Near Demopolis is an area named White Bluff. ANCIENT VOICES: Ditlihi's Journey Into The Truth Of Ancient Treasure In The Southwest. Back in the 1800s that made for a huge town. He practically owned half of the town of Fort Payne. So with Jesse James spending time and hiding out, its only natural that many believe that he would have buried treasure in and around these areas of Alabama. 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. What happened to it, however, no one knows, and this has created a mystery thats spanned over 150 years. Given these events, and his extensive property, Tidball very likely profited from a disbursement of the treasury in Georgia. As the $450,000 in gold reserves didnt belong to the Confederacy, it remained untouched. Almost every Southern state has a legend of Confederate gold lost/stolen/buried in the chaos of the Civil War's end. The FBI initially claimed it had no files about the investigation. In the 1939 movie "Gone With The Wind," the Union Army believes Rhett Butler to have the missing Confederate gold, and they threaten to hang him. Valued at nearly half a million dollars, the gold was loaded onto wagons heading north, in the custody of U.S. government officials. The treasure may be Most if not all of them take place well into the war, and by then the confederate had serious cash flow issues. Another theory, says Rawlings: Davis and his group hid it. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Whatever they had started off with, travel expenses had steadily depleted their coffers by that time. Jefferson Davis , the first and only President of the Confederate States of America, circa 1865. Ultimately, he took refuge in the North at the home of Julia Gardiner Tyler. De Soto and his men fled and left the treasure they had stolen from the Cherokees behind. The rest of the missing money has been said to be the basis for several local fortunes in the Danburg area. Semple did seem to disappear into the night, for he had to avoid the attention of both the enemy and paroled Confederate soldiers looking to confiscate horses and wagons in returning to their homes. The story begins in Richmond on Sunday, April 2, 1865, when Confederate President Jefferson Davis received an urgent message from General Robert E. Lee while attending a church service. Hansen stayed with his friends for a few days hiding under the floor when Union Soldiers would come by. I have hunted the area with only minor finds but there was alot of activity in the area. 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. During the autumn of 1864 it was clear the Confederacy was losing the Civil War. Two large metal boxes containing over $100,000 in Confederate gold were hidden near Athens. Ole Louina was a community during early settlement of Randolph County which was settled after the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814 when the Creek Indians were defeated by . Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Mr. Sharps would take a shovel and sack with him on these treks into the woods. In 1872,The Chronicle put that question to the man in charge Col. Raphael J. Moses, the former Confederate quartermaster. C.E. Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. The trek south of the Confederate government has been well documented in a number of first hand accounts written several years after the war. He would then bury the wine casks in various areas around his homestead. 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. And chances are good people are searching for it at this very moment. 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. He immigrated here from Scotland. Bill Kirby has reported, photographed and commented on life in Augusta and Georgiafor 45 years. This was not actually supposed to be an article. 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. From lost confederate Civil War gold to lost Indian gold to plantation owners and their lost treasure we have a little bit of everything in these stories. The mountain I saw that looked like an overturned boat is just to the east of Belleville, off US 231. They held it until General John Bell Hood marched his Confederate army through in 1864. The Confederate gold, again, showed up in the 1994 sci-fi movie, Timecop. Unable to accept the end of the Confederacy and Northern domination over the South, he collaborated with other disenfranchised leaders exiled in Canada. 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. 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. 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 . 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. As for the Richmond bank gold, it quickly fell into the hands of Federal troops, which occupied Washington within days after Davis left. The treasure was secured in the false bottom of a carriage. Railroad Bill real name Morris Slater was a black train robber, murderer during the late 1800s. They filled two wooden boxes full. He is said to have stored the gold and silver coins that he got from the Ferry goers in wine casks. The Confederates got away or won the little skirmish or what have you but the men who hid it had been killed. 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. 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. Visit here for more information on State laws regarding relic hunting, treasure hunting, and artifacts. He told his friend all about the story of the two wagons, treasure, and the fight with the Union soldiers. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. So as you can tell it was a great hiding spot for soldiers. As soon as they spent all the gold and silver they came back for more. Louina was forced to leave Alabama during the Trail of Tears and sold her trading post Isham T. Weathers. 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. The Lost Confederate Gold Near Athens, Alabama there may be a Confederate treasure. Its still hidden in a limestone cave called Red Bone. your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable. In the 1966 Spaghetti Western movie "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," the protagonists get information about lost Confederate gold hidden in a . Confederate States of America currency circa 1865. [6], Last edited on 31 December 2022, at 01:37, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Confederate States Secretary of the Treasury, "The Georgia Odyssey of the Confederate Gold", "OUR ARMIES. