Howdy from "Bushrod"

[Bushrod]

Hello, everyone...I've been to the last coupla meetings...the lecture this month about the Lookout Mountain Cave Rifles was just the kind of thing I'm interested in.  I've been a digger for over 40 years, in areas all over the Eastern Seaboard, hunting mostly Civil War relics, but I have assisted local, state and Federal authorities in the location, identification and restoration of artifacts from historically significant sites covering everything from colonial to CW.  I've been a collector of the arms and accoutrements of both Union and Confederates for over 35 years.  I also work for an independent film company as Historical Advisor and Technical Consultant, specializing in projects for The History Channel, Discovery Channel, PBS, and major motion picture production companies.  My work has included the Battlefield Detectives Series on The History Channel, "Gods & Generals" for Warner Brothers, and the recently completed film The Conspirator directed by Robert Redford, shot in Savannah and Fort Pulaski, GA.  I'm a retired Naval Officer who lives in Lake City.  I am a strong believer in the fact that too many unscupulous diggers have spoiled the hobby for the rest of us over the years; therefore, I always obtain permission to hunt (preferably in writing) before hitting the fields.  Folks who trespass, "nighthawk". or whatever it's called these days should be ashamed...they're not only destroying the hobby, but whatever historical context remains. I hope to meet others who share my views and wish to share their information with me.

[Dirtfishergabe]

Glad to have ya', Bushrod! Sounds like you're pretty up to date on all this. My name is Gabe, and if there is anything I can do for you...all ya gotta do is ask! 

[Treasurehound]

Amen brother. A lot of people have damaged the image of our hobby. One of my best shows that I have seen on the History Channel was the Battlefield Detectives on Custer's Last Stand. They used metal detectors to find bullets that were fired and dropped by both Indians and Soldiers to find how the battle actually took place. They marked with flags all the bullets they found and entered in computer to get how the battle developed. I agree on the guest speaker. I thought it was a very interesting story that he told.

[Bushrod]

Thanks, Gabe...the only thing you can do for me at this point is tell me where to dig a CS buckle...in all the years I've been "buggin'". I've yet to recover one...although a buddy of mine I took to one of my favorite sites pulled one out of the ground not 12 inches from one my holes from the previous day ...to make matters worse, he didn't even know what it was!!  (He didn't believe me that it was trash, though )....swords, US plates, shells, buttons...you name it...my War Room is filled with it...but no CS plate...reckon I got a few more years left to find one...have yet to hit the ground on a serious hunt in this area, though...who knows?  "You ain't gonna get 'em stayin' at home", right?  Time spent on the ground is directly proportional to the number of good finds....since I've retired, the last time I went was in 2001 during a break from filming "Gods & Generals" at Antietam...got permission to hunt a private field on the edge of the infamous Miller Cornfield...in 8 hrs I "cleaned up" an area I could have sworn had been "currycombed" years ago...which brings me to another philosophy of mine:  "There Ain't no Such Thing as a Hunted Out spot"!!  I pulled relics right outta the middle of a Union camp in Falmouth,VA-one that been hunted for over 30 years!!!

[HRife]

Welcome....this past meeting was my first one. I talked my kids into accompanying me and they really enjoyed the speaker. They have yet to partake of the detecting bug, but I hope to get them started right. I too enjoy the history and the thrill of touching something someone else touched years before me.....and I too agree with respecting property and history. Welcome and hope to see you at the next meeting.

Harold

[Dustin Mills]

Stick to your guns Bushrod I agree with you.

[Boaz]

welcome hope to some good find of your

[Larry]

welcome to the club, look forward to seeing some of your finds

[Edfin249]

Glad to have you in the club, Bushrod. My name is Dick and I have missed the last two meetings due to working out of town. I'll introduce myself at the next meeting.

[4-H]

Bushrod...I agree 100 percent with you my friend...
Welcome to the friendliest forum in the south.