Union officials also estimated the value of the Confederate fortune in the millions of dollars, hoping to spur along the Federal troops seeking the fugitive Davis and his government. Is There Treasure Waiting For You In Alabama? Jean and his older brother Pierre stole a lot of loot over the years in and around the Gulf of Mexico in the early 1800s. Where did the loot go? The ferry was used by Confederate and Union troops during the Civil War. There are many different stories of where on his plantation the gold was hidden. Sorry, I don't know anything about these. So do your due diligence before going on your treasure-hunting expeditions. She says that some Confederate gold was hidden there and some is still being found today. I live n the the ala state line and have pulse and gpr if anyone is interested in searching, Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Manage Settings [1] The gold was temporarily stored at the Iron Bank by William H. Young. 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. They filled two wooden boxes full. The trek south of the Confederate government has been well documented in a number of first hand accounts written several years after the war. With enemy soldiers occupying the town, any effort to dig up the some 160,000 8-reale coins would have certainly been seen. In the 1938 book, Flight Into Oblivion, by A.J. She would then sail the goods back to France. The lost gold also played a key role in the legendary 1966 Western film, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable. He was specific about the state, but Bellview and Booneville are marked as being in Tennessee. (Published 1865)", Last Sighting of the Lost Confederate Gold in Georgia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Confederate_gold&oldid=1130607928, A series of western adventure novels written by, This page was last edited on 31 December 2022, at 01:37. He also contracted pneumonia and had an infection that contributed to his death. In North Carolina, some say gold was secretly hidden because they couldn't get the heavy treasure through a swamp north of Greensboro. On one was Davis, officials and important documents. The officer brought troops to Henrys home in the hopes of getting Henry to tell them where his treasure was hidden. His train, however, encountered some expenses. According to Beauregard's biography, "What became of that coin is a mystery. Louinas gold and silver could still be buried under the ground in that old ghost town! The area was founded by exiled followers of Napoleon Bonaparte in the early 1800's. The FBI has long insisted the March 2018 dig came up empty, but the agency has consistently stymied the Paradas' efforts to obtain information. The true value of the treasure that left Richmondheld under the guard of Confederate Navy Captain William H. Parker and the young midshipmen in his commandwill likely never be known. So as you can tell it was a great hiding spot for soldiers. 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. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! Corroborating evidence found in Semples letters to Julia Gardiner Tyler, depicted a man on the run, carrying on underground activities for Davis. This was not actually supposed to be an article. You must log in or register to reply here. This Metal Detector Has all the top features you would expect in a quality metal detector. So they filled a strongbox full of gold coins that the town had stored up as the treasury. This would be a nice area to use a metal detector in. 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. They worked hard to get good lands out west which the U.S. Government was trying to move them to. Meade, Sheridan, Wright, Thomas and Canby Ordered to Push the Enemy at all Points. 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. One day a Union Officer became privy to Henry Nune and his buried treasure. The contractor detected an underground mass that weighed up to nine tons and had the density of gold, according to an FBI affidavit unsealed last year at the request of news organizations, including The Associated Press. It happened between the Confederate Armory which was not over run during the war and present day, Wall Street . There are a few instances of the plantation ruins that still remain to this day including the spring where the cotton gin was. 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. More information on where and how to research for lost treasures. Those two boxes of gold could still be buried deep in that bog near Athens, Alabama. Three children and two men drowned but the rest of the passengers were saved by a brigantine sailboat that was nearby. 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. Near Athens there may be a Confederate treasure. Know of good Lost Treasure Stories for this County? The folk ballad by Lonnie Donegan was named after him. 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. The location was described (by him) as being in northern Alabama, between the towns of Bellview and Booneville, at or near Keel Mountain. They filled two wooden boxes full. The treasure may be Civil War historian William Rawlings explained, People like to believe theres something out there. That didnt happen, however, and it is believed to have been stolen. Most importantly, Davis only has a few dollars on him when he was captured, which led to a long-running question: where did all the money and gold go? 