My Recently Found Civil War Infantry Musket

Here is a short video of a musket I found a couple of weeks ago in the river. Much like the carbine I just found, it's real and it's fabulous!
zz
Follow the ChiggsArmy!
My Patreon: / aquachigger
Instagram: / aquachigger
Facebook: / chiggsarmy
Twitter: / beauouimette
#MyAdventures #Aquachigger
About Aquachigger:
Metal detecting, treasure, history, coins, river treasure, adventure, nature, animals and MOAR! That is what my channel is about. I enjoy caving, SCUBA diving and flying my powered paraglider. I foster sick and injured pets. My channel is family friendly. My videos are meant to be fun, educational and informative.
Affiliate links to see and purchase the gear I use:
General Gear:
T-Shirts: www.bonfire.co...
Garrett Metal Detectors:
Camera2: amzn.to/2UePCpY
Magnet Big: amzn.to/2L7Arfi
Magnet Med: amzn.to/2HyYqlt
JackerySolarPanel amzn.to/2NMd62L
JackeryPowerStation amzn.to/2NELmNm
My Recently Found Civil War Infantry Musket
• My Recently Found Civi...
Aquachigger
/ aquachigger

[@alicegraham1571]

About twenty years ago divers examined the site where Grant crossed the James in June 1864. Among the items recover was a M1861 rifle with the sling still intact. Upon preservation , the sling had a Louisiana soldier's name cut into it. The soldier had been captured at Spotsylvania, and his rifle, along with others, had been thrown into the river. It is still possible to make "water finds". Watch the laws, they can be very restrictive.

[@brandongary44]

+Alice Graham yea tell the man where new video

[@JohnnyReb]

What was the guy's name and regiment?

[@Loyer333]

No , it is a Model 1861 Springfield. You ca n tell by the shape of the hammer.

[@spymaine89]

we know laws are often obtuse, these items if not collected will just be gone, keep makin whiskey , just hide. like dinosaurs bones if on the surface will soon be sand....

[@ironmatic1]

These aren’t even legally firearms in the US.

[@REALjohnmosesbrowning]

The last time that thing was in someones hands was in the 1860's. In battle. Just think about that.

[@bad74maverick1]

Given the break in the wrist being so clean, the missing butt, and most rifles were picked up for use after battle, even damaged ones for parts by both sides since the 1855 was the first rifle musket that was developed for interchangeability of parts from the 1855's to 1864 models it's more likely it was dumped there when these guns were absolutely worthless between the late 1800s and up to the 1950's. It was probably accidentally broken through the wrist and just dumped as trash. Even the wrist break has clean lines and you can see wood grain in the break. not indicative of a gun that's been there since 61-65.

[@beanbata9745]

Deep

[@midwestmatthew9752]

@@bad74maverick1 Possible, but I find it hard to believe the percussion cap would still be present under those circumstances.

[@bad74maverick1]

@@midwestmatthew9752 If that was an original cap it would have disintegrated by now. The fact that you can see the leaves of the cap and the fact that the break is so clean you can see the grain of the wood tells any good restorer that, that gun probably hasn't been there 60 years, let alone 150.

[@bad74maverick1]

@Ryan James No, not at all. first, the copper caps are paper thin. next they are full of Mercury fulminate, a highly corrosive compound especially after firing combined with the fouling of black powder blow back up the nipple, hence the clean out screw in the side of the bolster to keep the high amount of corrosion that will accumulate in just 2 to 3 days without cleaning, even sooner if it's humid out. So no, in rushing water, after being fired and coated on the inside with corrosive chemicals it would not be there, at least the leaves of the cap which by the way are split and tend to break off as the hammer smacks it against the nipple, the center of the cap could still exist between the hammer and the nipple, but not likely. My brother took my 1855 springfield (the 1861 is built off of the 1855) deer hunting several years ago and gave it back about a week after he shot it and only sprayed oil down the barrel. He didn't clean it with hot water and murphy's oil soap and frosted almost the whole length of the inside of the barrel. I was able to get some of the frosting out but some pits still are visible.

[@SkyhawkDriver]

Amazing how well it's been preserved always makes me wonder how relics end up in the place they are.

[@davidbarnes1439]

there planted by the guy or his friends and conveniently "found"

[@kinggeorgeiii7515]

David Barnes so I assume all the coins, bullets, musket balls, and other relics are planted too? I doubt this guy would go through the process of bringing a broken musket to a lake, put it under the water, and cover it up with sand.

