Once in a lifetime find - take three!! :o!!!

[gtoast99]

Hey everybody!! Sorry in advance for the long post, I'm capturing this for posterity, LOL.

I managed to get most of my "have-to"'s on the farm done fairly early, so I had some time to MD. I was debating where to go. I'd been to too many tot-lots lately, and the only good ones I haven't cleaned out recently were a bit of a drive. I tried to call Found to see if he wanted to door-knock, but didn't get up with him. I have a couple old spots up my sleeve, but it's been so dry lately, I wanted to wait until we got some rain. So where to go....

I decided to stick to my own played-out farm. I was out there for what seemed like forever, and was getting bupkis. I finally got one nifty thing (icebox latch?) and came in to post it to the ID section. Afterwards I hemmed and hawed about going back out. It's hot, I'm tired, yadda yadda. BUT I did NOT want to get SKUNKED today. So once more I hit the fields.

I decided to try the spot where I had found Sam Webb's 1927 United Confederate Veterans reunion medal last July, and the second half of the two piece medal in February. The area had produced in the past, and I had yet to try it with my new SEF coil.

I got a tiny little buckle by the "medal" tree, a good start. The SEF is awesome at finding the smaller and deeper targets than the stock. Then I got another one, 70-73, and a small pinpoint area. Probably another small shallow target. Dug shallow - nope, deeper. I started getting excited - maybe this time an old coin?

Down Down Down I chiseled away at the sunbaked North Carolina clay. Finally I see it emerge from the hole, an oddly shaped flat piece of brass, caked in the orange clay. I was thinking (hoping?) pin of some sort. UCV even crossed my mind, how funny would that be?

I ran to the spigot and started rinsing. A building appeared... and letters... "Memphis, Tenn." I ran off to show the wife - "Dollars to Donuts" I said "This is another UCV pin!" She rolled her eyes and went back to untacking her pony, LOL.

I ran inside, and a 2 second google search proved me right. The 1924 reunion of the United Confederate Veterans in Memphis, Tenn. Another two-piece medal, so you can guess where I'll be all day tomorrow! Wish me luck on finding the other half!!!

Oh, and here's a pic of what it *should* look like, LOL Sorry for the novel, but hopefully some of you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!!

[Beach Bum]

WOW, that is so cool! Wish ya TONS of luck!

[Bonesquat]

I mean no disrespect at all. What is the significance of those medals? They're certainly really cool. What do they mean to you though?

nice finds.

[midwest]

Originally Posted by bonesquat

I mean no disrespect at all. What is the significance of those medals? They're certainly really cool. What do they mean to you though?

nice finds.

It's civil war reunion artifacts! I don't think you need a reason to be excited about that. No offence, not trying to be rude. That is a really cool find.

P.S. I'm a Yankee, but CS is the most valuable find. CS buckle...holy grail of relic hunting.

[gtoast99]

Originally Posted by bonesquat

I mean no disrespect at all. What is the significance of those medals? They're certainly really cool. What do they mean to you though?

None taken! My wife and I bought this farm 3 years ago. Not long after we were discussing the giant oaks on the property, and wondering about their history - what they might have seen. So I began a long process of researching who walked these lands before me. I learned of the family who moved here in 1845, the Webb's, and wanted to write their story. The journey has taken me years (and isn't over!) introduced me to new friends and new people. I've met with Webb descendants from almost every line of the family. One of them even dubbed me an "honorary Webb". I've done more research on their genealogy than my own! I've emailed with descendants of both slave and slave and slave owner. I've held in my hands their writings, letters, journals, even the family bible. To hold these relics in my hands, knowing where they came from and who owned them, is really an amazing experience. Add to that the fact that they are so intimately intertwined with such an important part of American history and it just gets better. Here's some of the fruits of this endeavor, though I have more as yet unpublished.

Moreover, it's the reason I MD the way I do. I had a MD for quite some time, but I really only used it for the occasional beach trip. The reason I took up land detecting and searching for history the way that I do is because I wanted to find something exactly like these relics. Something connected to the land and the people who lived here before me, and the greater history of our nation. To me, this is the perfect find. I feel so blessed to have made it not once, but now 3 times.

So that's why, to me at least, it's eye-popping and mind blowing. But if a mod feels differently and wanted to move this to "stories", I won't take offense.

[Qball]

Great post!!! Congrats on the nice find!! Good luck tomorrow searching that spot again.

[midwest]

Wow, that is amazing. I love history, and the fact that you have a place to really research and understand what took place there is simply amazing.

[Bonesquat]

That's so so cool. thanks for the back-story. Puts your finds into a better perspective. You should leave it here in mindblowing. I think it's mindblowing that they managed to lose 3 of those dang things. Makes you wonder what people do to lose things and why they carry certain objects outdoors like that.

Congrats again on your amazing finds.

[zeemang]

Wow, impressive that you found one, but 3 pieces! Great find man!

[gtoast99]

Thank's ya'll! Still over the moon! Gotta run out and get my work done so I can resume the search

Originally Posted by bonesquat

Makes you wonder what people do to lose things and why they carry certain objects outdoors like that.

I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out how they could have been lost. I have a picture from sometime before 1926 where Sam is wearing what appears to be a medal of some sort, so he obviously did wear them. I thought that was enough to explain losing the one. But losing 2 of them? I thought perhaps children playing with them, but Sam's adopted children would be too old and grandchildren too young. So I'm really at a loss as to how they ended up out there!

[screwynewy]

Congratulations on another exciting recovery from your farm. I'm really impressed with how you researched and compiled the history of the property and family that originally owned it. I'm sure that the Webb family appreciates your efforts. Keep us posted on any new discoveries.

[gtoast99]

Thanks SN! You're welcome to hunt my farm anytime you like, though as Brad will tell you, there's not a lot of signals left. Course your etrac might see things I can't. If you find the other half of this medal, though, I want it LOL!

[DixieLandMan]

Very nice find, indeed.

[Jamflicker]

Those are awesome. Good luck finding the second piece.

[gtoast99]

I picked up this case today, and thought ya'll might like to see it. Besides Sam's picture and pictures of the two medals, his obituary is on the left.

[The Rebel]

Awesome find & story! I love all of the research you did. I'd LOVE to find anything from the CSA!

[John in NC]

I want to come hunt the near-by ghost town. You know the one I mean!
John in NC

[gtoast99]

I do indeed. Check your PM ina minute. Edit your post so you don't tip anyone off LOL

[HEAVYMETALNUT]

i don't know how i missed this thread? that's awesome! well spoken and icing on the cake with that awesome presentation case! well done & well displayed!

[Tkitt21]

GREAT Find!!!

Good luck on finding the 2nd piece!