2020's top 10 Picket posts: A treasure of artifacts hauled to surface; arson fire at museum, USS Monitor and innovative Colt revolving rifle

Recovered round from Colt revolving rifle (Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park)

Articles on arson at the National Civil War Naval Museum, an amazing trove of artifacts from a scuttled Confederate ironclad, historian Ed Bearss and battlefields in Arkansas were among the top 10 Picket posts -- by page views -- in 2020.

We’ve got a few items in the works, so we look forward to rolling those and others out in 2021. Thanks so much for your interest – and Happy New Year!

10. MYSTERY TIMBER:  Forty years ago, someone walking North Carolina’s Kure Beach found a curved piece of timber pocked with holes and containing a piece of iron. Its donation to the state earlier this year raised questions over whether it belonged to a blockade runner.  -- Read more

One of the two Dahlgrens that were cleaned (The Mariners' Museum and Park)

9. USS MONITOR’S BIG GUNS:  This February post previewed the cleaning of the famed Union ironclad’s two Dahlgren artillery pieces. “By boring the guns, we will finally have the ability to remove trapped ocean salts from the interiors of these massive artifacts; which sets the stage for us to dry and put the guns on display,” said Will Hoffman of The Mariners' Museum and Park. -- Read more

8. BELOVED ED BEARSS: By the beginning of 2020, it was clear that the legendary Civil War historian, author and mesmerizing guide was no longer able to lead tours. One of his publishers encouraged fans to send Bears letters of appreciation. Bearss (left) died in September at age 97. -- Read more

7. SAVING THE STRAIN: A tabby structure that survived the federal burning of Darien, Ga., seemed destined for the wrecking ball just a year and a half ago. But an Atlanta-area couple came through, and they are restoring the Adam Strain building in the coastal town. -- Read more

6. PRAIRIE GROVE FIREPOWER: Removal of underbrush at the epicenter of a ferocious battle in northwest Arkansas has allowed archaeologists to recover about 400 Civil War artifacts, including spent bullets fired from innovative Colt revolving rifles. -- Read more

5. USS MONITOR REDUX: Earlier this year, conservators at The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, Va., removed the last concretion from inside the barrels of the two large turret guns. They used a special drill to remove the hardened mix of sediment and sea life.  --  Read more

4. PUZZLE PIECE AT PEA RIDGE: A 140-acre parcel that was the scene of Confederate troop movements and a hospital during the March 1862 battle was bought by a coalition of conservation and historical groups, with plans to donate it to the National Park Service. -- Read more

Inverted fantail of the CSS Jackson (Picket photo)

3. RARE IRONCLAD FANTAIL BURNED: A suspected arson fire roared through a boat shed where rare components of two Confederate vessels are stored at the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, Ga. Among the items heavily damaged was the ironclad CSS Jackson’s fantail, which the museum has described as “a very unique piece of naval architecture." -- Read more

2. STAGGERING HAUL OF ARTIFACTS: An estimated 13,601 artifacts brought ashore from the Confederate ironclad CSS Georgia wreck site in Savannah were trucked to Texas for conservation. What’s known about the ship’s design, construction, propulsion, armament and life aboard the "Mud Tub" are detailed in a massive report about the CSS Georgia's recovery. -- Read more 

CSS Georgia Dahlgren cannon, bayonet hilt, breast plate (USACE-Savannah)

1. ARSON INVESTIGATION CONTINUES: Investigators have been pursuing leads in a suspected arson fire that damaged rare artifacts and destroyed modern vessels in a storage area at the National Civil War Naval Museum. -- Read more