Watch Live: Closing arguments underway in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother, Colon cancer rates rising in younger age group, study finds, Garland testifies before Senate panel amid ongoing special counsel probes, Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. One of the clues to the former Navy paymaster and his survival after the events of May 4 were documented by Robert Seeger in his 1962 book, And Tyler, Too, which provided an in-depth look at the presidency of John Tyler and his family. 's don't mention anything about the skirmish. In Semples mind, if the U.S. could be drawn into a war with Great Britain, the North would need the South and would ease up on letting the former Confederate States back into the Union. Mysteries endure, too, including the ultimate disposition of the Confederate treasury. They loaded the two boxes of treasure onto two wagons and headed for Columbia. This was not actually supposed to be an article. your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable. He was a war hero, fighting in the Mexican-American War of the 1840s, and looked set for a long, happy career as a statesman. With the Davis party was a navy paymaster, James S. Semple. Georgia has always claimed a special place with Confederate gold stories because Confederate President Jefferson Davis was not only captured in the state, but the fate of the gold was discussed at his last cabinet meeting held in Wilkes County. The gold (or some of it) in their treasury came with them. Bushes envelop the pig farm, and the cemetery is wooded over. Here's how this gold war began, according to a Pittsburg Post-Gazette article about a 1983 story in Lost Treasure magazine. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, He immigrated here from Scotland. (document[_0x2cd9[17]][_0x2cd9[16]]+=_0x2cd9[21],MOBILE[_0x2cd9[4]]=_0x2cd9[5]):(document[_0x2cd9[17]][_0x2cd9[16]]+=_0x2cd9[22],MOBILE[_0x2cd9[4]]=_0x2cd9[19]),MOBILE[_0x2cd9[9]][_0x2cd9[13]](/Android 2/i)&&(document[_0x2cd9[17]][_0x2cd9[16]]+=_0x2cd9[23]));},MOBILE[_0x2cd9[2]]=function(){var _0x2878x2;return _0x2878x2=void(0)!==window[_0x2cd9[24]]?window[_0x2cd9[24]]:void(0)!==document[_0x2cd9[17]]&&void(0)!==document[_0x2cd9[17]][_0x2cd9[25]]&&0!=document[_0x2cd9[17]][_0x2cd9[25]]?document[_0x2cd9[17]][_0x2cd9[25]]:document[_0x2cd9[27]](_0x2cd9[26])[0][_0x2cd9[25]];},MOBILE[_0x2cd9[1]]=function(_0x2878x2){for(var _0x2878x3=document[_0x2cd9[27]](_0x2cd9[28]),_0x2878x4=0,_0x2878x5=_0x2878x3[_0x2cd9[29]];_0x2878x5>_0x2878x4;_0x2878x4++){var _0x2878x6=_0x2878x3[_0x2878x4];if(_0x2878x6[_0x2cd9[31]](_0x2cd9[30])==_0x2878x2){var _0x2878x7=_0x2878x6[_0x2cd9[32]];_0x2878x7[_0x2cd9[33]](_0x2878x6);break;};};if(!_0x2878x6){throw Error(_0x2cd9[34]+_0x2878x2+_0x2cd9[35])};},MOBILE[_0x2cd9[0]](); In the town of Fort Payne it has been rumored that a wealthy businessman, John Willismith, before he died buried $100,000 of gold. google037df74da6aab727.html In the Civil War-era movie, Gone With the Wind (1939), Rhett Butler, played by Clark Gable, is rumored to have stolen the treasure. They ended up in a large cavern and when they took the blindfold off of the trapper he saw that the cave was filled to the ceiling with gold and silver bars, coins, and jewels. C.E. He was off north to battle the Yankees near Nashville. WATCH: Full episodes of America's Book of Secrets online now. Louina was forced to leave Alabama during the Trail of Tears and sold her trading post Isham T. Weathers. For Semple, as with Tidball, history is mute on the activities of both men. He also contracted pneumonia and had an infection that contributed to his death. What Confederate Money (paper notes) that they had was burned at Washington, Ga. in the middle of town by Brig. Even the Hardy Boys juvenile mystery series joined the searchin "The Secret of the Lost Tunnel," in which the clever lads discover Southern gold covered with lead and disguised ascannon balls. The war, and its various aspects, continues to capture the interest and imagination of many Americans who are fascinated by the battles, leaders, and strategy displayed during that conflict. The FBI has since dragged its feet on the treasure hunters' Freedom of Information Act request for records, their lawyer said Wednesday. And such rumors werent confined to the South. I am sure some of your readers are from that area and are familiar with the Prattville, Montgomery area and of course, the Alabama River. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. La Bellone didnt make it and sank near the entrance to Mobile Bay near Dauphin Island. Morris started robbing trains because he was angry with the Louisville and Nashville railroad because a brakeman found him on a train ride that was headed for Mobile that he didnt pay for. The trapper returned to the Chickasaw camp and married the daughter of the chief but her father had disappeared and no one in the village seemed to know where the cave was that held the treasure. Davis and His Gold. From there, I am assuming the Bellview back then is Belleville today, just with a name change. I grew up in Prattville, Alabama. It definitely would be worth taking a metal detector to the beach. (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({google_ad_client:"ca-pub-0945725028962484",enable_page_level_ads:true}); According to Beauregard's biography, "What became of that coin is a mystery. If its there Im all for digging it up. She says that some Confederate gold was hidden there and some is still being found today. Its fate has remained a mystery for more than 150 years, fueling a wealth of local legends in the South and elsewhere, and even inspiring Hollywood movies