Mississippi Property Owner Finds Over 200 Civil War Cannonballs in His Backyard

Harold Knight was just trying to get his property ready for commercial development. What he ended up with was a discovery straight out of a history book.

Knight owns land along Highway 45 in Booneville, Mississippi, and while prepping the site for development, he stumbled across a single cannonball buried in the ground.

That one find was enough to make him curious about what else might be hiding beneath the surface — so he did something most property owners wouldn't think to do: he invited members of the public onto his land with metal detectors to see what else was there.

What They Found Blew Past Anyone's Expectations

The searches turned up far more than a stray artifact or two. In total, more than 200 Civil War-era cannonballs surfaced from Knight's property, along with several other types of period-accurate ammunition, all dating back more than 160 years.

Jim Lamb, who works with Booneville's Rails and Trails Museum, told local reporters the haul included grapeshot, canister shot, and case shot — different types of Civil War artillery ammunition, each designed for slightly different battlefield purposes. Grapeshot and canister shot, in particular, were typically used against approaching infantry, since they scattered smaller projectiles across a wide area on impact rather than functioning as a single solid round.

A Likely Tie To Two Nearby Civil War Battles

Researchers are still working to piece together exactly how so much ammunition ended up concentrated on one property, but the location itself offers a strong clue. Lamb pointed out that Knight's land sits almost precisely between two historic Civil War battle sites — the Battle of Blackland and the Battle of Booneville, the latter located roughly a mile and a half to the east.

Both battles took place during the summer of 1862. According to Lamb, the Battle of Blackland specifically involved artillery exchanges between Union and Confederate forces, which makes it a plausible source for at least some of the ammunition recovered from Knight's land. Given the property's position squarely between both engagement sites, it's entirely possible the cache reflects activity from one battle, the other, or some combination of both.

Lamb also noted that this discovery likely isn't the end of the story — he believes additional Civil War artifacts may still be buried throughout the surrounding area, meaning Knight's property could continue yielding historical finds well beyond this initial search.

Where The Cannonballs Are Headed Next

The recovered artifacts won't stay in storage for long. Museum officials say the cannonballs from Knight's property are expected to go on public display at the Rails and Trails Museum in Booneville within the coming weeks, giving the local community and visitors a chance to see a genuine, tangible piece of Civil War history unearthed right in their own backyard.

Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.