New Member with Some Questions

[Larry Myers]

I am a new member and I am not sure where to start. About three years ago I purchased an old farm sitting on the remaining 5 acre wooded lot in Middleway (Smithfield) WV. The farm house burned down about 20 years ago so I built a new home about 100 yards from the old house.

The farm house dates to the early 1700's. I guess the first month or so in the new houses I notice all these trenches around the old house in the woods. I also found part of an old boot and some mimi balls laying around on top of the ground near one trench. Someone told me a civil war battle was fought around here so I got out an old map. Sure enough, under Battle of Smithfield Crossing map I found in the Military Atlas of the Civil War, Confederate troops look they were camped in the front yard.

In a stright line, I am exactly 1/2 way from Winchester to Charlestown. I am also just east of the Opequon Creek. A professor from Shepherdstown came down and looked at the site and agrees with me the house was most likely used as a headquarters of some sort. He disagrees with me about the trenches. He thinks they are more modern.

I would like to know if anyone who has a good metal detector would want to help me look for artifacts. The site looks untouched since the civil war.

[hollowpointred]

good lord i wish i lived closer to you! im sure you will have no problems finding some willing participants! sounds like a great place to hunt.

[PAPPY]

LORD BLESS YOU LARRY !!!! SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE SITTING ON A GOLD MINE. I WOULD SEARCH EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THE PROPERTY...LOL...I'D LIKE TO COME UP AND HUNT WITH YOU SOMETIME...PAPPY

[ROOT66]

I'll come help you It sure sounds like fun

[Larry Myers]

I will be out of town this weekend but if anyone is really serious about helping me out, please contace me next week.

There seems to be some politics with this site. It was called a DRAW and everyone went home after 5 full days of fighting. Twenty days later another battle 5 miles south of here called the Battle of the Opequon took place. Politics towards the end of the war ment a must for all positive news on the Union side. Since the Union won that battle, I think all the pictures done by Edwin Forbes at the battle of the Smithfield Crossing for Associated Press were used for the Battle of the Opequon. These pictures were published in the New York Times with the headlines WE WON. Smithfield more or less falls by the wayside. So I have three drawings showing the Battle in progress at Opequon the look EXACTLY like this site. One shows the fence lines and the old house. The fence lines are still here. I think we can match the drawings with the site and tell exactly where everyone was located.

[Hippie]

Man I would love to help if I lived closer. That sounds amazing.

[thecassidyfam]

I'm new, but would love the experience!

Rob

[creekrat]

i would be interrested in giving that place a hunt let me know when would be the best time for you,i live about 4 hrs drive from you .....creekrat

[RingDancer]

Lord bless ya! That is awesome!!! Wish I was that close to help ya out there!!! Keep us posted on finds!!!

HH
Pat

[deeperdiggin]

jadablue4@comcast.net Just bought a Fisher for Relic huntin and would love to hit a virgin spot. I live in PA and would be glad to assist you in a hunt for history.