[@contentdeleted1063]

What makes you think this is staged or planted ?

[@nosloppyagape]

My heart starts jumping when I realize this belonged to someone ... They had a story all their own amazing! Simply amazing...your a time traveler!

[@jackjackson6378]

AMAZING!! I have always wanted to find one of those! It really shows how much our country has been through and how much its changed in such little time. And if it wasnt me, Im glad its you who found it because your not metal detecting for money your doing it to remember history and keep it alive. Well done man, thats a great find.

[@Pancreaticdefect]

Having the percussion cap on with the hammer down means it was probably fired but the soldier was not given the chance to reload. Maybe because the enemy was bearing down on them. Leads me to wonder if that stock might have been broken in a melee. It would have been pretty easy to shatter your stock when you're forced to flip the thing around and use it like a Louisville Slugger. A lot of untold stories like that in your collection I imagine.

[@jeremy1392]

+Pancreaticdefect I agree, also I think that i just have a gut feeling that it was dropped by Confederate, probably as a union soldier would probably have a bayonet, but it could have of course rotted or been hit by a bullet but i would be exited to see if you can find a badge, bayonet, or something telling about which side he was on.

[@REALjohnmosesbrowning]

I thought that whoever was carrying it was hit near the shoulder with something and dropped it, which explains the damage to the stock.

[@jeremy1392]

Italiamerican Also likely

[@Zuzxia]

hi

[@gandolfthewhite]

@martini carbine577/450 no after you fired you left the cap on until you finished reloading. If any burning powder was still in the barrel the cap kept air from keeping the residual powder burning and setting off the new load being put into the barrel.

[@SaltyNationalist]

You sir have yourself quite a piece of history my friend. No telling what may have happened to the former owner of that weapon. All I know is it's a cool ass find..

[@treasurefacts2654]

Got to love it! What a time capsule....you can almost hear the battle and the see the soldiers hitting the water! Such intensity back then and how remote the scene, now the whole world can veiw this beautiful piece being recovered in unison. Imagine, when Lincoln was assasinated it took a week or more for people to hear this news. Best to you -Jeff

[@jameslawson7383]

I would like to see someone call this fake, the way it was buried in the mud, and the way the wood was totally water logged yet preserved, i am not sure, but i don't think these things can be faked very easily. Awesome find and keep em coming!

[@oneyedjake4768]

I watched a show awhile back, the guy (expert on all things civil war apparently) said, it wasn't very common but it happened enough where a lot of the guns found have a broken stalk due to being used as a club. They were usually discarded when the solider found an intact rifle on the field after tossing the broken one.

[@jwhine]

OneyedJake it’s “Stock” not “stalk”

[@bad74maverick1]

That's actually a myth. The rifles and muskets with an exception for a few were issued with bayonets which were much easier to wield in hand to hand combat, attached to your frog on your belt, and kept the butt of the rifle low to your body for a lower center of gravity. Also the Army usually scolded soldiers for damaging, losing or carving names into US government property.

[@eddominates]

I was not ready for that outro. Now I know what its like to be a aquachigger pup

[@Country_Girl63]

Beau, I have always loved anything regarding: The Revolutionary War, The War of 1812, and The Cival War, and watching all of your discoveries is exciting for me! When you uncovered the musket, I wonder who that soldier was who carried that musket, and why it was separated from him. I know that probably sounds silly to most, but for me is intertwined in the history of our country. Love your channel!

[@depletedarsenal8990]

I think the soldier dropped the musket because it was broken and was not accurate

[@genesmolko8113]

Not silly, that's what most people wonder

[@2DSTORMS]

I was a Civil War Reenactor and would love to find something period like that, nothing better than still having the percussion cap still attached! Thanks to my son telling me this, I never would have thought anyone went hunting for Civil War goods in creeks and rivers.

[@SnackRelatedMishap]

awesome find, Beau! looks great for having sat in the water for 150 years. you find some of the coolest stuff.

[@hunternades]

hey beau dude im fascinated by the revolutionary war war of 1812 and the civil if i see my 8th grade history teacher im gonna tell him about this he will probably freek out so man this was awesome

[@ClaytonCountyHistoryHound]

I am always amazed at some of your finds. To be the first to hold that since it was dropped is just crazy. This kind of stuff just gives me goosebumps. That's real history right there. Thanks again for sharing. Take care.

[@georgepickett6853]

As a very board child here in Louisiana, we used to find old musket rounds in front of our house. We didn't know any better so my cousin and I would gather them up and melt them for sinkers. We were around 12 or so. I sure wish we would have saved them

[@craigcsu07]

I bet you have one hell of a showroom. No telling how many people you have got into our hobby with all your awesome finds. They just don't see all your leg work that goes into finding these spots.

[@markdunavant517]

Awesome finds on all those civil war rifles and muskets, that would be a great way to collect and clean and decorate the man cave or a home, the civil war relics would make a nice shadow box wall piece.

[@LeeHoFooks]

He seems very calm for such a find.

[@soldierboy425]

Trying to be happy for you, but I am so jealous! Great find.

[@ra777wow]

That is so cool ! What a find ! My friend and i were walking through a field in tenessee and he tripped when we were walking and he turned around and he pointed at an 1851 navy pistol . Just the end of the barrel was sticking up . There was no wood left on it but we both looked at each other and said, lets get the metal detectors ! What fun it is . Thanks for your cool video !

[@fakenews6133]

Well, assuming it wasnt in water, the metal is probably still strong. It might still be fireable if you clean it up and replace the wood. Ammunitions fairly well priced these days too.

[@virginiametaldetecting2485]

@@fakenews6133 No, the thing would've been so badly rusted there's no way it would shoot.

[@jcjcjunk1881]

@@virginiametaldetecting2485 he said restore it that means either replace the metal

[@virginiametaldetecting2485]

@@jcjcjunk1881 Replacing the metal would be impossible considering the whole thing would be rusted. Basically just getting a new gun is the only way.

[@virginiametaldetecting2485]

@@jcjcjunk1881 And he didnt say that, he said restore the wood.

[@DDay-vv9ec]

Keep finding history we need it.

[@Sgt_Rosz.CIB-11Bravo]

Good possibility a young man lost his life coming over that bank holding that rifle, you’re the first person to touch it since the 1860s. Amazing! Did he even have a chance to fire his rifle since percussion cap was still fitted and hammer down? Was it fired already, and he was hit immediately after the hammer fell? The story that weapon could share.

[@chrisrodriguez1685]

I think it's awesome what you were doing the fact that you would can recover pieces of our history to save for future Generations I honor you a good man

[@elli003]

Looks like an 1858 Enfield 3 Band Musket Rifle. Mine is a copy. Look on the strike plate and see if the letters LAC appear. London Armory Company was the Enfield factory that exclusively produced rifles to the Confederacy. Great find. Keep digging !

[@noxema2000]

awesome find , Iliteraly got goose bumps from the end of it showing ,,,,,

[@chrisvalenzuela2403]

That's an amazing find. Great work

[@nicolasfishmaster8202]

You inspired me to metal detect and look for stuff in river thanks

[@allangooge7299]

Absolutely AMAZING!! I know here in the U. K. we can find older relics. But man I can't think what I'd give to find that beauty. Outstanding!!!!! H H.

[@rednecklowlife]

You have to be one of the top water metal detectorist for relics around! Mr. Ouimette you should have a show on T.V. I think the industry should take a good look at your videos! And Garret should provide you with any and all of there products! FREE of charge! Before you decide to switch over to the MineLab 3030 LOL! just saying! You are a true history saver. Good Luck + Happy Hunting! Always looking forward to your next great video!

[@alan30189]

Which are the best detectors? MineLab or Garrett? Seems Beau likes the Garrett. Have you owned both of them?

[@alan30189]

***** Which brand and model number do you like the best? The GPX5000?

[@marylougreen9136]

Can't our imaginations run wild. Thank you. Enjoyed your video so much!

[@voteZDLR]

I can just imagine how it might have gotten there, too. At some point a soldier probably died and lost his gun in the water. And over the years it probably moved some but it probably didn't move too much, so it likely wasn't far from there. Fascinating.

