Landscapers were shocked to discover a possible Civil War artillery shell while working in the yard of a Virginia home.
Real estate agent Jasin Singh was awed when one of her employees picked up the object, which she initially thought was a stone, and cleaned it.
“[It felt] too heavy to be a rock [the landscapers] We eventually washed it down and discovered it was a metal ball,” Singh said. he told WHSV.
“And as soon as I saw it, I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is a cannonball.'”
This is not the first time Singh has come face to face with historical artifacts.
“A similar thing happened at Front Royal, so I knew exactly what to do. I’m grateful to have it. [had] That experience,” Singh added.
Perry Weller, assistant chief of community risk reduction for the Staunton Fire and Rescue Department, told the station they were called to dispose of the object on April 8 when it was discovered.
“We thought it was a Civil War-era cannonball. [those] “We treated it as if it were an actual ritual because it can be very volatile,” Weller said.
He warned others to leave them alone if such unusual objects appear in their backyards.
“Don’t pick it up, don’t throw it, call us and we’ll make sure the appropriate authorities dispose of it,” Weller added.
Staunton, Virginia was a major target of two major campaigns during the Civil War and remained of strategic importance throughout the war.
With a population of approximately 4,000 in 1860, it was an important transportation hub in the Shenandoah Valley.
The township was typically used by Confederate troops to protect infrastructure and wealth from Union troops.
Confederate generals Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson and Richard S. Ewell used the town as their headquarters during the Civil War.
The area was used as an Army depot, quartermaster, commissary, and training camp from 1861 to 1865.
Union forces targeted Staunton for nearly two years before breaking through the Confederate stronghold and destroying miles of the town and nearby railroad tracks.
So it’s not surprising that the historically significant area could house even more Civil War paraphernalia, Weller said.
“This is the second time this has happened in recent years.” [cannonball] I remember it being discovered and having to call the Virginia State Police for help,” Weller added.