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. Federal soldiers were eventually able to round up some $140,000 of what was taken. Jefferson Davis with members of his cabinet, 1865, By early May, both Davis party and the remaining fortune had reached Washington, Georgia. The Union soldiers dug up the cask and went and spent the money in Mobile, Alabama. With the technology of today, why does the specie remain buried? Several legends, actually. 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. The area was then abandoned around 1830. 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. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The town of Louina lasted from 1834-1902. The troops were trying to keep the gold and silver away from Union soldiers. I doubt very seriously that any of the phantom confederate gold myths are real. 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! The town of Louina grew to 2,500 residents with 30 homes, two churches, two schools, eight stores, and even a Masonic Lodge. 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 a war hero, fighting in the Mexican-American War of the 1840s, and looked set for a long, happy career as a statesman. 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. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Jeff. He didnt even tell his son. January 6, 2022 / 11:11 AM Given these events, and his extensive property, Tidball very likely profited from a disbursement of the treasury in Georgia. The Success of George H. Thomas Union Soldiers During the American Civil War. 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. They left Richmond with a bunch of money, and when [Davis group] was captured six weeks later, they didnt have it. Jefferson Davis , the first and only President of the Confederate States of America, circa 1865. Young refused to release it, but was compelled to do so by force. He ended up in prison until the end of the war. Captian Seigneur de Beauchamp was able to get her anchored in the harbor without any damage. La Bellone ran aground at the entrance of Pelican Bay in September of 1724 which is on the east end of Dauphin Island. He took the bodies of the Confederate soldiers with him. The Outlaw PresidentJefferson Davis was an unlikely traitor to the United States. Visit here for more information on State laws regarding relic hunting, treasure hunting, and artifacts. The Confederate president and other government officials were urged to leave Richmond immediately to avoid being captured by Union troops. One account has the gold being stolen in the far south area of Brooks County where local lore has it the train was attacked by . But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! When Davis and his party were arrested on May 10 in Irwinville, Ga., leaders of the 4th Michigan Calvary only found a few worthless Confederate banknotes on his person, and there was no gold stashed away in the wagons. 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. She had long black hair, gray eyes, and a figure that drew dozens of suitors before she had agreed to marry the president, then 30 years her senior. A lot of that gold treasure, as historians and enthusiasts have since called it remained after the Civil War. This ended in the Trail of Tears that forced the Indians out. You must log in or register to reply here. She made her money by running a trading post and she was one of the only Indian women to have owned slaves. The whole of this region was captured by the Northern forces early in the Civil War. 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. I have also researched the legend of Keel Mountain, I agree the O.R. [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. They think that they found what could be the wreck site but they didnt attempt to salvage her. In the film, a thief goes back in time to hijack the money using advanced technology. His wife sold the ferry and went to live with relatives in Georgia. It was an E-mail he sent to someone and it found it's way to being an article on several sites. Two trains left from the capital that night. Hansen ended up killing one of the Union scouts. Jefferson Davis fled Richmond with multiple wagons filled with gold and silver. Two large metal boxes containing over $100,000 in Confederate gold were hidden near Athens. After depositing the Richmond bank funds in a local vault in Washington for safekeeping, Davis continued heading south with his wife, Varina, their children and a few others. 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. What Confederate Money (paper notes) that they had was burned at Washington, Ga. in the middle of town by Brig. 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. He also owned two plantations outside of what was called Savannah now central Alabama. His wife gave in again and told the soldiers where another cask was buried. Among Confederate veterans organizations, rumors later swirled that their fleeing leaders were carrying millions of dollars when they evacuated Richmond. 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. Many of these treasures are now on private land or owned by the federal or state government. Semple was also given vague instructions, which left a great deal of latitude in where he went and how he got there. Jefferson Davis, a Congressman from Mississippi and former Secretary of War, was named its president. These states were opposed to the abolishment of slavery. They left Richmond with a bunch of money, and when [Davis group] was captured six weeks later, they didnt have it. These were coins that the Confederacy received through the sale of cotton to Mexico. Under the headline"What Became of the Confederate Gold," Moses told the newspaper a small portion of it went to buy food for returning soldiers, while the bulk of about$40,000was turned over to the federal authorities. Its unclear what happened to the money. The crew members that survived and made it to shore said there was a million dollars worth of gold and silver aboard. Now only Hansens one friend knew about the treasure but his friend was arrested and charged with harboring a fugitive. But this time Henry died from being beaten. 