Looking for Civil War Relics
January 8, 2009I tried to find evidence of the battle at Canton, Kentucky. I described the area in a previous thread. I hunted the top of the bluffs south of the modern-day bridge.
But I couldn’t really find anything. It turns out that some genius bull-dozed the entire place in the 1970’s. I’m told that there were several Indian mounds on that side that were simply pushed over the bluff into the lake. Unbelievable.
But I did find this awesome chain at about 5 inches in depth. It is 56 inches in total length, and the links are pretty large (see the penny and dime I found as a reference). Here’s a picture:
One link in the chain is different. It has a pivot point. Here’s a close-up:
I don’t know if it is Civil War era, or what it was used for. I tend to think it has something to do with a wagon and a team. If anyone knows, please let me know.
**Update – I posted this on the Friendly Metal Detecting Forum and someone identified it as a “Chase Chain.” It is, in fact, a rear chase chain. I believe that it was an artillery chase chain … most likely used to pull a Confederate cannon to the skirmish/battle at Canton. 
I live in Canton and 3-4 years ago my husband and i found a cannon ball on the beach facing the bridge. It was almost to the tip. In the early spring the water is down and you can walk that area between what was once Boyd’s Landing and the old steps past the rocks