Local News
Related Photos
Civil War relic found
It’s not everyday when a person discovers a Civil War cannonball in amongst the garden greens and veggies, but that’s exactly what Robert Buckler of Olive Hill found during a day of tilling up his soil.
And after 40 years of plowing the same piece of property, up out of the ground it came July 2, when Buckler was working his ground in hopes of simply harvesting a good crop of vegetables.
It seemed peculiar, but the busy Buckler tossed it to the side until after finishing his work.
Buckler’s wife Shirley, who has worked in genealogy for some time, told her husband it could be a cannonball and possibly dangerous. “It was about the size of a softball,” he said. “I washed it off and even tapped it on the concrete. Shirley said it could be a cannonball and possibly dangerous if it contained black powder.”
Bomb technician Hilton Hastings was called to examine the relic and after taking the cannonball to check it for black powder, the Bucklers were notified that their finding was solid and of no danger to anyone.
But then mystery began to evolve around the Civil War piece. Where did it come from and who fired the shot? Mrs. Buckler began emailing some people she knew who might be able to answer some of her questions.
After sending a photo of the cannonball to Maj. Vincent Barker, a historian and Civil War reenactor from Appleton, Wis., Mrs. Buckler was told some interesting information about the piece.
“He said it appeared to be from a M1841 smoothbore, and was a workhorse in the Mexican War and used heavily by the Confederates during the Civil War,” Buckler said.
Given the constant movement of the Union and Confederate forces in the Olive Hill area during the late 1800s, Barker also said the cannonball could have been fired from any number of units – but most likely from a rebel cannon.
Marlitta Perkins, Civil War historian and reenactor who is certified as an artillerist with the national Civil War Artillery Association, also sent information to the Bucklers concerning the cannonball.
Perkins also agreed it may have been shot from a Confederate gun rather than a Federal one. Although she did say it might have been shot by home guards from a six-pound smoothbore left over from the Mexican War.
When asked what they might do with their Civil War relic, the Bucklers said they are undecided at this time. “We all own it in this community, but the Lord has made Bob the keeper of it,” Mrs. Buckler commented. “We are not sure what we will do right now, but it’s certainly interesting.”
- Local News
-
-
Hero comes home
A U.S. Navy honor guard carried the remains of SOC Collin T. Thomas from a chartered aircraft that landed Friday at the Clyde A. Thomas Regional Airport.
-
CHER dedication attracts overflow crowd
The new $30 million Center for Health, Education and Research at St. Claire Regional Medical Center was dedicated Friday in a joyful celebration that attracted more than 400 persons, including two governors.
-
Nineteen indicted by grand jury
A Morehead man was indicted by a Rowan County grand jury Aug. 20 for the alleged sodomy of a juvenile under age 12 more than two decades ago.
-
Pharmacy burglar pleads guilty
A Clearfield man pled guilty last month in Rowan Circuit Court to the 2007 break-in of Holbrook Drug store. Kenneth Eldridge, 20, of Clearfield was sentenced to six years in prison probated for five years.
-
Sex offender gets two years behind bars
A former Morehead Inspiration Center Program Director and Pathways employee was sentenced Friday to two years in prison for child pornography.
-
Fallen officer remembered by daughter
The daughter of one of Morehead’s law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty has fond memories of her father.
-
MSU basketball program on probation
Morehead State University’s men’s basketball program has been placed on probation for two years after the NCAA determined the program had committed violations in its recruiting related to a booster activity.
-
Motorist charged with murder
A Lewis County man was indicted by a Rowan County grand jury Friday on two counts of murder, accused of killing a Clearfield couple in a car accident.
-
'Bigger and better': Poppy Mountain back to tradition
The legend of the third weekend in September continues this year as, after a short time away, Marty Stevens returns as the owner and promoter of Poppy Mountain.
-
Former jailer pleads guilty to DUI
Former jailer Tim Bryant has pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence and possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a vehicle.
- More Local News Headlines
-
