- Joined
- Jul 19, 2016
- Location
- Spotsylvania Virginia
Like most of the south-eastern United States, the temperatures here in the Spotsylvania Virginia area have been scorching this summer. For us “old-timer” relic hunters it’s difficult waiting for a welcoming fall and cooler weather so we can stick our diggin’ tools back in the ground.
Four years ago, I stumbled upon a map showing BG William Mahon’s Division’s position from the evening of May 9 through the morning of May 11th 1864. I am unable to show the map due to copyright issues, plus a good relic hunter never gives his “secrete” places away. But Mahone’s position caught my eye because it was only a mile from my house and the far left of Lee’s line.
Mahone had his troops spread across a civil war era road that still exists as a modern-day state road. Facing the enemy, Perrin was on the right side of the road and the reminder of Mahone’s Division was on the left side. They were positioned right to left; Perrin, Harris, Perry, Wright with Weisiger in reserve behind Wright.
Courtesy of Wickpedia
The location of Perrin’s Alabamans’ is now a farm owned by a close friend. Although he granted me permission to relic hunt his farm, I decided to start with the position of Harris’ Mississippi troops and work my way toward Wright’s Georgians because that portion is wooded. (For those of you not familiar with relic hunting, wooded areas are preferred for several reasons.)
Harris had his troops placed right to left 16th, 19th, 12th 48th. My first day at the site, several years ago produced an interesting find behind Harris’ breastworks. I think was a riding crop but would like your expert thoughts. The handle is pure silver and the shaft (what was left of it) is whale bone, I was told. I thought I would share it with my CWT relic hunting friends since I am unsure if it was indeed a riding crop. The first photo shows the top of the handle. The engraving is difficult to read in the photo but it’s in the Ole English style script and it is the initials LWH. It was found directly behind the position of the 16th and 19thMississippi, but it was near the site of a slit trench, so it could have come from any of Harris’ men.
The initials LWH of course does not match BG Nathaniel H. Harris but because the handle is silver, I presume it might have belonged to a prominent person in Harris, command.
Four years ago, I stumbled upon a map showing BG William Mahon’s Division’s position from the evening of May 9 through the morning of May 11th 1864. I am unable to show the map due to copyright issues, plus a good relic hunter never gives his “secrete” places away. But Mahone’s position caught my eye because it was only a mile from my house and the far left of Lee’s line.
Mahone had his troops spread across a civil war era road that still exists as a modern-day state road. Facing the enemy, Perrin was on the right side of the road and the reminder of Mahone’s Division was on the left side. They were positioned right to left; Perrin, Harris, Perry, Wright with Weisiger in reserve behind Wright.
Division | Brigade | Regiments and Others |
Anderson's Division BG William Mahone | Perrin's Brigade BG Abner M. Perrin (k) Col John C. C. Sanders | 8th Alabama 9th Alabama 10th Alabama 11th Alabama: Col John C. C. Sanders 14th Alabama |
Mahone's Brigade Col David A. Weisiger | 6th Virginia 12th Virginia 16th Virginia 41st Virginia 61st Virginia | |
Harris's Brigade BG Nathaniel H. Harris | 12th Mississippi 16th Mississippi 19th Mississippi 48th Mississippi | |
Perry's Brigade Col David Lang[33] | 2nd Florida 5th Florida 8th Florida | |
Wright's Brigade BG Ambrose R. Wright | 3rd Georgia 22nd Georgia 48th Georgia 2nd Georgia Battalion 10th Georgia Battalion |
The location of Perrin’s Alabamans’ is now a farm owned by a close friend. Although he granted me permission to relic hunt his farm, I decided to start with the position of Harris’ Mississippi troops and work my way toward Wright’s Georgians because that portion is wooded. (For those of you not familiar with relic hunting, wooded areas are preferred for several reasons.)
Harris had his troops placed right to left 16th, 19th, 12th 48th. My first day at the site, several years ago produced an interesting find behind Harris’ breastworks. I think was a riding crop but would like your expert thoughts. The handle is pure silver and the shaft (what was left of it) is whale bone, I was told. I thought I would share it with my CWT relic hunting friends since I am unsure if it was indeed a riding crop. The first photo shows the top of the handle. The engraving is difficult to read in the photo but it’s in the Ole English style script and it is the initials LWH. It was found directly behind the position of the 16th and 19thMississippi, but it was near the site of a slit trench, so it could have come from any of Harris’ men.
The initials LWH of course does not match BG Nathaniel H. Harris but because the handle is silver, I presume it might have belonged to a prominent person in Harris, command.