Recovery 59-64

RECOVERY 059

A large concentration of rubberized material recovered in fragmentary condition. The material was located in the southwest corner of the forward cargo hold excavation, 4 ft. south and 6 ft. below the northwest corner datum. It extended along the south wall approximately 2 ft. and was 1 ft. thick.

Artifact 03038, Recovery 059

Vulcanized Rubber Cloth. Uncounted fabric fragments from an unknown object. This material is thicker than rubber blanket material found on this site. It derives from an unidentified artifact.

RECOVERY 060

A concentration of wooden rope stop beads found just underneath Recovery 59 (rubberized material). No evidence of a container was found with the material. It may have been packed in a cloth bag or wadded into a ball with tent rope when stowed in the hold. The concentration was located in the southwest corner of the forward cargo hold excavation, 4 ft. south and 7 ft. below the northwest corner datum.

Artifact 03040, Recovery 060

Rope Stops (27). The stops are cylindrical in cross section with rounded ends and have a hole through the center. All are generally the same shape, but vary in thickness and diameter. Rope is present in the center hole of several beads. Manufacturing marks, possibly from a lathe, are evident on some pieces.

RECOVERY 061

A loose artifact concentration not associated with a container. The relationship between the material is uncertain because it may come from one or more sources. A rifle (Artifact 3073) was found just below the sword (Artifact 3041) but was given a separate Recovery Number (64). See Recovery 64 for discussion. The concentration was located in the southwest quarter of the forward cargo hold excavation, 6.5 ft. below the northwest corner datum.

Artifact 03041, Recovery 061

Sword. A model 1850 foot officer's sword. The blade was broken off at the hilt and only a part of it was recovered. The guard and pommel on the handle are cast brass in a floral design. The solid rubber grip is wound with brass wire. The steel blade fragment is 17 3/4 in. long and the tip is broken off. It is still encased in the remains of a metal scabbard and both are badly corroded. One brass band and brass carrying ring are attached to the scabbard. The letters "MCL" have been scratched into the band.

Artifact 03042, Recovery 061

Claw Hammer Head. Cast iron claw hammer head, with wooden handle broken off. Claw is curved.

Artifact 03043, Recovery 061

Knife handle. The blade on the antler handled knife is broken off leaving the tang inside the handle. A decorative pewter pommel and pewter blade guard are crimped on each end of the handle. The blade guard is battered as if used for hammering after the blade was broken off.

Artifact 03044, Recovery 061

Leather Straps.

One broken strap that measures 10 ½ in. long and 5/8 in. wide. Eight buckle holes are evenly spaced along its length.

One complete strap and buckle assembly. The buckle end has a ½ in. wide leather strap doubled around an iron buckle with the ends copper riveted to a circular leather reinforcing patch 1 in. in diameter. The attached closure strap is 7 in. long, ½ in. wide, and has 4 holes evenly spaced along its length. The end is copper riveted to a second circular leather reinforcing patch 1 in. in diameter.

Artifact 03045, Recovery 061

Button (2). Two bone buttons. One button is .65 in. in diameter and .06 in. thick. The second button is .68 in. in diameter .12 in. thick. Both have four attachment holes for stitching.

Artifact 03047, Recovery 061

Candle Holder. A small pewter candle holder cast with narrow bands of decorative hatching at the rim and base. The rim has been pinched together but the inside diameter originally measured 1 1/4 in. It is 5/8 in. tall and has a 1/4 in. diameter hole in the bottom to attach a wooden stick. A small, badly eroded stick placed in the hole is 1 ½ in. long.

Artifact 03075, Recovery 061

Chain. A wrought iron chain badly corroded and broken into five pieces. The oval links are approximately 1 in. wide, 1/4 in. thick, and range in length from 1 3/4 in. to 2 in. The approximate length of the combined pieces is 45 in.

Artifact 03021, Recovery 061

Stove Top Fragment. A small fragment from a cast iron stove top. A portion of a circular burner opening is present. The opening is recessed to accept a round lid or griddle.

