Civil War Era Brass Stirrup Unearthed S of Blooming Grove
by Tim Campbell · first published 11 November 2019 · his original post
This old brass stirrup was found by your author a number of years ago with a metal detector on one of the old schoolhouse lots in the ghost town of Gradyville, a mile or so south of present day Blooming Grove, Texas. If you drive along Ramsey street which is located on the west side of the high school, going south, and take the first right, you will be on NWCR 4040, which at one time was "2nd Street" in old Gradyville. After about 100 yards the road begins to have a "sunken" appearance as it starts down the hill to the Carroll Creek bridge. This stirrup was unearthed beneath a large old pecan tree that grows on the high embankment on the right side of the road, just as the road begins its descent down the hill.
Based on similar examples this solid brass stirrup dates circa 1860s / Civil War Era. Cast iron varieties which have this same shape / appearance are more common. This one, being made of brass, may indicate a higher quality saddle, perhaps even belonging to an officer of the Confederate cavalry. In 1880 Confederate veterans living in and around Blooming Grove outnumbered Union veterans more than 10 to 1, so if in fact it was used militarily it is almost certainly a Confederate stirrup.
Suffice it to say, if it could talk it could probably tell some colorful stories.