Greetings .. and welcome to the forum. .. I'm back from a two-year hiatus myself. It's been too hot and humid for this old man to do much detecting, but it gives me ample time for research and getting my equipment back in order. There should be some good spots there in NC! Good luck!
Was that Lawrence Christopher, aka Lawrence of Dalton, who disarmed your shell? If so, he was a good man. Anyhow, your Hotchkiss looks amazing, and having one that is still intact is over-the-top awesome. 🤩
I just learned this morning that Governor Samuel Huntington I, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, is my second cousin with seven steps removed.
Those are always neat finds! However, the heart design is not typical of issued military gear, which makes it less likely to be official Civil War equipment and more likely of civilian origin. There has also been some speculation that these harness buckle covers date to the 1870–1900 period.