Finding civil war camps and sites is the only reason I picked up my first metal detector. Digging old coins, artifacts and treasure is cool, but as a child, my favorite toys were the Marx set of civil war soldiers. I spent thousands of hours setting them up and playing with them. It was in the 1980s that I became a civil war reenactor. My first event found me staring at a frame full of relics and from that day I became obsessed with finding my own relics.
It has been said "research is 95% of finding relics". Well, I agree research is extremely important, but having a metal detector that can search in heavy iron trash and penetrate high mineral soil is just as important. So, let's begin with the "finding" part.
To find those elusive relics, you need either blind luck and instincts or good research material. Some of the best sources would be The Official Record of the Great Rebellion (known today as the O-Rs). These 128 volumes (not counting the Naval Records, etc) can be found in reprints (expect to pay $40-$45 each) or on CD-ROM for $69.95. I have sold countless CDs of the O-Rs and highly recommend starting there. All 128 volumes on one CD is amazing.
For those on a budget, Dave Poche's "Finding Civil War Campsites in Rural Areas" contains a wealth of information on how to research and find original roadbeds and resource material. This is my number one seller at $12.95. His companion book "Interpreting Relics found in Civil War Campsites" is full of examples of how civil war period campsites were laid out: Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery. If you know this information, you will know where to find enlistedmen's areas, officers areas, provost marshall, blacksmith etc. This book sells for $13.95.
Book - Finding Civil War Campsites in Rural Areas by Dave Poche
Other great sources are your local library, diaries and county histories. Never overlook talking to elders. There are still Grandmother's and Grandfather's who remember their parents/grandparents talking about the war, and some hold valuable information... I know this for fact.
To be continued...
Good hunting,
David Keith
Dixie Metal Detectors
www.dixie-metal-detectors.com
Madison, TN
Comments
Thanks for your excellent article. I live near Davenport Iowa and thru some research, I found the location of Camp McLellan, a CW training camp for soldiers from Illinois and Iowa. The area is now a public park. My question is: Do you think that this area is worth hunting? Have you ever hunted CW camps and forts that are now modern public places?
Thanks for your help
Chuckciao
Thanks for the great advice and for turning me onto new areas to hunt. Before, I always thought that CW relic hunts were out of the picture since I did not live in CW battlefield areas but now, I have a great chance to dig some real history!
Thanks again and best regards,
chuckciao