Diggin in Virginia XXIII, an Analysis



     I thank the organizers, John and Rose Kendrick, for yet another successful Diggin in Virginia. DIV XXIII was held on March 22-24 on two sites in Culpeper County, VA. The main site consisted of roughly 500 acres along the eastern flank of Fleetwood Hill at Brandy Station, scene of the largest cavalry engagement of the war. Site #2 was a smaller property associated with the Battle of Rappahannock Station, fought on November 7, 1863 during the Bristoe Campaign.



The historic Spillman Farm, scene of the fight for Fleetwood Hill during the Battle of Brandy Station. This field later served as part of the Army of the Potomac's vast encampment during the winter of 1863-64.



Company K, 1st US Cavalry at Spillman Farm. Many fantastic relics from this camp were recovered at DIV, including two silver plated ID badges from members of Co. K.  Several men in this photo can be seen wearing these same badges.





My finds from Spillman Farm were not as numerous as some, but each artifact holds an important story from 150 years ago. Most were found with the Whites TDI, which performs well in the highly mineralized soil of Brandy Station. 

One of my favorite finds of the hunt, a New York Staff Officer's coat button. The bullet to the right is a .36 caliber Colt pistol.



Brass hook from a cavalry saber belt sling. Above is the remnant of an iron musket tool. To the right are

dropped Burnside and Sharps bullets from the area of Company K's camp.  







                   

                   These two fired Sharps bullets were fired during the heat of the battle for Fleetwood Hill.

 





Two lead canister shot, likely fired by Beckham's horse artillery from the crest of Fleetwood Hill towards attacking Union cavalry.

 



This odd looking bullet is a .52 caliber ringtail Sharps fired from a .50 caliber carbine.

 

Sketch of the Battle of Rappahannock Station, near the location of site #2 at DIV XXIII. This area was later part of the Union winter encampment.





I hunted site #2 briefly at the end of the second day with my Whites Blue and Grey . This area proved to be very productive for many diggers, and numerous excellent relics were recovered there. I found one hotchkiss shell fragment, shown here next to a hotchkiss from my collection. The battery that fired this exploded shell was likely Battery E, Massachusetts Light Artillery or battery C, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery.