Fort Hays Custer Camps Archeological Survey
Oct 10, 2017 14:46:15 GMT -6
fred, tubman13, and 1 more like this
Post by bc on Oct 10, 2017 14:46:15 GMT -6
Hello everyone. I just wanted to update everyone on my latest project. Since the LBHA conference in Kansas, I began organizing a metal detector survey of the the 1868, 1869, and 1870 Custer/7th Cav camps just outside Fort Hays, Kansas. I got a fellow Kansas Anthropological Association member who has done a number of metal detector surveys of the various stage stage stations on the Smoky Hill Trail to work up the survey. The Custer camp area is on Kansas State property utilized by the Fort Hays Agriculture Experiment Station, Kansas State University. We approached one of the State Archeologists with the Kansas State Historical Society who agreed to be the principal investigator and sponsor the survey. We are in the approval process with the Kansas Antiquities Commission.
We are planning to start the metal detector survey on the first two weekends of November depending upon weather, etc. We expect it to be all done by next summer. I am recruiting any metal detector operators who are interested to message me so I can get you on the list. We could also use other volunteers to measure, record, take photos, and gps measurements. Since the State is basically broke, this is an all volunteer operation with the volunteers covering all their expenses. Everything found is State property and will be kept by the State. Since it is a matter of personal pride in finding artifacts, once we detect a certain area we will then divide up into teams and each detector operator will get to dig his own finds/flags. We will record and photograph each item at that time. Originally I wanted to keep everything for preservation purposes but it was decided to just keep anything that might be diagnostic such as bullets, buttons, etc. and replace in the ground things like nails for future surveys.
There has been a difference of opinion as to which of the loops on Big Creek contain the camps. We know where the 1868 camp was that Major Elliott and 5 companies, including Barnitz, who was there for 4 weeks in Apr/May 68. We also know the 69 camp is further away than the 70 camp and there are a lot of pictures and descriptions of the 69 camp. Libbie and Sgt. Ryan have written about both camps. However the physical aspects of the camp are about the same I believe so we are looking for anything that might differentiate the tow. Key to that will be to find the guardhouse pit that was dug in 1869 about 20' deep and 20' across. This is where everyone can help.
I'm also trying to figure out if there were any equipment, uniform, and weapons differences between 68,69, 70. I believe they were using spencers and colt pistols in 1869 but I need more research on the various uniforms, guns, bullets, etc. used over the years. I'm not sure when they switched from cap & ball pistols during that time.
I appreciate any help here and will keep you updated. Thanks.
Britt
We are planning to start the metal detector survey on the first two weekends of November depending upon weather, etc. We expect it to be all done by next summer. I am recruiting any metal detector operators who are interested to message me so I can get you on the list. We could also use other volunteers to measure, record, take photos, and gps measurements. Since the State is basically broke, this is an all volunteer operation with the volunteers covering all their expenses. Everything found is State property and will be kept by the State. Since it is a matter of personal pride in finding artifacts, once we detect a certain area we will then divide up into teams and each detector operator will get to dig his own finds/flags. We will record and photograph each item at that time. Originally I wanted to keep everything for preservation purposes but it was decided to just keep anything that might be diagnostic such as bullets, buttons, etc. and replace in the ground things like nails for future surveys.
There has been a difference of opinion as to which of the loops on Big Creek contain the camps. We know where the 1868 camp was that Major Elliott and 5 companies, including Barnitz, who was there for 4 weeks in Apr/May 68. We also know the 69 camp is further away than the 70 camp and there are a lot of pictures and descriptions of the 69 camp. Libbie and Sgt. Ryan have written about both camps. However the physical aspects of the camp are about the same I believe so we are looking for anything that might differentiate the tow. Key to that will be to find the guardhouse pit that was dug in 1869 about 20' deep and 20' across. This is where everyone can help.
I'm also trying to figure out if there were any equipment, uniform, and weapons differences between 68,69, 70. I believe they were using spencers and colt pistols in 1869 but I need more research on the various uniforms, guns, bullets, etc. used over the years. I'm not sure when they switched from cap & ball pistols during that time.
I appreciate any help here and will keep you updated. Thanks.
Britt
