I promised in the first hub so here's some more finds from the fort. Let me (as usual) preface with an explanation of what we were hunting for and why.

We had been hunting the general fort site (with permission) for several years. We did our research and knew the lay of the land. The fort, when it stood, was relatively small. Forget what you saw on F troop or in the John Wayne movies. It was made of mud and grass mostly. It did have a parade ground and places for the garrison that was stationed there. This was the 18th Iowa infantry if I remember right, Many members were formally----you guessed it---- the 6th West Virginia Voluntary Cavalry during the Civil War.

Forts were made just large enough to hold the garrison assigned and usually when other units were brought in (reinforcements, wagon train escorts, etc.) they would find an area outside the fort to set up camp. As I mentioned we knew the lay of the land. If the fort was the "center", the river was about 200 yards north of the fort, the small town that needed protection was one mile east of the fort. Wagon trains forded the river near the small town and camped in the flats between the river and the town. We found scattered military items in the town, in the flats and sparingly, west to the fort. If you dropped down close to the river, between the fort and the town, things became more interesting. Skirmish holes once lined the river between it and the fort. The telegraph lines were across the river from the fort and the pony express and wagons ran along the river between the fort and the river.

All of this info pointed us the the river area between the civilian wagons and the fort. We began hunting a plowed area about 50 yards from the river. Immediately we began finding targets. Miniballs and other bullets were common. 45-70 cartridges were also plentiful. Then came the call we were all hoping for. One of my hunt partmers found a number insignia. I had found the ones and eights in other parts of the fields but this was a beautiful seven. We knew that the seventh cavalry under George Custer had been assigned to patrol this important area for several years. As we expanded the search area, we got into undisturbed ground. Almost immediately I picked up an area where I picked up a full set of buttons from a discarded Army shirt. All were general service. Next came a very interesting Jefferson Davis hat pin. At first I thought it was just broken but on further inspection it was evident that it had been carved. The next find, again brought us more excitement and more evidence of our theory. With one handle missing and twisted and discarded was the first cavalty insignia for the site. We would find several more portions but this was the most complete. So went our first pass at this site. The farmer was preparing to plant so we would need to wait until the next year to hunt it again.

The next year, our November hunt was cold but bearable. We returned to the site to find it freshly plowed, this time a little closer to the fence that bordered the undisturbed ground. Into the plowed field we went. Things, this time were a little slow. The ground was dryer and signals fewer. Then I got a solid hit. Narrowing it to a dirt clod, I split it open. There looking back at me was a number seven. I was elated. After showing it off to my buddies, I  continued the hunt. When I got close to the edge of the field I was a deep straight cut where the closest plow went into the previously unplowed ground. I held my detector coil vertically against the cut and almost immediately got a signal. I pushed my knife in and out dropped a gold colored necklace pendent with 4 garnets. At first I just thought it was just junk jewelry because the gold had a rainbow tint to it. I continued to hunt and retreived one more partial Jeff Davis hat pin. Then we called it a day.

As we hiked back to the fort site, I pulled the piece of jewely out of my pouch. It was heavy, very intricate with beautiful clear stones. Through one of the loops was a hand made gold split ring. This was gold! No doubt about it. But why was it there. We had found no trace, not even a button, that indicated a non-military presence. This was a military campsite with clues heavily indicating it belonged to the 7th Cavalry. It was then that I noticed the final clue. On the split ring was the remains of the chain that it hung from. The terminal link of a watch chain. This beautiful pendent had been reworked to become a watch fob for one of the soldiers of the Seventh Cavalry. I can't say who, but the jewelry would have been out of reach for the everyday soldier, and seldom did they have watch pockets. The officers might have! I wonder who ------------

I hope you have many Treasured Pasts.

Stuart