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Author Topic: Where do I look ???  (Read 432 times)

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Offline Kansas Boomer

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Where do I look ???
« on: April 24, 2007, 05:45:55 AM »
Back in 1856, at a small pre civil war battle, between Missouri border ruffians and Kansas abolitionists, a 6 pounder was used to settle the dispute. The 6 pounder was fired at a range of about 200 yards into a log blacksmith shop. I am pretty sure, I have located the shop area. Survivors from the blacksmith shop, said the cannon balls were passing right through the logs. I have permission from the property owner to search for the cannon balls. Anyone have any idea about how far beyond the shop I should start my metal detector search? My avatar is a picture of the 6 pounder, and probably part of the crew that did the shooting.   Thanks Boomer
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Former Naval person, proud to have a Grandson serving in the U. S. Army.
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Where do I look ???
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2007, 05:59:31 AM »
If it were a substantial hit, the energy left would be minimal.  On the other hand ...

I'd start in close and make a map of what you've covered.

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Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline Artilleryman

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Re: Where do I look ???
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2007, 08:26:20 AM »
It would be hard to say as it would depend on what kind and how thick the logs in the cabin were.  At Grayling 6 pdr rounds have gone through 8 inch oak trees and kept on going an unknown distance.  Also how wooded was the area then?  Balls will change direction dramatically when glancing off of trees.  If they didn't go very far they may have already been picked up.  Is there any kind of rise in the impact area?  If so look there first if it is within 4-5 yards for the building.  The balls may have rolled up on it without going over the top.  Good luck in finding any of them.  At Grayling we found balls spread over a distance out to 1000 yards.
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Offline CU_Cannon

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Re: Where do I look ???
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2007, 12:14:22 PM »
If it is a wooded area check the trees too.

Trees have the ability to grow around just about anything.  My father owns and operates a sawmill.  He has sawn into just about everything.  The normal things include barbwire fences, nails and insulators.  The weirdest thing he ever sawed into was a hammer head.  The hammer had been hung on a tree and over time the tree had grown around it.  The weirdest thing he had ever heard someone sawing into was a cannon ball.  The logs had come from Schuylerville, NY not too far from the Saratoga battle field.  Apparently the tree had taken a hit during the battle and kept right on growing.  From the outside of the tree you wouldn’t even know what was in it.  Needless to say the saw was ruined but the mill owner has a nice paper weight and quite the story.
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