Confederate Gold-Stories of others and any Help with this one

[Bridge End Farm]

I don't have any actual documentation on this or any of the KGC caches in the Everglades. I tried to locate the records once back in the 80's. The University of Miami Library has the complete official records of the War Between the States. It is over 100 volumes. I spent a whole day and got burnt out trying to sort through it all and ended up getting locked in at closing time. They shut the lights off and I was on the 7th floor (I think it was the 7th) and ended up having to be escorted out.

All of this cache is rumor and speculation. I would really like to see the official records.
But you never know what you will find in the search. For instance I was following a lead about a guy who found a sword on a hammock. The guys son worked with my friend. So I drove to Davie, Fl from Miami and talked with him. A Cuban fellow who had a 5 acre spread up there and was using the sword to cut off chicken heads. My friend annealed it and brought the blade back to almost perfect condition. Then he kept it in the house. It was dated 1716 with a brass handle. I offered to purchase it but he refused. Handling that sword got my blood pumping. He couldn't recall where he was but he was out hunting with friends and he sat down on an oak limb in some unknown hammock, shuffled his feet in the leaves and uncovered the blade. Why can't I be that lucky?

me too , but like you said you never know what or who was below your toes a few hundred years ago

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

It very easy to get lost in those swamps. It wasnt until 1842 when the first white man ventured into the interior. Its extremely easy to get lost even today with no landmarks and few roads. I never heard anyone use the word "afraid" but I suppose its possible they were hiding. My guess is they were more concerned about surviving. And they would have to be very resourceful to have survived in such a hostile environment, in the middle of nowhere, far from any coast. If they had anything valuable, it does not surprise me at all that they would choose to bury it before being captured. (according to legend)

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

They may not have been lost, only the gold. lol

Thanks for the link I will read it. I found another KGC version with a map.



Knights Of The Golden Circle Cache

There is a story that some folks raised over $50,000, others say as high as $200,000 in gold coins for the Southern cause during the Civil War. The money was supposed to be shipped to England and a Confederate blockade runner was waiting for the gold at Jupiter Lighthouse. The officer in charge of getting the gold there was a Major Reynolds. According to the story Union forces were too close and he took his command deep into the Everglades and found a small island that once was a plantation. It was here that the gold was supposedly buried until things were safer to move to it. For whatever reason the gold was never moved and the location was lost. Many years later a pilot spotted an island while flying over the Everglades. He thought it look like the trees were growing in unnatural rows and so he planned a return to the site. He led a group to the location and there found old rifles and other items identified as Confederate origin. The treasure however was not found. Treasures buried by the group known as the Knights of the Golden Circle, have both their believers and those who doubt the South had much gold left at the end of the Civil War. Whatever the case, the searching continues for these caches of treasure yet today.

Photos Included:

A map of Dade County with a mark placed in the believed general location of this Civil War treasure cache.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I found another KGC version with a map.

That story sounds oddly familiar

The names and places in this version may match your research Mr. O. I dont have time now, I gotta go out.

Thanks again for the link SWR. Very interesting.

 

[sabre15]

BCH, what do you think about us getting a helcopter and do some air recon? And look at some areas?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

BCH, what do you think about us getting a helcopter and do some air recon? And look at some areas?

Light plane is all you need. ...or google earth. A very vast area and I dont know what we are looking for? I need to read all this new information, copy it and add it to my records. A lot of studying to do. I also need to speak with the Indians. I camped on Indian property last hunting season (with permission) and maybe I can make a deal. ...maybe. ...maybe not.

Your cache post has gathered more tips than my Swamp Gold post has done in 3-1/2 years! Lets do a search on Major Reynolds. ...Mr. O?



BTW Fort Shackleford has been found on Indian property. (see map) Now thats ironic. They burnt down the US Army fort during the war and now they own the property.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

And here is the not KGC related version.


