Very interesting....I thought they looked like jacks from the kid's game. ThanksThese are anti-cavalry caltrops, which were scattered across the ground to keep cavalry from using the area.
No, I don't know unfortunately. She has many pieces from her own metal detecting but also from auctions and sales.Nice pieces. Do you know where she got them?
Basically they are BIG JacksVery interesting....I thought they looked like jacks from the kid's game. Thanks
Caltrops sometimes called "Horse Cripplers" would be scattered along on the ground in the anticipated path of enemy cavalry troops. The shape/design of the caltrop was such that, however it landed, it would always have one of the spines up. When a horse came along and stepped on it, it was game over. I believe they were small enough to fit inside the U of the horse shoe, so even a shod horse was susceptible. Even if the caltrop did not penetrate the horse's sole, it would cause severe bruising to the sole of the foot and the frog, making the horse lame and unusable.It's like a less deadly form of a mine aimed at horses
I searched extensively, and can only find this one story, which sounds like second or third hand information, reprinted in several newspapers.Lots of debate on these "Caltrops". Many saying there were never any reports of them being used in the ACW.
Thanks for finding and posting these. It appears to be the same information reprinted several times, but all proving these items did exist and were used during the CW period.I searched extensively, and can only find this one story, which sounds like second or third hand information, reprinted in several newspapers.
View attachment 306938
Alexandria Gazette., February 03, 1863, page 4.
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Civilian & Telegraph. (Cumberland, MD), February 05, 1863, pp. 2-3.
The same story, apparently reprinted from the Philadelphia Inquirer:
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The Morgantown Monitor. (Morgantown, WV), February 14, 1863, page 4.
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Dayton Daily Empire., February 12, 1863, page 2.
I'm not so sure Cavalry Charger. Maybe just a rumor? Seems to be second or third-hand information reported by one correspondent, and reprinted in several newspapers?It appears to be the same information reprinted several times, but all proving these items did exist and were used during the CW period.
Oops! Took that as dyed in the wool proof that they existedI'm not so sure Cavalry Charger. Maybe just a rumor? Seems to be second or third-hand information reported by one correspondent, and reprinted in several newspapers?