All but about $70,000 was recovered and transferred to Augusta, Georgia, where ownership of the funds was tied up in court until 1893. More information on where and how to research for lost treasures. Win McNamee/Getty Images. Henry refused and was subsequently strung up to a tree and whipped. Alexander Beckham's old plantation about two miles north of Tiptonville, Tennessee. Captian Seigneur de Beauchamp was able to get her anchored in the harbor without any damage. 13 Lost Treasures of Kentucky I doubt very seriously that any of the phantom confederate gold myths are real. Postal Service in 2000 and still has family and friends in Brantley County. Jean Lafitte the pirate supposedly buried gold coins on a beach in what is now Bayou la Batre. He ended up in prison until the end of the war. Puckett was rather vague about what Mumford did with the gold he allegedly transported to England, except to claim that he ordered enough seed corn from South America, by way of Great Britain, to replant the whole State of Georgia. 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. Lost Confederate gold near Tallassee, Al.?? An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Confederate Gold - New Georgia Encyclopedia rjcox / flickr. Navy Captain William H. Parker was placed in charge of the second train and, knowing that the special cargo was comprised of gold ingots, gold double eagle coins, silver coins, silver bricks and Mexican silver dollars, he gathered the only available personnel to provide a military guard. $15,000 in silver dollars. Eventually the responsibility for the treasure was passed on to the Secretary of War, John C. Breckenridge, who then placed Brig. This small island holds many lost treasure stories. I grew up in Prattville, Alabama. 28. Is the "Lost Confederate Gold" a myth or reality??? Have fun in your search for Alabama treasure. The bushwhackers were stragglers from both the Federal and Confederate armies who had heard of the treasure and the handouts being given to soldiers. However, this wagon train was robbed on the first night that it stopped to make camp, and the robbers improvised ways to carry the loot: stuffed in their shirts, pants, boots and whatever else would hold their plunder. After exhaustive research, Lewis concluded that gold from the Richmond banks and the Confederate treasury had in fact been evacuated from Richmond and shipped south to prevent it from falling into the hands of Union forces. Morris was formerly a skilled circus performer and had an athletic build which made getting on off trains a breeze. If you are ever in Muscle Shoals, Alabama along the Tennessee river you might want to take a look around for limestone caves although the Red Bone cave is more than likely underwater now and you will need to bring your scuba gear and do some underwater metal detecting. Wesley Millett and Gerald White are the authors of The Rebel and the Rose. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The mountain I saw that looked like an overturned boat is just to the east of Belleville, off US 231. Here are 11 hidden treasures most people don't know about: 11. circa 960. near a point where route 90 crosses the river. The Outlaw PresidentJefferson Davis was an unlikely traitor to the United States. Some of the treasure had been retained by Brig. JavaScript is disabled. In Danville, the officials handed out a lot of the gold in exchange for Confederate money to help the soldiers when all hopes of saving the Confederacy were lost," Ricketts said. This Metal Detector Has all the top features you would expect in a quality metal detector. AFFILIATE DISCLOSUREI am an affiliate marketer. Newton Alabama in Dale County came under attack by the 1st Florida Calvary that was led by former Confederate captain Joseph Sanders who lived in Dale County. President Davis pleaded with Lee to form defense lines for just one more day and informed his cabinet that Richmond was to be evacuated and that they would take the Confederate treasury with them. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Searching for more lost treasure? Norfolk Southern train derails in Springfield, Ohio, At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, How Paul Murdaugh testified "from the grave" to help convict his father, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Promising drug could provide alternative to statins, new study finds, Iran to allow more inspections at nuclear sites, U.N. says, NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead. Hunley, was one of the first working submarines that operated with a crew. The really big lost treasure is that of the Confederate Treasury in custody of Jeff Davis upon leaving Richmond, fleeing the Yankee hordes. WJAC and other Pennsylvania and national news outlets reported that dozens of FBI agents, along with Pennsylvania state officials had arrived in Dents Run, 27 miles from St. Marys. Union forces were strong in the area north of Alabama so Hansen and two confederate soldiers decided to take the two boxes of treasure to Columbia where General Hood of the rebel troops was held up. Also while feverish, Castleton made the mistake of telling the troops about the gold. The Gold Vanishes - Official Author Site forBRUCE WETTERAU The Chief agreed but he had other intentions as well. The balance of the captured treasure was assembled and loaded into wagons for transport to Washington, D.C. The Indians thought this request to be outrageous and attacked De Sotos camp. Numerous unnamed drainages will also produce placer gold for a hard working prospector. