She questioned whether the agency is "acting in good faith.". And some say its buried amongst the slaves in the graveyard on the property. So what happened to that missing Confederate treasure? Near Demopolis is an area named White Bluff. Given how much it cost to go to war, higher-ups in the Confederacy began requesting donations. He was worn out, saddened by the devastation that existed in his part of the state, and the difficulty he and his neighbors were having in restoring their lives and properties. 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. 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. 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. A big oak tree stands where his house was. Keel Mountain is located in Madison County in Alabama not in Belleview, Tenn. In Washington, Georgia, a small town untouched by the war, he was entrusted with $86,000 in gold coin and bullion (about $1 million in today's money) and disappeared into the night. When he was captured, he had his wifes shawl over his shoulders. They also covered the boxes with straw and fertilizer to conceal the treasure within. Those two boxes of gold could still be buried deep in that bog near Athens, Alabama. Much of the mystery was engendered by Union officials, who greatly inflated the value of the Confederacys treasury to several million dollars. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. In April 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and members of his cabinet evacuated the city by train and headed south. As the $450,000 in gold reserves didnt belong to the Confederacy, it remained untouched. Some people speculate that the valuables and money that railroad Bill stole during those 6 years of robbing trains could still be hiding in the caves between Atmore and Bay Minette Alabama! Besides, Semple was done with any sort of an adventure. Mr. Willismith owned most of the town. 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. The troops were trying to keep the gold and silver away from Union soldiers. Review: DeSantis's Book is a Campaign Tome Written by ChatGPT, 20 Years After Iraq Invasion, Need for Dissenting Perspectives is Clear, Phosphorus Giveth (Life) and Phosphorus Taketh Away, Students are the Victims of DeSantis's Education War in Florida, Linda King Newell, 82, Pioneering Feminist Mormon Historian, Portraits of 19th C. Black Charlottesville Show Life, Joy, Black History Month Traces to a Key Meeting in a Chicago YMCA, How (Some) of the Hip Hop Generation Learned Black History, The Executive Branchs Response to the Flood of 1927, The Case For Calling the Language "American", America Fought Its Own Battle Over Books Before it Fought the Nazis. Young refused to release it, but was compelled to do so by force. Unable to accept the end of the Confederacy and Northern domination over the South, he collaborated with other disenfranchised leaders exiled in Canada. Well, there you have it the 15 lost treasures of Alabama. Henrys wife gave in and told the soldiers where one of the wine casks was buried. During the autumn of 1864 it was clear the Confederacy was losing the Civil War. I got the Keel Mountain story from a treasure hunter in west Tennessee, and it was a small, one-paragraph statement. Hansen stayed with his friends for a few days hiding under the floor when Union Soldiers would come by. 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. Check it out today its available on Amazon! Demopolis is an abandoned town on the Tombigbee River, near the intersection of rout 43, and 80. And like all good stories of lost treasure, this one has staying power. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. As soon as they spent all the gold and silver they came back for more. At the time, it was reported hed dressed as a woman to avoid capture, but was later said to have been wearing it due to his severesensitivity to cold weather. He practically owned half of the town of Fort Payne. Two more Union soldiers were killed along with the two rebels that had been with Hansen. Corroborating evidence found in Semples letters to Julia Gardiner Tyler, depicted a man on the run, carrying on underground activities for Davis. Dr. Clive Cussler a historian attempted to find the wreck of La Bellone in September 1989. Searching for more lost treasure? One time in Montgomery, in the late '80s, or early '90s, I was finishing some sheetrock in a small business, in sort of a row of businesses in the same long building. 