RECOVERY 062

A large box that may have belonged to a sutler based on the contents. Many of the artifacts would have been used by a merchant to operate a store. One end was exposed in the west wall of the forward cargo hold excavation. It measured 11 7/8 in. wide, 23 ½ in. high and extended into the wall 33 in. The location of the top corner on the north side of the box measured 1.2 ft. south and 4.2 ft. below the northwest corner datum.

Artifact 03048, Recovery 062

Wooden Box. The dimensions of the large wooden box are 33 in. long, 11 7/8 in. wide, and 23 ½ in. tall. Cut nails held the box together. It contained personal effects and commercial items that could have belonged to a sutler. No identifying marks are present on the outside.

Artifact 03049, Recovery 062

Wooden Box. An intact wooden box measuring 19 5/8 in. long, 13 in. wide and 8 1/8 in. high, fastened with cut nails. A black granular substance found in sediment filling the interior has been identified as crushed beans; possibly coffee. A black stenciled label, only partially legible, appears on one exterior side: "SUTLER QUARTERS / MERCHANT & SONS / 154 WEST P... / THE M... HOUSE".

Artifact 03050, Recovery 062

Tobacco Cutter. One of two tobacco cutters built with a cast iron frame and working parts mounted on a wooden base. It works by lever action using a long handle to move the blade through a narrow guillotine-like cutting area. The blade is returned to the up position by the action of a brass coil spring built into the framework that extends into the wooden base. This cutter is the same design and construction as Artifact 3051.

Artifact 03051, Recovery 062

Artifact 03052, Recovery 062

Riding Boot (pair). Both leather boots are left foot, the same size and style, and have a square toe. Overall length of the sole is 10 in. and width at the ball of the foot is 3 3/8 in. The outsole under the fore part of the boot is stitched to the mid sole in a spiral pattern and pegged with a single line of wooden pegs around the edge. A thick leather shank connects the outsole to the heel. Seven layers of leather compose the heel and a horseshoe-shaped iron heel plated is attached to the bottom. The insole is attached to the midsole with two rows of wooden pegs around the periphery. The uppers consist of two pieces: the vamp with the front part of the leg and the back part of the leg. They are stitched together with a vertical seam along each side. The front piece of the leg rises 20 1/4 in. above the sole, extending above the back piece, and is rounded at the top to protect the knee. The back piece is 15 1/4 in. high. Leather pull straps are attached to each side of the back piece near the top.

Artifact 03053, Recovery 062

Riding Spurs (3). Two undecorated brass spurs are a matching set. Their iron roweles are badly deteriorated. The remaining spur is much thinner brass and fashioned in an ornate design.

Artifact 03054, Recovery 062

Sardine Can. The rectangular tin can, measuring 4 3/8 in. by 3 in. and 1 in. thick, is lead soldered on the seams. There is a brass label on one side measuring 2 7/8 in. long by ½ in. wide with two embossed lines of writing: "TERTRAIS-BALLEREAU & C/SARDINES A L'HUILE/A NANTES" The can is unopened but large holes expose the remains of sardines inside. Their shape has been preserved by mineralization, revealing a layered row packing process. Vertebrae fragments are also present.

Artifact 03055, Recovery 062

Sardine Can. The tin can is badly crushed but probably closely resembled #3054 in size. It consists of several fragments and the seams have been lead soldered. The brass label measures 2 7/8 in. long by ½ in. wide and embossed with several lines of writing: "DUBOIS ALLAIN / SARDINES A L'HUILE / PORT-LOUIS PRES LORIENT / (MORBIHAN) / DUMONT A PARIS".

Artifact 03056, Recovery 062

Measuring Container. This container is probably for dry or liquid measure. The bottom is placed two thirds of the way from one end to provide quart and pint measures. Overall height is 10 in. and the croze is 6 1/4 in. below the rim of the quart end. The diameter of the bottom is 7 3/4 in. and ½ in. thick. There are 14 staves, 10 in. long and 5/8 in. thick and range in width from 1 7/8 in. to 2 9/16 in.. Each stave is tongue and grooved for a tight joint. Iron stains indicate two metal bands used to hold the container together. The top of the bands were spaced 2 in. and 5 3/8 in. below the rim of the quart end and were 5/8 in. wide. There is a slight flare on the quart end of the container.

