Virginia Relic Hunt

Last May, the Georgia C.I.'s made a relic hunting trip to Fredericksburg in order to attend the Treasure Depot's North South Hunt. We met up with our Yankee C.I. Ronald Gorski. The hunt turned out to be disappointing. Everyone dug a few minie balls, but little else was found. A lot of relic hunters left early. The area had been beaten flat by local diggers. Donald Hayden advised that those woods had been hunted for over 30 years. Jim managed to find a nice spur but that was the high point of the hunt. The hunt coordinators refused to allow photos to be taken which didn't matter in the end. Not to let disappointment get everyone down, we did visit some outstanding museums on a rainy Sunday.   

Here we get started at 0400 hours in the parking lot of a local police precinct. Standing left to right: Ron Lawry, Jim Hammonds, Bill Swafford, and Steve Corrigan.  On the way, Steve makes a repair to keep the van in top notch shape.

Steve and Bill are not sure about the situation when they find out that they have to share a bed (no double beds in the room). In an elevator, Ron Gorski, right, listens to Steve complain about the bed situation while Bill gives a thousand yard stare.

We attended the meeting which started late and was told that no one could take photos of the hunt spot and would not be allowed to have any topo maps. The meeting was not very positive and everyone left with negative feelings. Not a good way to start a hunt. On the right,"Rambo" Jim gets ready for the hunt. Some of the pictures that I wished to have photographed was when Jim put on two back packs, Ron Gorski wearing a back pack that must have weighed 100 pounds, getting cut up in a thicket (Ron Lowry who is a certified EMT patched me up), a tree being broken when two of us sat down, and Steve found sleeping deep in the woods.

Bill and Jim try to stifle Steve at the end of the day, but were unsuccessful.  He talked non stop throughout the trip. Gorski called him "Don Rickles Junior." On the last day, we went to the White Oak Museum since it was raining all day. One of the best choices that we made on the trip. For decades, owner D.P. Newton and his father documented Civil War military encampments in Stafford County, Virginia. There were thousands of relics displayed from their collection in that museum.

Ron Gorski checks out one of the numerous displays in the museum. On the right are buckles lined up and bullets in wood. 

This display gives one an idea of the magnitude of the relics found by the owner when he hunted the Fredericksburg area. This is just a small sample of the many displays in the museum.

Here is a reconstructed Civil War Union hut site with original dug relics from it. The display is placed in Virginia dirt and is dug at the proper level. Incredible job done by the owner. 

Two different camp fire displays. One of the left was dug in a hut site with all the items recovered including the bricks. The one on right is a display of camp fire relics. This was fascinating to see relics that were so important to the common soldiers in this context. 

A nice grouping of dug brass shoulder epaulets and dug relic display on the right. This really was the best dug relic collection that I have ever seen. Definately worth the visit.

Our next stop was to the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond.  In the parking lot, we ran into a group of clowns leaving a hospital next door. Couldn't pass up the photo opportunity. On the right, the Georgia C.I.'s pose in front of the anchor belonging to the CSS Virginia in front of the Confederate Museum.

Bill who studies and collects artillery relics examines closely a Tradegar Cannon. The museum had many battlefield flags, this one on the right belonged to the 2nd Florida Brigade. Confederate Florida relics are extremely rare. 

The relic displays were unbelieveable. They had some things that most people did not realize existed.

Above is a holy of holies, the hat belonging to Confederate General A.P. Hill that he was wearing when he was killed behind the Petersburg lines. The unusual wood carved pipe also belonged to Hill, one of General Lee's favorite lieutenant's. 

Next door to the Museum was the Confederate White House. We took the tour and it was mind boggling. Just to see the dining room table where Confederate President Jefferson Davis planned the defense of Richmond before the seven days battle with General Robert E. Lee. The office where President Abraham Lincoln sat after the capture of Richmond in 1865 was very interesting. Every room filled with artifacts tells a story. I plan to visit again when coming back to Richmond.

Our last stop was Hollywood Cemetery where many Confederate soldiers and statesmen are buried. Confederate President Jefferson Davis is buried here with his wife and children. The cemetery was a good place to end our tour and head home.

 I would recommend anyone visiting the Fredericksburg area to visit the White Oak Museum. They are located on 985 Oak Road, Falmouth, Virginia, 22405, phone number 540-371-4234. It is located in an old school house. The Museum of the Confederacy is also a must see if you are a Civil War buff. The museum's address is 1201 E. Clay Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23219, phone 804-649-1861.