"Campfire Bullets"?

[FiremarshalBill]

I've been told that ACW soldiers often poured the black powder from their cartridges on damp wood to help them get their campfire started. Perhaps they just tossed any of their questionable (torn or broken) cartridges into their campfire? Or maybe they tossed cartridges into the fire out of boredom just to watch the flash of burning powder? I've dug several melted, or partially melted lead bullets from a single hole and was wondering if they might be the result of these actions. Is there another term besides "campfire bullets" used for these melted bullets? Any other explanation for finding small groups of melted or partially melted lead bullets? Comments?

 

[bankerpapaw]

When I was in Vietnam, we used a pinch of C-4 plastic explosives to cook our coffee.

 

[Package4]

I've been told that ACW soldiers often poured the black powder from their cartridges on damp wood to help them get their campfire started. Perhaps they just tossed any of their questionable (torn or broken) cartridges into their campfire? Or maybe they tossed cartridges into the fire out of boredom just to watch the flash of burning powder? I've dug several melted, or partially melted lead bullets from a single hole and was wondering if they might be the result of these actions. Is there another term besides "campfire bullets" used for these melted bullets? Any other explanation for finding small groups of melted or partially melted lead bullets? Comments?

I think you've pretty much nailed it, but there were still some that cast their own bullets, due to the caliber and specialty of that particular arm and you may run into an unsuccessful pour.