Collier County

Alligator Alley’s Confederate Cache


Retreating after a battle in 1865, Confederate soldiers carrying $200,000 in gold coins and almost $1 million in currency, decided to bury the hoard to prevent it from being captured by Union forces. A spot was selected deep in the Everglades, it is where two creeks join and land rises in two camel-like humps. This location is believed to be somewhere between highway 41 and Alligator Alley, near the Seminole Indian Reservation. This hoard has never been recovered as far as anyone knows.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

And here is the not KGC related version.

Er....was the KGC version actually submitted by the KGC? Or, possible by the same creators (storytellers) that created this version?

It seems the KGC version was born on another treasure hunting forum?

Both of these versions go back at least to the early 1940's. I would imagine they are much older.

 

[mindspark]

Big Cypress Hunter - In reference to the Pirate who left the woman on one of the keys. The key name is Pavillion Key, in the Everglades Natl Park. It was named after the US Navy found the remain of a woman under a pavillion. I think the story was the pirate left here there to die and built the pavillion for her. Anway... for some great research that was done by the author, read the "Killing of Mr. Watson" The only part that is fictional is the dialog of the people in it. But even a lot of that is factual. It is all based on facts he gleaned by extensive research in the area, archives, and old time residents of the area. Great book full of facts about the 10,000 island area enough to drive any treasure hunter to get anxious and frustrated all at the same time.

Also, in a prior post. The one with the map with the red X. Who put the X on that map?
The "found" camping spot for the Confederates was on Horseshoe Head, south east of Fort Shackleford and the cache is supposed to be around there, not so far north.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Also, in a prior post. The one with the map with the red X. Who put the X on that map?
The "found" camping spot for the Confederates was on Horseshoe Head, south east of Fort Shackleford and the cache is supposed to be around there, not so far north.

Just a map I found online. Very good link on Florida Treasures. Check it out its 4 friendly pages long. http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?s=ff0df08fc37f9efd6b21ee0cff2a6362&t=13919
http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?s=ff0df08fc37f9efd6b21ee0cff2a6362&t=13919

http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=13919&page=3

 

[mindspark]

Big Cypress Hunter - Thanks for the links. A good travel log tour of some treasure areas. Just general information, like the x on the map for the Everglades Cache. The photos are great. I'll have to scan some photos I have of the Canepatch and walking the swamps inside Loop Road so some of the other readers not familiar with southern Florida terrain can get an idea just how insane it is in some areas you have to walk through to get where you want to go.

 

[Oroblanco]

Bigcypresshunter wrote

Lets do a search on Major Reynolds. ...Mr. O?

I will see what I can turn up amigo - sorry for the delay in replying, it is 'calving season' here so I cannot get online every day. There may well be several Major Reynolds, is there any other clue that would help pin down the correct one? Thank you in advance,

SWR wrote

Er....was the KGC version actually submitted by the KGC? Or, possible by the same creators (storytellers) that created this version?

It seems the KGC version was born on another treasure hunting forum?

That is quite possible, in fact with the majority of FALSE (fantasy) lost treasure stories, it is relatively easy to trace down the "birth" of the story. (One example offhand, author Barry Storm "transplanted" a story of the Two Soldiers' lost gold mine INTO the Superstitions, which then got repeated by at least one later author, <Sims Ely> until now some folks are convinced it was in fact in the Superstitions when the actual original incident took place in quite another mountain range, many miles away and even a somewhat different time period.) I think it is being referred to as a "KGC version" not to imply that the KGC created the story but that this different version has them as the actors.