[@thomasbowles1503]

WOW! good for you beau thats freaking awesome i love it man that sends chills up my spine seeing that come out of the river for the first time since it was dropped

[@bad74maverick1]

Several things. First, it's an 1861 Springfield musket type 1. It has the Roman Nose 1855 hammer and a clean out screw on the bolster. Also it has flat sided barrel bands which is indicative to the type one's only. 1863's had no clean out screw a flat bolster with an eagle rounded barrel bands and no roman nose hammer as they were not using high hump lock plates. The break in the wrist behind the lock is clean and the first 4 inches of the gun is exposed to moving water and wood, nose cap and barrel band spring is still present. That is a high indication that that gun hasn't been there since the civil war unless a recent flood uncovered it from the silt below the floor of the creek. The saber bayonet has nothing to do with this gun, it was issued with a tri corner socket bayonet. saber bayonets were mainly used on European rifles at the time, but were imported for the war. A damaged gun like that would have, after battle by either side been used for parts given the Springfields interchangeability of parts with 1861's 1855's and Richmond rifles. I only mention that because the break in the wrist is so clean you can almost see splinters and grain in the wood, indicating that is not where it was left because it would have eroded that long ago and rotted it. It's more likely that at a time when these guns were worthless in the late 1800's all the way to the 1950's it at some point was busted through the wrist accidentally and discarded there. The trigger guard doesn't appear bent at the break either which is telling.

[@Wwally]

WOW again!!!! Fantastic find. I'm so jealous.

[@mrhovoxo7236]

I laughed so much when he licked the camera at the end of the video 👍👍👍

[@hudsonryder3572]

Beautiful piece of history.

[@mtngoat58]

just got a ATgold and learning how to use it now --cant wait to go out and find stuff ,my own back yard in rural Kentucky is turning up some cool stuff --I live not far from the battle of sacramento so I know soldiers came through here ---peace

[@tlang7013]

You Sir find some amazing treasures, wish I had access to some of the rivers you hunt.

[@nocturnalrecluse1216]

Good find!!! That baby's worth a pretty penny.

[@tnriverbanks]

It is another banner year. Congratulations. We get really high floods here In the Tn Valley. Things are so deep. Thanks for sharing!

[@tnriverbanks]

That will be great! I always appreciate any advice you might share.

[@tnriverbanks]

It's all good.

[@ap0logyacc3pted]

It's neat to find pieces of history like that

[@noradaniels470]

You find such awesome civil war things.

[@bigfokkerdog]

Heck of a find Beau

[@garygerkin9988]

love your videos hard to believe you're still finding such cool relics in the water keep them coming brother

[@dumbodick]

For sure you should have your own show

[@dannyraleigh7773]

Finds like that make your mind wander, who used it , why was it dropped , did he make it though the war , what other battles did it fight in. Great find , glad it was you.

[@dougalexander7204]

Tardy to the party but congratulations. It will look wonderful in the Aquachigger civil war museum. Adding to the person below, yes indeed, the last time this gun was touched was by a soldier over 150 years ago. And, now it’s Chigg’s well deserved treasure.

[@jessieblanton9547]

Lots of stuff laying around just got to know where to look.

[@idighistory8405]

UNBELIEVABLE!!! You have found some great guns lately, this one might be my favorite. Awesome find friend!

[@PhatBottomOutdoors]

Simply amazing.

[@micheleaustin8328]

WoW!! Exciting! Wish I could send you picture of civil sword found in river down the street from where I live, I also found arrow head on Delaware river here! So, I know how exciting it is to find cool stuff!! 👍

[@lil_glock_live4239]

Michele Austin post a video of it

[@4thdimensiontravels855]

That is the most beautiful thing ive ever seen.

[@trickc1790]

I found a Roman coin in my garden and a Saxon Thor hammer pendant in the field behind my house it doesn't really interest anybody but,We Brits love the American civil war stuff deeply

[@douglindstrom7104]

We Colonists love the Revolutionary war finds...oh wait...sorry..lol ;-)

[@zacharytaylor3002]

that may have been a revolutionary era musket

[@edubs5662]

It was a percussion cap so no

[@nealboswell8786]

Wowzer!

[@donaldmoffatt3434]

Great find. Thanks for sharing. Happy relic hunting

[@rokin89]

she looks good enough to fire it!

[@gloriaspencer9220]

Beautiful find.

[@slantsix6344]

Fantastic find!

[@andrewnorton931]

If I found a civil war gun, I would be the happiest man on earth. Amazing find!

[@aquachigger]

Thanks. It was a cool find.

[@andrewnorton931]

@@aquachigger What do you do with your finds? If you have a collection, it would be really cool if you made a video about it.

