Civil War-era UXO Unearthed in South Carolina River

Columbia, South Carolina Hundreds of Civil War relics were discovered during the cleanup of the Congaree River in South Carolina. The artifacts, dating back more than a century and a half, were discovered while crews removed toxic tar-like material from the river.

The finds, believed to be evidence of Union Gen. William T. Sherman's Southern campaign near the end of the war, included bullets, cannonballs, and swords.

Reportedly, cannonballs recovered have been sent to Shaw Air Force Base to be demilitarized according to Sean Norris, an archaeological program manager. "It's an interesting story to tell," said Norris, "It's a good one, that we were able to take a real piece of it rather than just the written record showing this is what happened."

The munitions and other relics are slated to be turned over to the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum in Columbia once rendered safe.