As many of you certainly remember Arcanum Research was recently contracted to accompany F. Scott Hess to the legendary Iverson’s Pits area of the Gettysburg Battlefield. (For the details surrounding the purpose of this trip please see the discussion thread at the Friends of Arcanum Research group on Facebook.) This trip occurred a few weeks ago and to our utter dismay an event transpired which was so unexpected and inexplicable that our observations were forced to be aborted. What follows is an account of those events.
Scott and the Arcanum team arrived at the location at 6:32 EST on the evening of September 18, 2009. We quickly initiated the process of setting up the various devices used to detect any unusual activity. While still in the early stages of these procedures, as Scott was about to pose for a photograph, he was hit in the back of his right leg by a sharp object. The inexplicable projectile immediately drew blood. Within a matter of moments several projectiles, apparently emerging from the thick grass or from the soil, began flying at Scott’s legs from several directions. Despite the panic that ensued, the Arcanum team immediately attempted to protect Scott from further lacerations and then began to collect the objects to prevent any more attacks. After careful inspection, the objects appeared to be Civil War era metal uniform buttons. We collected 10 such buttons of various sizes. Once the buttons were picked up by the Arcanum team members they no longer exhibited any of their previous locomotive capabilities. The Arcanum team was ready to precede as planned, but the event had so rattled Scott that he refused to continue and the plan was called off.