I will sure post what I find on Major Reynolds, BigCy - lets see what we can find out!
your friend,
Oroblanco

 

[sabre15]

I would like to see some aerial views of that plantation off of jupiter. That would be interesting to investigate.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I would like to see some aerial views of that plantation off of jupiter. That would be interesting to investigate.

jupiter inlet

http://jnmorgan.com/

 

[mindspark]

What plantation? Horsehoe Head... what is believed to be the last camping spot for the Confederates?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Notice the yellow map I posted. You will see a trail going to Fort Shackleford. That is probably the trail that the retreating Confederates used on their way to Horseshoe Head. The fort would have been mostly ashes when they found it. Another interesting note would be the drainage canal to Lake Okeechobee. The ancient Calusa Indians actually hand dug a canal so they could canoe from the big lake to the Caloosahatchee River all the way to the Guilf of Mexico. When the original canals were found it was thought dug by the Spaniards. Amazing feats of engineering were left behind by the ancients. Turner River has another shell lined canal. The Spanish Indian Chikika was actually believed to be half Calusa and was probably the last of the ancients in Florida.

 

[Oroblanco]

OK, I have found someone who MAY be the Major Reynolds we are looking for. I found someone named BL Reynolds who was a Captain in command of an Independent Battalion of Florida Infantry, in the District of East Florida. Apparently this unit was in the Battle of Olustee (FL). Could this be the Major Reynolds? Thank you in advance,
Oroblanco

 

[Oroblanco]

HOLA amigos,

Is this the story we are researching?
quote
KGC GOLD IN THE EVERGLADES

In 1862, under the auspices of a hot Florida sun, Confederate Major Thomas Reynolds was on the run from Union troops. His mission was simple enough, get a shipment of gold coins estimated to be nearly $200,000 worth to a secret location near Jupiter Lighthouse, where a Confederate blockade runner waited to transport the hoard for shipment to banks in Europe. This gold was from members of the secretive Knights of the Golden Circle in Ohio.

To avoid capture, Major Reynolds reached Lake Okeechobee and decided to head South. He and his men found a small village in the Everglades, about 30 miles South of the lake, where a group of Baptists from South Carolina had established a sugar plantation in the 1830's. Figuring this was a safe spot, Major Reynolds instructed his men to bury the chest of gold coins for safekeeping.

For one reason or another, the chest of gold was never recovered. Shortly after World World 2, a pilot flying over the Everglades about 30 miles West of Fort Lauderdale spotted an island where banana trees were growing, something highly unusual for this area. He led a small party who rented an airboat and spent the next 3 weeks combing the region, recovering a number of CSA rifles, canteens, bullet molds and other misc Confederate military equipment.

Most treasure experts say this is the location where Major Reynolds buried the Knights of the Golden Circle chest of gold coins. Some have even suggested that the cache may have been divided and buried between 2 islands at this location. But, would they have had time to do this? I feel if they buried the cache here on this island and knowing full well that Union troops were scounting nearby for them, Major Reynolds would of only used one location. Using logical sense would make the difference. If they had returned to salvage the chest of coins I don't feel Major Reynolds would of spent the extra time digging in two spots when he could of just dug in one.

There are numerous accounts of treasure being stored or lost in the Everglades and one smart treasure hunter with a sense of direction could probley find this island and the original location of the sugar plantation. Who knows what else may be hidden there? Only the alligators and snakes know for sure and I doubt they are going to provide any answers!
by By Randy Sumpter ( Offering FREE research help ! )
[email protected]

unquote

I presume this is the story? If it is, we have enough info to determine if it is truth or bogus now. Let me know if this is the same story, and thank you in advance,
Oroblanco

 

[ivan salis]

