The Battle of the Wilderness, fought on May 5th, 6th and 7th, 1864 , at the outset of Ulysses S. Grant's overland Virginia Campaign proved to be a bloody prelude to the intense and deadly battles fought during the last year of the war.  An unexpected encounter between the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac in the dense area of forest known as the Wilderness, ended in a major battle which resulted in 17,666 Union casualties and 11,125 Confederate.  During the height of the battle, an area of the woods caught fire and many of the wounded succumbed to the flames.  A few of Gavin's relic cases come from his metal detecting ventures onto the battlefield known as the Wilderness.

New items were added to this page on January 30th!

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This relic came from an unnumbered display case that had relics from various locations with Gavin's handwritten labels.  This is a Gardner bullet (it appears to be a .54 caliber) that has blown through the top because the nose of the bullet was cast too thin (examples of this can be seen in Mason & Mckee p. 74, examples 1 & 2). Gavin's handwritten tag has been tied to the bullet identifying it as a Wilderness find but, interestingly enough, Gavin has misidentified it as an explosive bullet.  This is a really neat example of a relic that you don't see every day.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information will be provided to the buyer.

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Item Number BG19401

This relic came from Gavin's display case #55 which had relics that were identified as having been found at the Wilderness.  This is an Eagle "I" infantry button with tons of gilt (23 mm).  It has the rare (for Civil War dug eagle buttons) "CANFIELD BRO & CO. BALTIMORE" back mark.  Canfield produced buttons for the U.S. government before the war but then became a supplier of various Confederate buttons during the war.  Unfortunately, the button has two small holes in the face, otherwise it is in very good condition.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.

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Item Number BG05502

This relic came from Gavin's display case #55 which had relics that were identified as having been found at the Wilderness.  This is a large iron buckle (2 3/8 x 1 3/4 inches) that would have been used as a belt buckle.  These iron roller buckles were actually commonly worn by Confederate soldiers because of supply issues in the South.  This one has Gavin's handwritten tag attached to it "Confederate Belt Buckle found in Ewell's Trenches on Wilderness Battlefield".  Ewell's trenches, in part, bordered the famous Saunder's Field.  The buckle has not been cleaned or coated - some of the rust has flaked off of one of the sides.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.

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Item Number BG05506

This relic came from Gavin's display case #55 which had relics that were identified as having been found at the Wilderness.  This is a brass waist belt adjuster that still has remains of the leather belt attached to it.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG05501

This relic came from Gavin's display case #55 which had relics that were identified as having been found at the Wilderness.  An iron heel plate that is in very good condition - it is 3 x 2 3/4 inches.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.

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Item Number BG05503

This relic came from Gavin's display case #55 which had relics that were identified as having been found at the Wilderness.  This is a standard pewter spout from a regulation canteen but what is unusual about this one is that a small amount of the cloth cover is still stuck to it.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.

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Item Number BG05504

This relic came from Gavin's display case #55 which had relics that were identified as having been found at the Wilderness.  This is a very interesting fired .58 caliber three ring bullet.  Upon impact, the bullet not only flattened a bit but was nearly split in two - perhaps it struck something and began to wrap around it?  (In the third photograph, the object at the bottom was what I was using to support the bullet for the photograph - it is not part of the bullet).  A neat example.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG05512

These relics came from Gavin's display case #55 which had relics that were identified as having been found at the Wilderness.  Dropped Confederate .58 caliber Gardner bullets that were in the original case.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG05510

This relic came from Gavin's display case #55 which had relics that were identified as having been found at the Wilderness.  A bayonet scabbard tip (minus the finial) that has been crushed at the bottom.  The pattern of the crushed area looks very regular - it may have been run over by a wagon or cannon.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.

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Item Number BG05507

These relics came from Gavin's display case #55 which had relics that were identified as having been found at the Wilderness.  Three dropped Enfield bullets with conical cavities - two appear to be Mason & McKee #226 (slightly shorter than the third bullet) while the other appears to be MM #228.  Unfortunately, it appears that Gavin hit the third bullets with his shovel and gashed its side.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG05511

This relic came from Gavin's display case #55 which had relics that were identified as having been found at the Wilderness. This is the portion of the case from a pocket watch.  It appears to be gold plated.  It is marked "CYLINDER FOUR HOLES JEWELLED" and with the number "34603" or possibly "34503".  It measures 1 7/8 inches in diameter.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.

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Item Number BG05508

This relic came from Gavin's display case #55 which had relics that were identified as having been found at the Wilderness. A nice sized fragment from a spherical artillery shell - it measures 3 x 2 1/8 inches.  It is "as dug" and has not been cleaned or coated.   A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG05505

This relic came from Gavin's display case #55 which had relics that were identified as having been found at the Wilderness. Two small buckles - probably from cartridge boxes or equipment straps.  One appears to be hand forged (1 3/8 x 1 1/4 in.) and the other has a recessed center bar (1 5/8 x 1 1/16 in.).  They are "as dug" and have not been cleaned or coated.   A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG05509