Artifact 03057, Recovery 062

Plate (2). Two tin plates, stacked together, and approximately 10 in. in diameter. They have a rolled rim with a 1 in. wide brim and a flat base.

Artifact 03058, Recovery 062

Candle Holder. A small cast iron candle holder 1.05 in. tall, 1 in. in diameter at the top tapering slightly at the base. The top flares out to form a rim 1.45 in. in diameter. A pointed projection or "nail" extends .85 in. from the bottom.

Artifact 03059, Recovery 062

Counter Balance Scale. The scale has 4 cast iron parts: a base, a beam, and two weight pans.

Artifact 03060, Recovery 062

Counter Balance Scale. The scale has 4 cast iron parts: a base, a beam, a weight pan, and a scoop pan that utilized an associated tin scoop (#03064)

Artifact 03061, Recovery 062

Scale Weights (10). Ten cast iron telescope weights used in conjunction with the two counter balance scales found in this recovery. The weights were probably used interchangeably with both scales. A single weight, #03084, found in the general fill (Recovery 054), may have fallen from this box. The following weight descriptions include the designated weight size, weight after conservation, diameter and thickness. Discrepancies between the actual weight and weight indicated on surface markings is due to iron corrosion.

A: ½ ounce weight, 14g, .91 in. x .30 in., no markings.

B: 1 ounce weight, 26.36g, 1.15 in. x .35 in., number "1" on the top surface.

C: 2 ounce weight, 52.2g, 1.55 in. x .45 in., number "2" on top surface, calibration hole in bottom.

D: 4 ounce weight, 108g, 1.83 in. x .55 in., number "4" on top surface.

E: Conservation is incomplete, diameter is 2.23 in.

F: Conservation is incomplete, diameter is 2.20 in.

G: 1 pound weight, 427.56g, 2.85 in. x .80 in., number "1" on top surface, calibration hole in bottom.

H: 740g, 3.46 in. x 1 in. possibly a 2 pound weight. The surface marking is indistinct.

I: 2 pound weight, 667g, 3.85 in. x 1.25 in., number "2" on top surface.

J: 4 pound weight, 1619g, 4.37 in. x 1.35 in., number "4" on top surface.

Artifact 03062, Recovery 062

Coffee. Ground beans tentatively identified as coffee. Due to the fragmentary nature of the remains a positive identification has not been made. The material was found in silt filling the box marked "SUTLER QUARTERS" (#0349).

Artifact 03063, Recovery 062

Iron Frying Pan. The fragmentary and badly deteriorated pan is approximately 8 in. in diameter and 1 ½ in. deep. The iron handle is 7 ½ in. long and 5/8 in. wide with a hole at the end. It was fastened to the pan with rivets.

Artifact 03064, Recovery 062

Scoop. Oval shaped scoop used with the scoop pan on counter balance scale #03060. It measures approximately 15 ½ in. long by 10 ½ in. wide and is made of two pieces of tinned iron soldered together across the middle. The rolled edge is reinforced with an iron wire. This scoop is similar to another scoop (#03065) found in this recovery.

Artifact 03065, Recovery 062

Scoop. Oval shaped scoop used with one of the two counter balance scales (#03058 and #03059) found in this recovery. It measures approximately 18 in. by 11 ½ in. It is made of two pieces of tinned iron soldered together across the middle and has a rolled edge. A circular base, 6 in. in diameter and 1 ½ in. high, is soldered to the bottom. With this base, the scoop was placed a regular weighing pan, not a scoop pan.

Artifact 03066, Recovery 062

Fabric. The fragment is approximately 2 in. square and made of an unidentified plant fiber, possibly linen. The thread count is 19 stitches per inch for both warp and weft. The fabric has a loose weave with coarse thread. The color before conservation was dark brown. The fragment appears to be part of a larger article and there are no finished edges. This fabric is the same material as type #3 in artifact # 3103.

Artifact 03067, Recovery 062

Rope. This 1 ½ in. long rope fragment is three strand, Z-twist, made from an unidentified plant fiber. Diameter is 3/16 in. or 5mm. The fragment may be part of a tent rope.

Artifact 03119, Recovery 062

Ring. The wrought iron ring is 4 3/4 in. in diameter, 1 ½ in. wide and .16 in. thick. It has been forge welded with an overlapping seam.

