Great background story, fascinating information.

Sharps carbine catridge find is pretty good, those were exclusively carried by some cavalry units. I have several Irish Brigade camp relics from sites near Antietam (not on the battlefield or NPS property). When I was in the Army my buddy had railroad spike that was pulled out bent and sharpened into a knife. The story goes that the spike belonged to a Commanche warrior that used it during conflicts with the cavalry.

I have a whites I bought sometime in the 90's and it has a readout for the numbers and also showing the depth. I found it to be very accurate depth reading. Sure saved a lot of digging.

I still use my whites 6000D that I got in 1980, it seems to work good in parks as I can eliminate the junk better than with my new digital machine which just works different than the analog machine. The garrett is much lighter and easier to use and goes deeper but the Whites just seems to be set up for coins.

Love it! I have my dad's old White metal detector. Any idea where I can get new batteries?