Sherman, Loot, Munitions and Congaree River

[Selma Hunter]

All,

This one should prove interesting!

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2015/01/20/possibly-sitting-at-bottom-south-carolina-river-gen-sherman-war-spoils/

VBR,

[mccaul]

It could be very interesting if anything is still there.

[misipirelichtr]

another article with more details

http://www.thestate.com/2015/01/17/3934458_shermans-weapons-dump-located.html?rh=1

[CarlS]

Will be interesting to see what they find.  I've heard stories of 10-inch balls from there.  Should be all kinds of stuff.

[emike123]

I recall some folks pulling 10" balls out of there years ago.  One told me it was miserable owing to discharges from a nearby creosote plant and the water burned their skin. Perhaps they meant these tar discharges described as coming from a gas plant in the article.  Coal tar is also a listed carcinogen -- an identified cause of testicular cancer, men, so this may only be suitable work for the Plumber's Maxim camo bikini clad digging buddy...

Anyway, however tempting this cache sounds, its not worth messing with these things in my opinion to recover 10" balls!

[redbob]

If they fool around with this coal tar, they may end up with 10" balls or none at all.

[Jim T]

Yes, I had some shells that came from there many years ago.  I had a 12-pdr and one of those small, thin-walled balls, a so-called "hand grenade" at that time.  That is also where most of the "Columbia Sharps" bullets with sprues and a gray/black patina came from.