On November 6th, Coy Hamilton of Springfield, Missouri, signed a pretrial diversion agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in which he admitted to disturbing an archaeological site within Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, a violation of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act.  Hamilton agreed to pay $5,351 to reimburse the government’s costs of restoration and repair and perform 60 hours of community service. On February 27, 2011, Hamilton and a friend were canoeing Wilson Creek looking for archaeological artifacts when Hamilton saw a bone sticking out of a recently eroded embankment. He proceeded to dig into the embankment and removed additional bones. Ten days later, Hamilton, hoping to remain anonymous, used an intermediary to return the bones to the National Park Service. Hamilton was subsequently identified and located by a team of NPS special agents and a Wilson’s Creek ranger.  During the interview, Hamilton confessed to removing the human remains. NPS archeologist Dr. Caven Clark performed the archaeological damage assessment for the case.  During his excavation of the skeletal remains left behind by Hamilton, Clark discovered artifacts consistent with those used by Civil War mounted troops. Additional evidence uncovered by Clark indicated that the skeletal remains were most likely those of a Confederate soldier who was hastily and respectfully buried after dying during the August 10, 1861 battle. 

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Name: Investigative Services Branch