pig sticker tie down?

[PogueMahone]

Re: pig sticker tie down?

There may be something to that. I have dug 10 bayonets, none with any signs of a scabbard. One was found on the CS picket line at Five Forks pushed down in the ground until the socket was level with the ground. One was pushed in the face of the earthworks at the present day site of Pamplin Park. I think it was used to aid in climbing over the works. It used to be on display in the battle museum and I believe it is still there. Most of the rest have been dug from inside or behind works.

In his book "Yankee Tigers", Ralsa Rice describes entering Franklin, TN, in 1862, on the skirmish line. He waded the Harpeth River and found the opposite bank too steep to climb. He stuck his NCO sword into the river bank and used it as a step and left it there. He later reported it "lost on the field of battle".

I often wonder where Rice crossed the Harpeth. I bet that sword is still there.