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. So they filled a strongbox full of gold coins that the town had stored up as the treasury. Henry knew he could make a fortune with his ferry because the Perdido River was a popular crossing spot for people going from Alabama to Florida and vice versa. Jefferson Davis with members of his cabinet, 1865, By early May, both Davis party and the remaining fortune had reached Washington, Georgia. Until next time Happy Treasure Hunting! Henry refused to tell the soldiers where the treasure was and was beaten again. His work has been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com. Confederate gold refers to hidden caches of gold lost after the American Civil War. One of the first settlements of Alabama is called Dauphin Island. Henrys wife gave in and told the soldiers where one of the wine casks was buried. Nunez being a former pirate had plenty of money stored up so he was able to save most of the money earned from the ferry. Several legends, actually. It never got there. Jefferson Davis fled Richmond with multiple wagons filled with gold and silver. His wife sold the ferry and went to live with relatives in Georgia. Semple was drawn to Julia, and she to him, by circumstances of war and the aftermath. De Soto ended up dying of fever. 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. The daughter didnt want anything to do with the braces that her father presented to her but she had an infatuation with the white trapper who recently came around. In popular imagination, the Richmond bank goldhas become part of the lost Confederate treasure, and there is some truth to that story, Rawlings says. Halleck ordered Generals Wilson and Canby to intercept the rebel leaders and any wealth they were transporting. In fact, during a recent renovation of Linden Farm by its owner, a document found hidden in a wall confirms Tidballs possession of a portion of the gold. The gold became a lost legend. 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. Confederate gold refers to hidden caches of gold lost after the American Civil War. Two trains left from the capital that night. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. He returned to relative obscurity in his native Virginia, near where he was born in New Kent County, and turned his attention to earning a living. Many names and records have been lost to time. Digging Deeper: Lost Treasures of Oklahoma. Everyone thought Bob was bonkers . As for the rest of the money, little is known, and tales of money found in areas connected to the American Civil War have been told for more than 150 years. It definitely would be worth taking a metal detector to the beach. The gold from the Richmond bank was accounted for, but was later stolen by around 20 armed men in Danburg, Georgia. Going to war can be incredibly expensive. 's don't mention anything about the skirmish. Union troops closing in on the Confederate capital. 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. When he was captured, he had his wifes shawl over his shoulders. The French officials seemed La Bellone unsalvageable and didnt attempt to recover the lost cargo. Alabama, The Heart of Dixie as its nicknamed was the 22nd state to be admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819. (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. Know of good Lost Treasure Stories for this County? Federal soldiers were eventually able to round up some $140,000 of what was taken. And like all good stories of lost treasure, this one has staying power. When he was captured, he had almost nothing. Two more Union soldiers were killed along with the two rebels that had been with Hansen. This small island holds many lost treasure stories. Your email address is safe, and unsubscribing is easy. 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. Meade, Sheridan, Wright, Thomas and Canby Ordered to Push the Enemy at all Points. All the merchandise including the gold and silver bullion and coins sank with the ship. 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 There are stories that the Islanders tell of buried pots, jars, and treasure chests full of gold and silver. Semple was also given vague instructions, which left a great deal of latitude in where he went and how he got there. He allowed both sides to use the ferry free of charge in hopes that he would be allowed to continue his ferry operations. 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. Civil War historian William Rawlings explained, People like to believe theres something out there. 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. Hansen and the two soldiers went on their way dressed as farmers. With Union troops closing in on the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, in early April 1865, President Jefferson Davis and the rest of his government fled southward, allegedly carrying with them a considerable amount of gold, silver and other coins. Its unclear what happened to the money. Rumor has it that with Lafitte spending so much time at Fort Morgan he could have buried a worth of $10,000,000 there. I have not heard of both of these stories. Besides, Semple was done with any sort of an adventure. The townspeople decided to defend Newton but were worried that if they got defeated that the towns treasury would be looted. He also contracted pneumonia and had an infection that contributed to his death. Every legend that has any long-term staying power has a modicum of truth in it, and certainly this one does, says William Rawlings, an author of numerous nonfiction books and novels about Southern history. 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. [5], George Trenholm, who was Confederate States Secretary of the Treasury for the last year of the Civil War, was arrested after the war and accused of making off with millions in Confederate assets. So the gold could have been buried anywhere, or perhaps in different locations. Beauregard Trying to Profit by Sherman's Blunder. 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. The former assistant to Confederate Navy Secretary Stephen Mallory returned to Winchester, Virginia, where he built an elaborate house, Linden Farm, and became a prominent citizen. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The below mentioned George Trenholm incidentally, accompanied Davis on part of his flight but dropped out prematurely due to ill health, which was taken as circumstantial evidence by his Union accusers, when they later accused Trenholm of theft. Union soldiers were invading the countryside around Sherwood Forest, the Tyler plantation, and the safety of her young children was paramount. C.E. However, the treasury increasingly became an encumbrance on his flight, and Davis had disbursed the treasury along the way, among others to General Joseph E. 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