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. Civil War historian William Rawlings explained, People like to believe theres something out there. Explore Alabama - ALABAMA TREASURE LEGENDS Table of Contents: Alabama Treasure Legends, Legend of the Lost Confederate Gold, Old Flint River Settlement Gold, $30000 in Gold Coin Buried in Bridgeport Alabama, Loot Buried by Levi Colbert in Buzzard Roost Alabama , Rumors of Buried Treasure in Demopolis Alabama (White Bluff), C. Boaz Whitfield Jesse James the legendary outlaw of the west and in those days Alabama was considered out west had hideouts in and around the areas of Dawson, Guntersville, Gadsden, and Mentone Alabama in the Sand mountains. Until next time Happy Treasure Hunting! According to Rawlings research, they split what remained of the treasurys funds with a second group they planned to meet in Florida. First published on January 6, 2022 / 11:11 AM. The gold from the Richmond bank was accounted for, but was later stolen by around 20 armed men in Danburg, Georgia. The Confederate States of America were formed prior to Abraham Lincoln taking office in March 1861. They filled two wooden boxes full. 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. More from us: The Success of George H. Thomas Union Soldiers During the American Civil War. If its there Im all for digging it up. Finders Keepers asked the Justice Department for expedited processing, which can be granted in cases where there is widespread media interest involving questions about the government's integrity. Hansen and some other Alabama citizens raised quite a bit of capital in the form of gold and silver bullion and coins. Keep in mind most of these lost treasure stories have been handed down by word of mouth over the centuries. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. One day a rebel soldier came by and Hansen decided to lead him to the lost treasure so they could possibly retrieve it. I have talked to the guy who wrote what you found on #2. But on May 10, when members of the 4th Michigan Cavalry captured Davis group near Irwinville, Georgia, they had only a few dollars with them. But with 100 acres to cover and now metal detectors back then it was never found. From there, I am assuming the Bellview back then is Belleville today, just with a name change. Almost every Southern state has a legend of Confederate gold lost/stolen/buried in the chaos of the Civil War's end. Rumor has it that with Lafitte spending so much time at Fort Morgan he could have buried a worth of $10,000,000 there. Confederate gold refers to hidden caches of gold lost after the American Civil War. Jefferson Davis, a Congressman from Mississippi and former Secretary of War, was named its president. Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Millions of dollars' worth of gold was lost or unaccounted for after the war, and its possible location has been the source of speculation of many historians and treasure hunters. Several legends, actually. The treasure may be Mysteries endure, too, including the ultimate disposition of the Confederate treasury. Jefferson Davis stated in his 1881 book, The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government, that the transfer of the treasure was made to Mr. Semple, a bonded officer of the Navy, and his assistant, Mr. Tidball. Davis added only that the instructions to Semple were for him to attempt to deliver the gold abroad to the financial agent of the government. Semple was drawn to Julia, and she to him, by circumstances of war and the aftermath. They think that they found what could be the wreck site but they didnt attempt to salvage her. 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. It was never recovered. Know of good Lost Treasure Stories for this County? In North Carolina, some say gold was secretly hidden because they couldn't get the heavy treasure through a swamp north of Greensboro. The townspeople decided to defend Newton but were worried that if they got defeated that the towns treasury would be looted. They are the rarest of any Civil War weapons. The Mexican coins had been transported to Danville, Virginia, and when the Davis party was forced to move further south, primarily by wagon, the more than 9,000 pounds of silver would have considerably slowed down the procession. Looking For a Top Rated Metal Detector That Wont Cost You Thousands of Dollars but works like a $2000 machine? Lachlan McGillivray was a wealthy fur trader back in the mid to late 1700s. 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. Dauphin Island held many camps over the centuries including a British army camp, a Spanish army camp, a Federal army camp, and a French army camp. After the War Between the States,many not only spent time rememberingthe "Lost Cause," they also stayed busy searching for its lost gold. Mr. Sharps became rich after owning the mill. Today the town has only two homes standing that are in use. He was very skilled at evading the police. Hansen then used the horses to trample the boxes deeper into the mud. Union troops closing in on the Confederate capital. The duo focused on a spot where they say their instruments detected a large metallic mass. 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. He told his friend all about the story of the two wagons, treasure, and the fight with the Union soldiers. Two large metal boxes containing over $100,000 in Confederate gold were hidden near Athens. General Dukes Brigade. Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect, Elizabeth Holmes has second child, seeks to delay prison, Woman dies as porch collapses under California snow storm. Please do not use this website if you disagree with any of the terms outlined here.Thanks for visiting!Thank You,Frank W. Pandozzi, Website Owner. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! 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. (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({google_ad_client:"ca-pub-0945725028962484",enable_page_level_ads:true}); One theory suggests it was stolen by the Michigan Cavalrymen. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Hardy Clemens died in 1863 leaving no trace of where he hid his treasure. No one else knew where the box was buried and it hasnt been found to this day. until he found some of the treasures! De Soto and his army of men some 600 plus came to the Sacred mountain City of the Cherokees. Finders Keepers filed a federal lawsuit against the Justice Department over its failure to produce. So with no luck finding the treasure he packed up and moved to California. Over the course of the next two years, he traveled between the U. S. and Canada in clandestine activities, often using the alias Allen S. James, his travels financed with the Confederate gold. The question that I pose. "There's been a pattern of behavior by the FBI that's been very troubling," said Anne Weismann, who represents Finders Keepers. The Lost Confederate Gold Near Athens, Alabama there may be a Confederate treasure. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The authors were primarily participants in the evacuation of Richmond and they included Confederate cabinet officials, army officers, and treasury employees. I have not heard of both of these stories. Treasure hunters who believe they found a huge cache of fabled Civil War-era gold in Pennsylvania are now on the prowl for something as elusive as the buried booty itself: government records of the FBI's excavation. The area was founded by exiled followers of Napoleon Bonaparte in the early 1800's. He put the wagons back up to make it appear that confederate troops had come by and took the contents of the wagons with them. Railroad Bill finally met his doom when a $500 reward was issued for him dead or alive. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. He came to Alabama in 1815 and set up a ferry for crossing the Perdido River that has banks of the Alabama and Florida side. The FBI has since dragged its feet on the treasure hunters' Freedom of Information Act request for records, their lawyer said Wednesday. He was specific about the state, but Bellview and Booneville are marked as being in Tennessee. / CBS/AP. They left Richmond with a bunch of money, and when [Davis group] was captured six weeks later, they didnt have it. If you are venturing on to State or Federal lands you should know the laws of that State. La Bellone ran aground at the entrance of Pelican Bay in September of 1724 which is on the east end of Dauphin Island. 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. Treasure hunters in the area believe his house was located at the following coordinates: N 3030 38 W 872651 which is close to U.S. Highway 90 bridge that now crosses the Perdido River. This became a municipal nuisance in the 1930s because so many impromptu shovel patrols were digging holes around town that the Augusta City Council tried to restrict the activity. All the merchandise including the gold and silver bullion and coins sank with the ship. 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. Davis and His Gold. It may not display this or other websites correctly. He waited there until spring and set off to sail back to France at the beginning of April 1725. The evidence is strong that no one else managed to dig up the silver either, quite possibly because of where it was buried in a cemetery area. CBS News affiliate WTAJ-TVreported members of the Elk County Historical Society say they believe the gold is just an old wives' tale. Valued at nearly half a million dollars, the gold was loaded onto wagons heading north, in the custody of U.S. government officials. Its still hidden in a limestone cave called Red Bone. He took the bodies of the Confederate soldiers with him. But when Union officers caught up with Davis on May 10, near Irwinville, Georgia, he was reportedly carrying only a few dollars with him. When he was captured, he had almost nothing. La Bellone didnt make it and sank near the entrance to Mobile Bay near Dauphin Island. They searched and searched for months coming up empty-handed so the trappers friend gave up and went back to Fort Rosalie. After meeting with the treasure hunters in early 2018, the FBI brought in a contractor with more sophisticated instruments. Levi Colbert who lived from 1759 to1834 was the bench chief of the Chickasaw Nation. War weapons the city by train and headed south from us: the Success of George Thomas. 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