Metal detector in hand, Andy Thaxton marches the ... Thaxton detected his most satisfying find in 2023, a Civil War belt plate inscribed by the soldier-owner: Private Michael Hofer, 16th Ohio ...

I realized that it was a belt plate, and I was like, holy smokes,” Papallo said. “It was post-Civil War because of the way it was made.” Greenway, who has only been metal detecting for a ...