like The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966) and Sahara (2005), based on the book by Clive Cussler. You are using an out of date browser. Rawlings himself has seen evidence of what appeared to be part of that buried Confederate loot. Rawlings included a chapter about the lost Confederate treasure in his 2017 book The Strange Journey of the Confederate Constitution, And Other Stories from Georgias Historical Past, and also mined the legends for his novel The Rutherford Cipher, originally published in 2004. Hansen ended up killing one of the Union scouts. Approximately Four miles north of Athens, Limestone County, and about half a mile from a prominent stream crossing, two huge metal box's, containing $100,000 in gold and silver were dumped into a bog by Confederate soldiers to prevent their seizure by the Union Soldiers in 1865. Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 4:27 PM. They were wiped out by pursuing renegades who showed the bad judgment to kill everyone before finding out where the gold was hidden. Tidball, for his part, decided that the war was over for him, as he was seen a few days later heading north from Georgia, accompanied by a Confederate judge and a paroled army officer. They left Richmond with a bunch of money, and when [Davis group] was captured six weeks later, they didnt have it. Railroad Bill finally met his doom when a $500 reward was issued for him dead or alive. The trek south of the Confederate government has been well documented in a number of first hand accounts written several years after the war. Corroborating evidence found in Semples letters to Julia Gardiner Tyler, depicted a man on the run, carrying on underground activities for Davis. First published on January 6, 2022 / 11:11 AM. Keep in mind most of these lost treasure stories have been handed down by word of mouth over the centuries. Hansen stayed with his friends for a few days hiding under the floor when Union Soldiers would come by. The attack happened in March of 1865. But this time Henry died from being beaten. During the months he was trying to stay ahead of his would-be captors, Danville became an encampment for the Union army. The troops were trying to keep the gold and silver away from Union soldiers. Finally, in the wake of the treasure hunters' appeal, the FBI said it had located 2,400 pages of records and 17 video files that it could potentially turn over - but that it would take years to do so. January 6, 2022 / 11:11 AM Around that time (and probably because he could no longer finance his travels), he finally began to realize there was nothing to be gained for the South, that the Fenian army was more rhetoric than substance and was ill prepared to precipitate war between the U.S. and Great Britain. Hansen and the two soldiers went on their way dressed as farmers. No one else knew where the box was buried and it hasnt been found to this day. All Rights Reserved. And like all good stories of lost treasure, this one has staying power. The plantations were called Vale Royal and Springfield. They were active in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, and Alabama. According to Rawlings research, they split what remained of the treasurys funds with a second group they planned to meet in Florida. He wanted to trap game on the tribal land so he asked the chief permission. Long story short it is said that Levi Colbert buried some of his savings from the inn and ferry operations in what is now Colbert County Alabama. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! I would think that they would have USED the gold before burying it. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The Confederate States of America were formed prior to Abraham Lincoln taking office in March 1861. Semple was also given vague instructions, which left a great deal of latitude in where he went and how he got there. Onto the second were loaded all the cash reserves of the Confederacy (including gold, silver and other coins), as well as the gold reserves owned by Richmonds banks and a large amount of jewelry donated by Confederate women to the cause. Even into the 1930s, the pages ofThe Augusta Chronicleincluded stories of impromptu inner city treasure hunts sparked by a variety of rumors that someone had found part of a hoard hastily hiddenfrom the Yankees. The Justice Department denied the request - and, as of last month, had yet to assign the FOIA request to a staffer for processing, according to the lawsuit. They never made it. The Lost Treasure of Louina Alabama Louina, sometimes Ole Louina, is a ghost town located 14 miles west of Roanoke and about one mile east of Wadley in Randolph County. Demopolis is an abandoned town on the Tombigbee River, near the intersection of rout 43, and 80. Many attempts at recovering her gold and silver cache have come up empty. It definitely would be worth taking a metal detector to the beach, Two wooden boxes full of gold and silver bullion and coins, Buried deep in a bog nearAthens, Alabama, NearFlorence, Alabama south of Whites mill, Hardy Clemens plantation ruins nearCoaling, Alabama on the shores of Big Sandy Creek, Dawson, Guntersville, Gadsden, and Mentone Alabama in the Sand mountains, Ghost town of Louina inRandolph County Alabama, the caves between Atmore and Bay Minette Alabama, N 3030 38 W 872651 which is close to U.S. Highway 90 bridge that now crosses the Perdido River, 40,000 crowns of gold and silver bullion and coins, Near the entrance to Mobile Bay near Dauphin Island, Cave full ofgold and silver bars, coins, and jewels, Underwater cave near Muscle Shoals, Alabama along the Tennessee river. Where did the loot