This is an excavated Enfield rifle tompion. These were employed to keep dirt and moisture out of the gun barrel. Occasionally a soldier would forget to remove this “plug” before firing.  Here is an example of a “fired” tompion. Nice green patina to the brass.

This was recovered from Oak Ridge on the First Days field of Gettysburg by local resident John Cullison, who excavated relics on the field from 1935-1959. Cullison sold his collection to the famed Gettysburg Rosensteel family, who held the primary collection of Gettysburg artifacts.  [jet]

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