Past Time History

03/23/2024

Little diggers, digging, today!

01/19/2024

Did a cleanup from the last few short hunts.

12/19/2023

Very interesting story.

A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY. THE SOLDIER BURIED HERE IS ONLY KNOWN TO GOD

AFTER THE WAR, THE UNION SOLDIER WHOSE NAME IS ON THE MARKER SENT FLOWERS FOR YEARS TO THE GRAVE OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER BURIED UNDER HIS NAME.

Here's a case of mistaken identity. David S. Lentz took this photograph at Antietam National Cemetery on Labor Day Weekend in September 2016.

Here's what he got from his cousin Scott Mahkovec's research at the time

Henry Struble, the cousin of my third great-grandfather George Struble, served in Company C, 8th Pennsylvania Reserves, 37th Infantry. He was supposedly killed on September 14th, 1862 at the Battle of South Mountain, just three days before the Battle of Antietam.

Henry Struble was not killed at South Mountain or Antietam. In fact, he lived long after 1862. According to sources cited in "This Republic of Suffering" by Drew Faust, Henry Struble gave his canteen bearing his name to a wounded soldier, who most likely died from his wounds. That soldier was most likely misidentified as Henry Struble. Military records stated that Henry died in battle.

For years after the Civil War, on Memorial Day/Decoration Day, Henry sent flowers to be placed on the grave of the unknown soldier buried with this marker bearing his name.

On May 15th, 1884, Henry's mother, Margery, applied for a military pension relative to Henry, supporting that Henry lived long after 1862.

Whoever is buried here with Henry Struble's marker, his name is sadly only known to God.

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— at Antietam National Cemetery.

Information and photograph, courtesy David S. Lentz.

05/06/2023

Restored and colorized photographs have become popular lately. This photo of Hank Williams is amazing!

04/01/2023

Did a little exploring today! Of course, Everett finds some glass!

03/01/2023

Just a small section of burial map from Gettysburg, PA, July 3,1863.

11/26/2022

I was close by, so I stopped to see the gravesite of Sam Watkins. Sam is the author of one of my favorite books, “Company Aytch”. He is buried at Zion Presbyterian Church, in Maury County, Tennessee. I highly recommend his book to anyone interested in Civil War history.

11/15/2022

Had a blast in Virginia, last week. I’m wore out but was able to save a few items from the red dirt of Culpeper!

11/07/2022

I’ll be digging where this photo was taken for the next 3 days. Zoom in and notice the thousands of huts and tents on the hill behind the wagons. Can’t wait!

10/28/2022

Something to chew on.

10/11/2022

08/20/2022

07/17/2022

This is an account from a northern woman who witnessed our Confederate soldiers in her town…
“ this body of men moving along with no order. Their guns carried in every fashion, no two dressed alike. The officers hardly distinguishable from the privates…….Were these the men who had driven back again and again our splendid legions ? They were the dirtiest men I ever saw…the most ragged , lean, and hungry set of wolves. Yet there was a dash about them that the northern men lacked”.

05/28/2022

This Memorial Day, I’m going way back. I recently discovered that I am a descendant of Mr. Frederick Fisher, on my mother’s side. He was shot in the leg at King’s Mountain, during a charge against the British, on October 7th, 1780. The British countered the patriot’s attack and Mr. Fisher was subsequently bayoneted by one of Patrick Ferguson’s loyalists Torys. He survived the war and made his way west to, what is now, Marshall County, Tennessee. Records indicate that he received a pension of $3.33 a month from the United States government for his disabilities. His power of attorney was none other than a Mr. James K. Polk.

On a side note; I believe that Mr. Ferguson probably faced off with another Tory by the name of Patrick Moore, in and around Spartanburg, SC. Mr. Moore was my 7th great grandfather on my father’s side. Captain Moore surrendered to the patriots at Fort Thickety in Cherokee County, SC. He was subsequently hung and his family was only able to identify his remains because of his height. Mr Moore was noted to be around 6’8” tall.

05/06/2022

Interesting read!

John Churchill, fondly referred to as Jack, is said to have marched into battle against the fearsome Wehrmacht carrying a set of bagpipes, a basket-hilted

03/11/2022

Anna Claire wanted to go detecting today. I couldn’t say no. 🤷🏻

03/07/2022

Interesting button combination. Using what they had.

03/06/2022

My younguns took me to their digging spot today! Lots of screw tops, mid 1900s stuff. They are learning and said that it’s the most fun they’ve ever had. I had a blast watching their excitement every time a new bottle showed up.

03/04/2022

My kids are diggers too! They’ve been exploring behind our new house.

01/01/2022

159 years ago there was an enormous struggle in Murfreesboro, TN.

Pvt. Andrew Jackson Vawter, Company I, 12th Tennessee Infantry. He was wounded in the groin at the Battle of Shiloh on 6 April 1862 and was later wounded again at the Battle of Murfreesboro on 31 December 1862, the second wound being a severe wound to the leg.

The 12th Tennessee Infantry and the 47th Tennessee Infantry were consolidated in October 1862, just prior to the battle. The 12th/47th Tennessee Consolidated Infantry served in Vaughan's brigade, which also included the 13th Infantry, the 29th Tennessee, and the 154th Tennessee Infantry regiments, as well as the 9th Texas Infantry along with Allin's (Tennessee) Sharpshooters and Scott's Tennessee artillery. They followed the same path as Loomis'/Coltart's attack on Woodruff's Federal brigade near the Harding house. Similar to the Loomis/Coltart attack that morning, Vaughan is also initially driven back.

As with any action in any battle, unless otherwise rarely stated in military records, it is hard to specify for certain when and where a soldier was wounded or killed. It could have been before or after this action, but this area is where the 12th/47th Tennessee Infantry was engaged. This area today is in between Medical Center parkway and I-24, and has been totally destroyed by roads and businesses in the area to the extent it is difficult to ascertain with any certainty where troops were even generically located during the battle.

12/27/2021

Interesting short video about the Slaughter Pen at the battle of Stones River. Murfreesboro and Franklin are 2 of the most overlooked and endangered battlefields of the American Civil War.

https://youtu.be/B4Uu78fYVs0

Dr. Chris Mackowski and Chief Ranger Jim Lewis detail the intense fighting in the Slaughter Pen at Stones River occurring on December 31, 1862. This is truly...

12/18/2021

Silver will show up when you least expect it!

12/10/2021

Amazing!

My new colorized image of USMC Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, taken during WWII in the Pacific Theater of Operations while Commander of Fighter Squadron VMF 214 "Black Sheep"

11/24/2021

To say I had a great time at DIV 50 would be an understatement. Old friends, new ones, and good digging! I’d been looking forward to this hunt for months and it didn’t disappoint!

10/27/2021

Played hooky today! Went with some good friends to a training site. Walked away with 8 three ringers, one 69 caliber three ringer, 6 solid base Sharp’s carbine, 2 hollow base Sharp’s carbine, 8 pistol balls, a round ball, broken pocket knife, and a what’s it! Good day! Check out the wormed 3 ringer! 5 of the pistol balls came out of the same hole!

09/16/2021

Perfect example of why there aren’t a lot of confederate government buttons recovered. These guys had to wear whatever they had or made.

My new colorized image of an unknown Confederate Soldier in his homemade "Battle Shirt".