Popular Post L David Keith Posted July 17, 2024 Popular Post Share Posted July 17, 2024 We began digging through huge dirt piles that the dump trucks were leaving just north of downtown Nashville, searching for prized bottles from the Malachi McCormack bottling company (1850-1860s) which stood on the site of the forthcoming Nashville Arena. We had been recovering Amber and Cobalt "blob top sodas" and the ultra rare "Celebrated Ginger Ale" torpedo bottles along with other great bottles. Some of my favorites were: Shaker Valerian Root, Kendall's Spavin Cure for Human Flesh, perfume from Paris (still has perfume inside), along with Umbrella inks, Ginger beer etc. So one July morning one of the truck drivers drops a load of the usual black dirt and my friend hops up on the top of the pile. I'm walking around the dirt waiting for the tale-tell sign of glass beginning to turn pearl white (old glass can develop a pearly white "scale" that will start to show after a few minutes of exposure to air. My friend suddenly says; "A spur!" which I immediately look up to see he doesn't have a spur rather a large US iron stirrup. I tell him that will proper electrolysis, he will be able to see US stamped at the bottom of the stirrup. About this time, I happen to look down and see what I thought was a $20 gold coin! I reach down and grab the round, gold colored object only to discover it is an 1840 style Union breast plate that still retained it's original brass/gold color. Both iron attachment loops were still intact and evidently being sealed in a deep trash pit for 131 years didn't patinate as per usual on brass objects. This is what started to whole affair and over several months, we excavated hundreds of leather brogans (army shoes) some knee boots (one had a pair of wool socks inside), belts, cartridge boxes, pistol holsters, buttons, canteens, bayonets, wood items, porcelain buttons, bullets, 1 CS bowie knife (blade only), Confederate saddle blankets (previously unknown to survive the war), half of a Confederate shell jacket with 4 KMI buttons (Kentucky Military Institute) and a lot of finds I'll probably never encounter again. It was truly one of the proverbial "finds of a lifetime." 23 2 2 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/26233-the-us-breast-plate-that-started-the-nashville-dig-of-a-lifetime/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCR Posted July 17, 2024 Share Posted July 17, 2024 That is truly fantastic. What a privilege to have been involved with the recoveries. 1 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/26233-the-us-breast-plate-that-started-the-nashville-dig-of-a-lifetime/#findComment-277350 Share on other sites More sharing options...
UT Dave Posted July 17, 2024 Share Posted July 17, 2024 Amazing! - Dave 1 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/26233-the-us-breast-plate-that-started-the-nashville-dig-of-a-lifetime/#findComment-277359 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom_in_CA Posted July 17, 2024 Share Posted July 17, 2024 Great play-by-play. Thanx for bringing us along !! 1 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/26233-the-us-breast-plate-that-started-the-nashville-dig-of-a-lifetime/#findComment-277374 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geologyhound Posted July 18, 2024 Share Posted July 18, 2024 That is some haul! Your body probably couldn’t produce any more adrenaline for six weeks… 1 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/26233-the-us-breast-plate-that-started-the-nashville-dig-of-a-lifetime/#findComment-277376 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANDY MCFARLAND Posted July 18, 2024 Share Posted July 18, 2024 SALUTE! That is simply incredible Sir! 1 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/26233-the-us-breast-plate-that-started-the-nashville-dig-of-a-lifetime/#findComment-277377 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvpopeye Posted July 18, 2024 Share Posted July 18, 2024 Nice saves ! 🥸 2 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/26233-the-us-breast-plate-that-started-the-nashville-dig-of-a-lifetime/#findComment-277391 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valens Legacy Posted July 18, 2024 Share Posted July 18, 2024 Thanks for the interesting read on the hunt and thank you for recovering some history. Some day those items will be talked about from your family to another person to keep the history alive. Relics that I find I plan to turn over to a museum so others will understand what our history was. Good luck on your next outing and stay safe out there. 1 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/26233-the-us-breast-plate-that-started-the-nashville-dig-of-a-lifetime/#findComment-277402 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColonelDan Posted July 18, 2024 Share Posted July 18, 2024 Truly outstanding finds and a great report! 🫡 1 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/26233-the-us-breast-plate-that-started-the-nashville-dig-of-a-lifetime/#findComment-277407 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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