Super rare Gardiner explosive bullet & New York staff officers cuff button

Digger70pa

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I have off this week for vacation. I got out yesterday & today for some civil war relic hunting. I went for Confederate stuff yesterday & didn't do too bad. The four bullets in the middle are yesterday's finds. Today I hit some yanky camps. I found a rare Gardiner explosive bullet at the first stop. It's the fith one I've dug at this spot. I thought it was done years ago. It just goes to show you that no place is totally worked out. The second spot today is a 2nd corps camp just before Gettysburg. I dug the New York staff officers cuff button there & most of the three ringers. Thanks for looking. HH
 

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Thats a great trophy Hunt for a Late December! Wonderful finds there Digger70! I gotta get down there someday and give it a sweep...Its hard to imagine guys were shooting splosive bullets at each other long ago!...sheesh! Gives a guy the shudders just thinking about it let alone finding one! Like Damn!
Mud
 
Thats a great trophy Hunt for a Late December! Wonderful finds there Digger70! I gotta get down there someday and give it a sweep...Its hard to imagine guys were shooting splosive bullets at each other long ago!...sheesh! Gives a guy the shudders just thinking about it let alone finding one! Like Damn!
Mud

Thanks mud. They were experimental. The union was looking for any edge to end the war. The Gardiner explosive & shailer sectional bullet were tries at it. Both were very unpopular with the troops. The explosive bullet was deemed too barbaric for use. The only documented battles they were used in was Chanselorsville & Gettysburg from what I've read. The government bought 115,000 of two caliber's. .58" & .54". They only issued a little over 33,000 to the field. Most of the explosive bullets found have come from 3rd corps areas that I know of. That's where I've found mine. I've been able to recover explosive bullets at two different locations all inline with a direct route to Gettysburg. I've read some diggers have found some on the pursuit route of Lee after Gettysburg also. We know the 3rd corps got decimated at Gettysburg. It no longer could function as a corps from loss of troops & were absorbed into other units after the battle. HH
 
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Cool finds. Those bullets look like they could have been quite efficient in their intended purpose. Interesting history that, years before any Geneva Convention, rules of war were being established. Was the dislike by the troops by mutual decree, perhaps with hopes that once the politicians ran out of money everyone could go home?
 
Great Job

Great job old friend!

Always glad to see you digging great relics. It's been a slow 2 years from me due to work. I need back start digging again.

Anyhow, awesome bullet; I know it put a smile on your face.
 
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