Artifact 03120, Recovery 062

Utensil handle. The wooden handle has an hourglass shape and measures 6 in. long, .96 in. thick, and a maximum width of 2 in. A slit is cut half-way up the handle to attach the tang of a wrought iron tool. Two brass rivets secure the tang to the handle. The iron tool has deteriorated leaving only the tang.

RECOVERY O63

An ammunition box, found in the northwest quarter of the forward cargo hold excavation, contained bullets, percussion caps and several rope fragments. It was found resting on its backside with the long axis running northwest to southeast. The center top of the box was located 10.5 in. south and 6.8 ft. below the northwest corner datum. The lid had partially separated from the box spilling an unknown quantity of bullets in the hold. As many as possible were recovered. Due to great weight, the remaining loose ammunition inside the box was removed before the box was recovered

Artifact 03068, Recovery 063

Ammunition Box. The wooden ammunition box contained the bullets, percussion caps, and rope fragments that comprise Recovery 063. The box measures 16 3/4 in. long, 12 in. wide and 8 ½ in. high overall, exclusive of handles. The boards used to build the box are 29/32 in. thick. All four corners are fastened with dove tail joints and cut nails. The top and bottom were attached with screws. A handle nailed to each end measures 11 1/4 in. long, 1 3/8 in. wide and 7/8 in. thick. The bottom edge is beveled on the inside to provide a hand hold. The interior side of the lid and both ends of the box have stenciled labels. The lid stenciling is black and reads "FRANKFORD ARSENAL/1863". Stenciling on the exterior of each end is white. "1000 CARTRIDGES" appears above the handle and "FOR RIFLE MUSKET/.574 IN:DIAM." below.

Artifact 03069, Recovery 063

Bullets (743). These bullets, Minie´ balls, are .58 caliber (labeled .574 in. diameter on the ammunition box) and made for the rifled musket. The shape is cylindro-conical with three expansion grooves or cannelures. Inside the hollow conical base are five radiating lines that are characteristic of the manufacturing technique called "pressed and turned" used at the Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia starting in 1862. All were manufactured using the same technique. There is a small percentage of deformed bullets and diameters vary slightly. Each bullet would have been packed with powder in a paper cartridge and tied with a string. Although no evidence of paper or string was found, a black residue in the box may be gunpowder. The box contained 1000 cartridges and 743 bullets were recovered.

Artifact 03070, Recovery 063

Percussion Caps. A large number of brass percussion caps were found among the bullets in box #03068. They are "top hat" musket caps (a truncated cone that flares out on the bottom to form a base). Many caps are concreted together in a linear arrangement in groups of 10 . This suggests they were wrapped in paper as a group, similar to cartridges. A standard pack consisted of 10 bullet cartridges and 1 pack of 12 percussion caps.

Artifact 03071, Recovery 063

Rope. Two small fragments of three strand, Z-twisted rope made from an unidentified plant fiber. Each segment is 1 ½ in. long and 3/16 in. (5mm) diameter. These fragments are probably tent rope that got mixed with bullets that fell out of the ammunition box (#03068).

Artifact 03072, Recovery 063

Concretion. A hard, black concretion. The composition has not been analyzed. It may consist of paper wrapping and powder that has been affected by close association with lead bullets or brass percussion caps in the ammunition box (#03068).

RECOVERY 064

A rifled musket was found in the forward cargo hold excavation. The muzzle rested under the ammunition box (Recovery 063), pointing to the northwest. The midsection of the barrel was located 2.2 ft. south and 7.4 ft. below the northwest corner datum. Fabric impressions on the concretions attached to the musket indicate the piece was wrapped in cloth.

Artifact 03073, Recovery 064

Rifled Musket. A Springfield U.S. Model 1861 Rifled Musket. It measures 56 in. long, has a wooden stock, and all metal parts are steel or iron. Three bands secure the barrel to the stock and the ram rod is still in place. The front sling swivel is attached to the center band. The rear sling swivel, trigger and trigger guard are broken off. The lock plate and hammer are badly corroded. "US" is engraved in the top of the iron butt plate.