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Then, after the Justice Department ordered a more thorough review, the FBI said its records were exempt from public disclosure. Paul Seaburn is the editor at Mysterious Universe and its most prolific writer. He wanted to trap game on the tribal land so he asked the chief permission. He and his friend decided to head out to recover the treasure. The treasure was secured in the false bottom of a carriage. He immigrated here from Scotland. By all accounts, he stayed by the tracks between Atmore and Bay Minette Alabama stealing from the trains every chance he got. He told his friend all about the story of the two wagons, treasure, and the fight with the Union soldiers. Indeed, no one who was an eyewitness to the events ever documented that the gold was actually lost. Initially, with one-third of her estate, the will established the Sylvester Mumford Memorial Endowment at the Thornwell Orphanage in Clinton, South Carolina, which was founded in 1875 and is now known as the Thornwell Home and School for Children. Some of the most valuable placers in Alabama are found in Cleburne County. Appreciative of the home the Mumfords provided and his opportunity for a college education, he set out to discover the facts behind the Confederate gold. By the early 1800s, the gang set up a hideout in Rocky Springs and, supposedly, buried tens of thousands of dollars in stolen gold and silver between the church and cemetery at Little Sand Creek near Rocky Springs. . Egill Skallagrmsson 's silver. And Confederate gold did go missing. FBI on trail of $55M in gold missing since Civil War - al Worth roughly $100,000 in 1865, when it disappeared, it would be a small fortune in today's dollars--around one million dollars. Pistolero, In the book,"Buried Treasure You Can Find by Robert F. Mark, theres a little four line treasure tale. So with no luck finding the treasure he packed up and moved to California. The war, and its various aspects . A man by the name of C.E. The story of this lost treasure dates back to 1540 when the Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto was in this part of the New World. Finders Keepers filed a federal lawsuit against the Justice Department over its failure to produce documents on the FBI's search for the legendary gold, which took place nearly four years ago at a remote woodland site in northwestern Pennsylvania. Legend. 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. There's a book out called " Confederate Gold" I haven't read it but it may give some clues. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The French officials seemed La Bellone unsalvageable and didnt attempt to recover the lost cargo. 15 Lost Treasures of Alabama De Soto and his army of men some 600 plus came to the Sacred mountain City of the Cherokees. So as you can tell it was a great hiding spot for soldiers. The remainder of her estate was divided between two scholarship funds. The abandoned town of Demopolis can be found near the Tombigbee River, close to the intersection of routes 80 and 43. The Ghost Town of Old Cahaba located on route 22 approximately 14 miles southwest of Selma, was used as a Confederate Fort during the Civil War. Sep 27, 2005. . Lewis graduated from Thornwell High School in 1958 and then from Clemson University in 1962 before serving on active duty in Germany and Vietnam with the U.S. Army. Do the Finders Keepers have a right to it, even though they didnt do the final digging? Imperial Seal of China created by Emperor Qin Shi Huang, lost after the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in the 10th century. Millbrook, Al. Unfortunately for them, their booty leaked and made it easy for a posse to follow. He resigned his commission as a captain after almost six years and he retired from the U.S. But with 100 acres to cover and now metal detectors back then it was never found. An FBI agent applied for a federal warrant in 2018 to seize a fabled cache of U.S. government gold he said was "stolen during the Civil War" and hidden in a Pennsylvania cave, saying the state . Is There A Boatload Of Civil War Gold Waiting To Be Found? Reel - MTV The image of stacks of gold bars imprinted with "C.S.A" is tantalizing. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. He waited there until spring and set off to sail back to France at the beginning of April 1725. 1. "From the outset, it seems as if the FBI is doing everything it can to avoid answering the question of whether they actually found gold," Weismann said. This legend was first advanced by Martha Mizell Puckett, a former school teacher and Brantley County native, who spun her tale of Confederate gold in her book, Snow White Sands. In the movie, the characters are hunting for . 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. She made her money by running a trading post and she was one of the only Indian women to have owned slaves. It was the summer of 1863, and Union Lieutenant Castleton and his men were lost. Also, a Spanish galleon ship broke up near the east end of Dauphin Island in 1801. FBI spokeswoman Carrie Adamowski told CNN that the FBI personnel were "carrying out court-authorized law enforcement activity in Elk County." The Hero of Gettysburg Surveyed the Great Lakes. . Captain Parker and the treasure, now moved to wagons, were directed to the old U.S. Mint at Charlotte, North Carolina, which was considered the safest storage place. Legend of the Lost Confederate Gold - Digital Alabama Fort Morgan, Alabama: Lost Confederate Gold: Two wooden boxes full of gold and silver bullion and coins: Buried deep in a bog near Athens, Alabama: C.E. Lost gold of the Confederacy continues to inspire legends Legend of the Lost Confederate Gold. 