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 . This was probably done to increase the incentive to Union soldiers combing the villages and roads of the Carolinas and Georgia for the treasury, and for Confederate President Jefferson Davis, who had fled Richmond. From Harper's Weekly The federal Branch Mint at Dahlonega had $23,716 in gold and silver when it was taken over by the Confederate States of America in 1861. In 1720 there was a trapper that came to the Chickasaw village. Semple was drawn to Julia, and she to him, by circumstances of war and the aftermath. 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. Johnston in order for him to pay his troops at Greensboro, North Carolina, and to several banks for safekeeping, with the remainder paid out to Joseph Wheeler's accompanying cavalry men before dismissing them from their duties. 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 . No one else knew where the box was buried and it hasnt been found to this day. Finders Keepers filed a federal lawsuit against the Justice Department over its failure to produce. The total amount of money and gold that left Richmond with Davis is unknown. Your email address is safe, and unsubscribing is easy. Well, there you have it the 15 lost treasures of Alabama. Much of the mystery was engendered by Union officials, who greatly inflated the value of the Confederacys treasury to several million dollars. near a point where route 90 crosses the river. The question that I pose. An aspect of the treasure that Clark omitted concerned the fate of 39 kegs of Mexican silver dollars. 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. The chief had a daughter that he wanted to be married off so that he could have a male offspring to carry on as chief when he died. The Union Cavalry came upon them and they were both killed. La Bellone didnt make it and sank near the entrance to Mobile Bay near Dauphin Island. The Curse of Oak Island. He and his friend decided to head out to recover the treasure. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. One of his readers showed him a Mexican silver coin dating to the 1850s, which he said was uncovered by a logging crew in the 1940s near a Georgia spot where Davis party is known to have camped. 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. 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. Until next time Happy Treasure Hunting! As such, the Confederate States of America solicited donations from wealthy citizens. The Indians thought this request to be outrageous and attacked De Sotos camp. It is said that John Buried $100,000 worth of gold there. Henry Allen Nunez was an early-day entrepreneur. But when Union officers caught up with Davis on May 10, near Irwinville, Georgia, he was reportedly carrying only a few dollars with him. It would have taken a large amount of troops to dig and hide all the treasure, and as poor as alot of those soldiers were after the war, why not go back and dig up the treasure? He allowed both sides to use the ferry free of charge in hopes that he would be allowed to continue his ferry operations. If you are venturing on to State or Federal lands you should know the laws of that State. Levi Colbert who lived from 1759 to1834 was the bench chief of the Chickasaw Nation. On May 4, after Davis and the few advisers that remained with him made the decision to disband his government, they entrusted some $86,000 of the remaining treasury funds to two Confederate navy. 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. They took a small fortune in gold and silver with them when they fled Richmond, Virginia in April 1865. The Confederate gold, again, showed up in the 1994 sci-fi movie, Timecop. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. As for the Richmond bank gold, it quickly fell into the hands of Federal troops, which occupied Washington within days after Davis left. So the treasure has never been found. By all accounts, he stayed by the tracks between Atmore and Bay Minette Alabama stealing from the trains every chance he got. A rich man named Hansen was a Confederate sympathizer who wanted to financially help the Confederate economy that was falling apart at the end of the Civil War. Louina by all accounts was a wealthy Indian woman. He was then valued at $300,000 which made him a wealthy man, to say the least! Continue with Recommended Cookies. They held it until General John Bell Hood marched his Confederate army through in 1864. One of the first settlements of Alabama is called Dauphin Island. In the 1966 Spaghetti Western movie "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," the protagonists get information about lost Confederate gold hidden in a . Whatever they had started off with, travel expenses had steadily depleted their coffers by that time. For Semple, as with Tidball, history is mute on the activities of both men. The gold became a lost legend. The two wooden boxes full of Confederate gold fell out of the wagons and sank quickly into the mud. The gold (or some of it) in their treasury came with them. He is said to have stored the gold and silver coins that he got from the Ferry goers in wine casks. 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. 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