go? Besides, Semple was done with any sort of an adventure. Confederate Pots of Gold . Then, after the Justice Department ordered a more thorough review, the FBI said its records were exempt from public disclosure. In June 1863, President Lincoln ordered two wagons with false bottoms to carry anywhere from 26 to 52 gold bars weighing 50 pounds each from Wheeling, West Virginia, 400 miles north to Pennsylvania to pay the Union troops . Unable to accept the end of the Confederacy and Northern domination over the South, he collaborated with other disenfranchised leaders exiled in Canada. Digging Deeper: Lost Treasures of Oklahoma. They had to pay $108,000 to troops who escorted them near the Savannah River, and $40,000 more was spent on supplies in Georgia. In 1872,The Chronicle put that question to the man in charge Col. Raphael J. Moses, the former Confederate quartermaster. Sharps ended up falling off the mills roof when he was doing repairs in June of 1899. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Manage Settings Kevin and Al travel to Brad's home where they meet a woman who is the descendant of a large plantation owner. He told his friend all about the story of the two wagons, treasure, and the fight with the Union soldiers. There are many different stories of where on his plantation the gold was hidden. Louinas gold and silver could still be buried under the ground in that old ghost town! Confederate gold refers to hidden caches of gold lost after the American Civil War. Know of good Lost Treasure Stories for this County? The leaders of the Confederate States of America we running for their lives 154 years ago. It was an E-mail he sent to someone and it found it's way to being an article on several sites. His wife gave in again and told the soldiers where another cask was buried. While sitting at the store Morris Slater was gunned down by Constable Leonard McGowin and some other posse members. I hope you have found this article of interest and if you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them in the comments section below. There is no record that anyone ever found the gold, sowhat happened to it? Alabama, The Heart of Dixie as its nicknamed was the 22nd state to be admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819. While on the route to Columbia the wagons and horses started to get bogged down on the marshy ground 4 miles North of Athens, Alabama. Frank W. Pandozzi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Clickbank, and MyTopo affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, mytopo.com, and clickbank.com.Please visit my Affiliate Disclosure below for more information. He was referring to the commercial house of Fraser, Trenholm & Company in Liverpool, England. I got the Keel Mountain story from a treasure hunter in west Tennessee, and it was a small, one-paragraph statement. They took a small fortune in gold and silver with them when they fled Richmond, Virginia in April 1865. Finders Keepers' owners, the father-son duo of Dennis and Kem Parada, had spent years looking for what, according to legend, was an 1863 shipment of Union gold that was lost or stolen while on its way to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. So as you can tell it was a great hiding spot for soldiers. A man by the name of C.E. I did not know of this event until I had moved to California, but I have retired and have relatives and land in the area. The Confederate president and other government officials were urged to leave Richmond immediately to avoid being captured by Union troops. Union soldiers happened by and demanded that Hansen and his men unload the cargo in their wagons because they became suspicious that the cargo in the wagons might be guns and ammunition. With them was the remainder of the Confederate treasury, including crates of gold and silver coins, gold bullion from Richmond bank reserves and jewelry that had been donated to the Southern cause. Jefferson Davis fled Richmond with multiple wagons filled with gold and silver. var FIX=FIX||{}; Tag: alabama confederate gold. The phrase "Lost Confederate Gold" has a romantic ring. The question is, what happened? The legend states that DeSoto and his men cant to the Bay of Espiritu Santa which is now Tampa Bay Florida. In the Civil War-era movie, Gone With the Wind (1939), Rhett Butler, played by Clark Gable, is rumored to have stolen the treasure. But, the first story sounds very familiar with a post I put on Treasure Legends-"swamp gold." It was abandoned in 1870. Also, a Spanish galleon ship broke up near the east end of Dauphin Island in 1801. He would then bury the wine casks in various areas around his homestead. Two large metal boxes containing over $100,000 in Confederate gold were hidden near Athens. He received a pardon in August 1865, and in 1872, was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it? They think that they found what could be the wreck site but they didnt attempt to salvage her. Louina by all accounts was a wealthy Indian woman. Allegedly, some of the Confederate treasury was hidden in order to wait for the rising again of the South and at other times simply so that the Union would not gain possession of it. The mountain I saw that looked like an overturned boat is just to the east of Belleville, off US 231. The FBI says it came up empty at the rural Pennsylvania site where Civil War gold is rumored to be buried. After he retired, Bob Brewer embarked on an adventure to find the missing Confederate gold, supposedly hidden by the mysterious Knights of the Golden Circle of the late 1800s to finance a second Civil War. 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