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. Subscribe Today! The treasure may be buried near what used to be his house on the Alabama side of the river. The brakeman subsequently threw him off the moving train. Then check out 14 Lost Treasures of Wisconsin. There are many lost treasures and legends of Alabama and I encourage you to visit this state and enjoy the rich history that Alabama presents. I have hunted the area with only minor finds but there was alot of activity in the area. Lost Copper Box of Gold Coins: $80,000 in gold coins: Somewhere in the Kiamichi Mountains: Confederate Treasure Near The Ghost Town of Scullyville: Unknown: Scullyville is located about twelve miles south of Fort Smith on the Arkansas River. His wife sold the ferry and went to live with relatives in Georgia. Supposedly, Nunez buried a treasure of approximately $200,000 somewhere near a point where route 90 crosses the river. "There was a tremendous amount of gold that went missing during the Civil War," added author William Rawlings, who has written about a rumored Confederate treasure of gold and silver that went . Jean Lafitte the French Privateer and Pirate is said to have spent a considerable amount of time visiting Fort Morgan, Alabama. Shipwrecks of Mobile Bay and Alabama 1861-1865 - Admiral Raphael Semmes The FBI claimed their 2018 dig came up empty, but treasure hunters Dennis and Kem Parada aren't so sure. state of Alabama. They were active in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, and Alabama. What remained of the Confederate treasury, in the form of gold and other valuable coins, was disbursed as payroll to Confederate troops during its transport south. It would be a great place to find all kinds of history and relics that might still be strewn about by all those army camps. In April 1865, the Civil War ended for most Americans. When he would return he wouldnt have the sack with him. La Bellone ran aground at the entrance of Pelican Bay in September of 1724 which is on the east end of Dauphin Island. He landed in a swamp and drowned because he couldnt swim. The troops were trying to keep the gold and silver away from Union soldiers. Its still hidden in a limestone cave called Red Bone. Lewis concluded that the Brantley County Confederate gold legend was probably fabricated from a combination of the legend told in Snow White Sands and the actual gold shipments after the war. He was very skilled at evading the police. On March 15, 2018, two days after the dig began, a plane in Siberia lost 3.4 tons of its nine-ton cargo of gold and silver when the cargo door . The gold and silver coins are said to be buried east of his old homestead. In fact, when she died in 1946 at age 99 in Washington, D.C., she bequeathed almost $600,000 to the children of Brantley County through an endowment and two scholarship funds. The legend of James Copeland, along with his treasure, is largely drawn from the somewhat questionable account of Sheriff J.R.S. The Paradas accompanied the FBI to the site in Dent's Run, about 135 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, but say they were confined to their car while the FBI excavated. Posted on March 11, 2021 by Terry W. Platt. Apparently in 1865, $100,000 of gold and silver was put into two large metal boxes by Confederate troops, and then thrown into the swamp. So get your picks, shovels, and metal detector ready as we go through the 15 lost treasures of Alabama. Henrys wife gave in and told the soldiers where one of the wine casks was buried. To avoid Confederate troops, Union troop leader Lt. Castleton was ordered to first travel to Harrisburg and then to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. The Rebel and the Rose Semple, G Tyler Lost Confederate Gold Millet but where did the money come from? Buried Treasure In Florida That Can Still Be Found Today Through a critical analysis of primary and secondary sources, including the research of historian Peter S. Svenson, this paper argues that the city's development was aided [] One of the first settlements of Alabama is called Dauphin Island. 23 Lost Treasures of Louisiana Also called hard currency. History, that is to say old rumors, tells us that a giant cache of gold was buried within walking distance of my house. She would then sail the goods back to France. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The FBI says it came up empty at the rural Pennsylvania site where Civil War gold is rumored to be buried. Alabama, The Heart of Dixie as its nicknamed was the 22nd state to be admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819. According to the legend, none of Castletons group of eight cavalrymen and one guide named Connors knew about the gold. Im not sure of the accuracy of this story but here it goes. Levi Colbert who lived from 1759 to1834 was the bench chief of the Chickasaw Nation. AUTHOR SUNDAY: The Confederate gold was protected by - Alabama History