[@Captain_Frank_Abagnale]

Looks like a Springfield or a Richmond Rifle(brass nose). Definitely springfield type with the Maynard primer hump on the lock, leaf sights and tulip rammer.

[@forrestlong3135]

Simply awesome Chigger . sure wish your videos were put out in better order , so as we could follow your adventures and findings as they relate to each other and places and relics your finding them in and at . keep up the great work .

[@gennarosavastano9424]

omg so cool! look at that! so old and wood still intact! i would piss myself if i touch it

[@daveedwards4898]

Great find. Thanks for sharing that with us.

[@Thiccatron69]

the lick surprised me XD

[@1uptospeed]

way to go beau!

[@nowthisis2stupid]

That is in very decent shape.

[@BZBadger]

id have to agree that it was damaged in battle ot just. seems more likely the stock was broken then thrown down. great find again

[@thomas101834]

Cool find. Happy Hunting Brother.

[@DerekNaylor]

great find beau alot of detail still on it :-)

[@bobbymcdowell9694]

It's. About. Time. ,😎

[@diggingarizona8592]

Wow Beau!! What a great find! Man I wish I could find something like that. Keep em Coming.

[@dalevandyke7628]

Great Find!!! Love your river hunt videos.

[@connardman]

it's a beauty! Nice find Beau.

[@stealthop]

Wow thats an amazing find .

[@gstone42]

GREAT Find!

[@TractorMan104]

Looked to me like the cap was split, that might indicate that it had been fired. Nice find my friend.

[@michaelbrunner6654]

Here in southern Indiana we can only dream of things like this

[@kitt199546]

Hey Beau, I know how the rifle got broken. You see, the infamous Q instructed Civil Was Solders on how to use their rifles as a Klingon Bat'leth if needed. That would also explain the big crack on the back on the rifle. Reference STV Death Wish as Q was in the Civil War helping out Commander Riker's ancestor (Colonel Thaddeus Riker). Bryan, Fl..

[@bradb9146]

Awesome find!!!!

[@dirceuantoniomarinho7452]

Excellent !!!! Congratulations !!!!

[@fakenews6133]

Very cool find. That'd be something cool to hang on the wall. Not sure if I'd try to fix it up, as it is probably horribly water damaged by now and will likely never fire again... without exploding I mean.

[@jzoomie]

You need to take a course inrecovering wood that has been in water for long periods of time. More than likely it started decaying when it hit air.

[@cowboy4378]

I found an old flintlock musket kind of intact. I live in ireland and it looks like it came from the same period that a battle was fought. So it seems like it has been used in a battle fought over 250 years ago but i cant say for sure.

[@Declan-LaGrandeur]

water preserves wood very well

[@Sparkfly88]

your videos always make me so green with envy. I wanna be out there as well ugh.

[@roy8460]

Nice Find Beau

[@TheGrace020]

Wow awesome finds! hope you find more so we all can enjoy! :)

[@crunchies69]

Awesome stuff Beau, must be as happy as a pig in poo!!

[@peyo31]

Awesome find!

[@jimgriffiths9071]

He certainly "licked" the problem alright. ROFL! Never seen that kind of fix before!

[@SteveAubrey1762]

It's an M1861 Springfield rifled musket

[@Ray-Smith23]

MusketeerinFlorida you mean Springfield 1863 musket

[@applesauceman3555]

its an 1861. if it were a 63 the barrel bands would be different

[@fakenews6133]

Not any more. In that condition, You'd be better off selling it to a museum or auction house and buying yourself one one of those reproductions or well kept originals floating around. It's ashame its so beat up, but still probably worth something

[@WWIIREBEL]

@canyouquack canyouquack And don't forget, the 1863 also did not have that "clean-out" screw in the cone bolster

[@chuckecheese4124]

Very nice find!

[@briand4000]

1861 Springfield by the shape of the hammer, maybe. Such an amazing find!

[@grillo7196]

That’s so freakin cool....🤗

[@sheep1ewe]

Seems like i forgot to thumb this one up when i was watching it later, so i had to come back and fixed that one too... ha ha. Nice finds however and well deserved i think seen to all work You put in there while searcing all those amazing atifacts.

[@ijeff.m8738]

Great find

[@BTeehanKnives]

Great find, great piece of history as well.