HUMM MAJOR REYNOLDS ( IN CHARGE OF A GROUP OF MEN FROM EAST FLORIDA ?) AND ACTIVE IN THE BATTLEOF OLUSTEE -- IF SO HE WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY KNOWN / AND / OR WORKED WITH CAPT JJ DICKISON * ( WHO IS WELL KNOWN TO ASSIST IN THE ESCAPE OF HIGH RANKING CONFEDERATES) IF REYOLDS WORKED IN NORTH / NORTHEAST FLORIDA AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER HE WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY MET J J DICKISON WHO WORKED HEAVILY IN THE NORTH AND CENTRAL FLORIDA AREA -- COULD REYNOLDS HAVE BEEN SENT TO MET UP WITH JEFF DAVIS GROUP IN GEORGIA , TO ACT AS GUIDES / BODY GUARDS TO LEAD JEFF DAVIS AND THE CONFEDERATE FUNDS TO DICKISON IN WALDO ? TO ASSIST THEM AND THE MONEY ESCAPE? -- MAYBE DAVIS SENT SOME OF THE MONEY AHEAD IN THEIR CARE TO WALDO (NOTE SOME OF JEFF DAVIS PERSONAL BELONGS WERE LATER FOUND IN WALDO BY UNION TROOPS *)-- HOWEVER DAVIS HIMSELF WAS CAUGHT IN GEORGIA . --- ONCE WORD CAME THAT DAVIS WAS CAUGHT IN GEORGIA AND THAT THE "GIG WAS UP" --THE FUNDS WERE MOVED SOUTHWARD IN A EFFORT TO GET THEM TO A BLOCKADE RUNNER TO SPIRIT THEM OUT OF THE COUNTRY ( FOR AFTER WAR USE TO ASSIST SOUTHERNERS RATHER THAN LET THE US GOVT GRAB IT)-- AS THEY WENT SOUTH THE UNION TROOPS "SQUEEZED IN" TRAPPING THE TROOPS CARRYING THE MONEY SO IT WAS HIDDEN IN THE SWAMPS -- WITH THE TROOPS THAT HID IT BEING CAUGHT AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE THE SWAMP AREA AFTER HIDING THE GOLD COINS.

 

[mindspark]

The Confederates realized they were being pursued by Union troops when they were at the north end of the lake and decided to detour south. The east side of the lake was mostly low ground; sawgrass. Big Cypress Hunter is probably correct to speculate that they took the western trail by Fort Shackleford. That side is in the Big Cypress, and mostly high ground, pinelands and prairies. If you go to google earth and see were Horseshoe Head is in relation to the Big Cypress, they would have had to leave high ground and go through sawgrass to get to Horseshoe Head. The only logical reason for going there was that the Baptist's they hooked up with took them to their plantation there and went there for saftey reasons.

But to leave from there to return to civilization, they would have to had backtracked. Trying to go east without canoes or a guide would have meant disaster. Established Indian trails and army trails ran through the Big Cypress to the west and could easily be followed once out of the swamp. I've read a lot of the records from the Seminole war and it was reported that during their searches in the Everglades they would follow a lot of the established trails. Since no one has used them in over a hundred years the Glades reclaimed them. I searched for one major trail in the Big Cypress once and it was completely overgrown, but you could still see it in places.

Anyway, they could have just headed back with the gold, got lost and buried it elsewhere. I have not seen any actual record of this event even occuring, but it persisted all this time, so there must be some thread of truth in it.

The trees the pilot who spotted the old plantation were not bannana trees. Bannana trees were grown by the Indians along with pumpkins on any hammock they made a village. What he saw were royal poinciania trees. Those were the trees not native to the ecology of the area that the pilot took notice of and when flying in closer saw the remnants of cabins.

You need an airboat to get to horseshoe head. And it is on the Indian Reservation. I tried to walk to it from the levy once, but I do not care for walking in almost waist deep water in sawgrass. They don't call it SAW grass for nothing. It cuts skin really well. And it is thick.

Years ago before they levied the area, and stopped the water flow by putting in Alligator Alley, there was still the sheet water of the "river of grass" but there were channels that flowed and more open shallower water. Open areas had lilly pads and with a canoe it was more navagible though the channels. Now, you really need an airboat to skid over the top of it;l it is all just thick, sawgrass. What I am saying is that it probably wasn't as bad back then as it is now to reach it.

Someone came up the name Major Reynolds, and Captain Riley, so unless they are just fictional there should be some record. When found it will give more credibility to the tale.