Some of the artifacts I recovered during the summer of 2008. Pictured here are solid shot artillery pieces and fragments. Also note the bayonet and bullets of different calibers and varieties used by both sides

A friend of mine and I found these Hotchkiss artillery projectiles in a dried up stream bed.  With a little research, some common sense and an adventurous mind, my friend and I discovered two fords along this stream last year.  While walking along the stream laying on top of the dry ground were multiple artillery pieces like the ones shown here. Other finds included a couple of cannon balls, three belt buckles, a spur, a Yankee Cavalry uniform coat button, numerous gun barrels, some pieces to a sword and pocket loads of lead bullets.  It isn’t often that such places can be found in plain site.  We are currently trying to piece together the history behind this discovery.  More details about the history of these fords to follow and perhaps more artifacts to recover as the water level continues to drop!!

Receding water levels in nearby creeks caused by the lack of rain provide interesting clues into Clifton’s history. Revealed for the first time in a 145 years lay a single, fired, Civil War bullet. How did it get there? Was it delibertly fired into the creek by a bored soldier serving picket duty? Or, maybe it missed its intended target as Union troops and Rebel marauders skirmished along the rail road.