C." DESPITE ITS INCOMPLETENESS, IT'S A VERY GOOD RELIC OF THE WAR FOR SOUTHERN INDEPENDENCE.

The Memphis Novelty Works was the firm of Thomas Leech, and was organized in Memphis, Tenn. about September, 1861, to manufacture “army cutlery.” Along with Charles Rigdon, Leech produced various pattern swords at Memphis until about May 1, 1862, when, due to the danger of that city being captured, the firm moved to Columbus, Mississippi. Thereafter the firm was known as the “Novelty Works/Leech & Rigdon. It produced swords, revolvers and other "cutlery" for the Confederacy. Artifacts bearing the company's name are among the most sought after relics of the war. A complete spur was recently appraised by Antiques Roadshow at $3,500 - $4,500 retail.

DUG CONFEDERATE UNIFORM BUTTONS

Shown below are a few of the Confederate uniform buttons I have dug over the years. Owing to their inability to manufacture buttons in the quantities needed by the Southern Patriots, Confederate leaders had to import many of their accouterments from England. The blockade of Southern ports many times prevented their delivery. Confederate uniform buttons are thus much scarcer than those of the barbarians.

The "common" droop-wing eagle button

A pair of dug Mississippi infantry buttons

More "droop wings"

A cavalry "C" and a Louisiana pelican button, more droop wings and a cadet button.

The script "I" infantry button

The more common "I" infantry button