Yep, everyone knows that in my spare time one of the things I enjoy most is metal detecting for Civil War relics. Below are a few pictures of some of my finds over the years. It is a really fun and addicting hobby.
This is my first and only Civil War I.D. tag. These were sold to soldiers by vendors who came into camps. At the time of the Civil War they were not issued by the military. Of the thousands of artifacts I've found, this is my favorite.
This is the back of the I.D. tag. It belonged to Milo Williams, who fought at Gettysburg and lost it as he passed through Manassas. He survived the war, went home and got married, and lived to a ripe old age (for the time).
In this photo you can see a few Civil War bullets, a crossed saber hat pin, a South Carolina coat button, and a few other odds and ends. Notice how the bullets acquire a white patina after being in the ground for so long.
Here is a U.S. belt plate, an eagle button, a three ring bullet, and parts of a spur. Over the years I've dug hundreds of relics and every one is just as exciting as the first. You just don't know what you're gonna dig next.