A small selection of the many firearms dug by Gavin over the years. At top is a CS Richmond rifled musket traded to Wendal Lang in the 1960s and returned to Bill Gavin in 2009.
Bill’s friend, Brigadier General Henry Boltz, recovered this belt plate on his only detecting trip with Gavin. This is one of the first accoutrement plates ever found with a metal detector.
published. At 773 pages, it dwarfs most contenders and than 40 years ago. When the dealer realized the connection establishes Bill Gavin as a researcher and historian seldom to Gavin, he initially decided not to sell it. After serious equaled. Bill dedicated the book to his “great granddad’s and emphatic negotiations, the dealer reversed himself and little brother,” 2nd Lt. David Gilfillan of Co. F, who was let Bert buy the gun. Bert enlisted the help of Jim Glymph, killed in action near Bethesda Church on June 1, 1864. The who mounted the gun attractively. They kept the purchase a value of an original copy of Campaigning with the Roundsecret until they could present Bill with his re-found relic. heads has appreciated faster than many Civil War relics, so Bert also told me that Gavin has not lost his touch when if you have one, hold on to it. out in the field relic hunting. During a recent outing, Gavin One of the most interesting relic hunting stories I’ve was taking a short break and, seeing that Bert was not heard recently was the story Bert Hebb shared with me about finding much, advised him to “go over by that dead tree.” a CS Richmond rifled musket. During the spring of 2009, Bert took the advice and found three bullets “right where Bill Gavin was telling Bert about Bill said to look.” this gun which he had found in the I spent a couple more hours Cold Harbor vicinity in 1954 and with Bill Gavin and his friends. I lamenting the fact that he no longer heard some more great stories and had it in his collection. It seems that examined some great finds. I saw in the 1960s, Bill had traded this humility, friendship, and a deep particular gun to Wendell Lang, appreciation for our history ― all Jr., another prominent Civil War at its very best. I left Charles Town collector. In July, 2009, Bert drove with my relic-hunting spirit renewed Bill up to the annual Civil War and thankful for the opportunity to show and sale at Gettysburg. They enjoy a hobby where I can follow went their separate ways, perusing in the footsteps of men like William tables and looking for interesting G. Gavin. His army boots may be pieces. Then Bert saw it ― a dug a size or two too large for me, but CS Richmond rifled musket from they fit the feet, and the heart, of the the Wendell Lang, Jr., collection. man who wore them. Gavin holds two “whittled Closer inspection revealed that down” US buckles used by it was the very same weapon dug Confederate soldiers. by Gavin and traded to Lang more 30 American Digger Magazine Vol. 6, IssueSampler 3 2010American American DiggerMagazine Magazine 4040 2010 Digger Sampler