Dropped bullets

steve in so la · Oct 20, 2006

A few years back I was detecting an old CW fort and was on the approach to the main gate. I dug one of these 56 cal bullets and then 2 together and then a couple more. When I got no more signals after walking towards the fort I stopped and looked back at where I had dug.
All these bullets were in a straight line. I have read that the soldiers could not get new ammo until they were out of the old. Then I wondered if the returning soldiers on horses dropped what they had left in order to get new supplies. I did detect all around the rest of the area and dug nothing like these again, just some primer caps.
Any ides on this ? Steve in so az

spittfire · Oct 20, 2006

They look somewhat like acorns so I think the squirrels buried them and are still wondering where they went! :lol:

del · Oct 20, 2006

possibley a shooting drill where they are all in a row for target practice ?

steve in so la · Oct 20, 2006

Shooting drill = too close to the fort

Open pouch = good possibility

Acorn = even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every so often

that's me at the fort sometimes.
Steve

Daugela · Oct 22, 2006

Why would returning soliders drop ammo upon their arrival? What would be the point of dropping their ammo and getting new ammo. Just keep the ammo you have?

Or if they were getting new ammo for a new caliber? But then again, why throw the old ammo away. Just give it to someone else.....

So the open sack probability sounds more feasible between the suggestions.

However, what's the likelihood of the pouch opening by accident right in front of the fort?

Could it be the pouch fell of the horse or the horse falling over. Are we confident there was no battle there? Often soliders would drop their ammo on the ground in front of them during a battle for quick reloads. Too time consuming grabbing from a pouch.

We still do that in the military today. I"ve place my magazones down in front fo me during a gun battle before...

steve in so la · Oct 22, 2006

The soldiers could not get a new, full box of ammo till all old ones are gone. So instead of keeping 5-6 bullets they opted for 25 new ones. At least that's what human nature leads me to believe

No matter what the story - all bullets were in a straight line and none others found in the immediate area, Steve

DJS · Oct 23, 2006

I believe it was probably the procedure but I guess I just cant see someone throwing their unused ammo on the ground either, especialy with ammo probably being fairly scarce, I know I definitely wouldnt, I'd hide it and say I was out

maybe while he was returning to the fort the guy put what ammo he had left in a pocket that unknowingly had a hole in it and lost them out the hole as he was walking in, its pretty impossible to say, they could have gotten there in any number of ways, and its all just a guess now...

Daugela · Oct 23, 2006

I think another solution to this 'bullet debacle' is to know the distance between each bullet. Steve- you said they were in a straight line. Was the distance between each bullet equal?

If so, we can rule out the hole theory. It would then be plausible to presume the bullets were laid by hand for a specific purpose....

Steve- I'm jealous of you. You fond some great finds out here in AZ! I'd be happy with 1/2 a bullet!

steve in so la · Oct 23, 2006

Dont remember the distance except that it wasnt more than about 20 ft or so between tham, steve in so az

WThesing · Oct 24, 2006

How about a broken box in a supply wagon? Rolling out the back?

bearbqd · Oct 24, 2006

Those look ike Sharps slanting breach bullets. Very nice find. Here's a reference photo from a civilwar site.

DJS · Oct 24, 2006

I dont know much about civil war bullets... was that a pretty common style of bullet for the time or was it a specialised round(for sniper rifles maybe)?

steve in so la · Oct 24, 2006

DJS - That was a common one then. I did dig a couple very uncommon ones tho in the same area= 9 ringers, steve

bearbqd · Oct 31, 2006

Nine ringers??? You have pics?

steve in so la · Oct 31, 2006

Here's the 9 ringer - or 9 grooves I guess. At the fort where I dug this they had used many different types of firearms - some experimental.

Here's a display of the different types of bullets I dug there. I covered the fort name up to protect my spot. Steve in so az

bearbqd · Nov 2, 2006

Sweet! Nice display too. I love finding civil war bullets.

Dropped bullets

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