My above post is confirming the research of the Pvt Lanier incident,as well as the flight of Benjamin and Breckinridge,and the Cow Calvary and Summerlin's acceptance of Spanish and Cuban gold as possible "root sources" of the Everglades swamp gold legend,ie,actual events that through the telling over time,grew into the story that then expanded in the 1940's on to the 1960's in treasure books and magazines.I thought I made that point clear and evident.
As mentioned in earlier posts,the only "CSA Paymaster" in that area during the time of events,was CSA Capt James McKay of Fort Meade.In his duty as CSA COMMISSARY AGENT FOR SOUTH FLORIDA he was in charge of all payroll,cattle payments,and the purchase of supplies.
In your post #1529 you have a quote attributed to a "Confederate paymaster",that asserts he was caught.
From "records" did this quote originate?For the record,McKay was never captured,and I doubt that the Confederacy would have two paymasters in South Florida.That version is very similar to the Steinhatchee River legend of a CSA paymaster and $200,000 of gold,another morph of the story in a different location.
James McKay Sr. was mayor of Tampa in 1860...and was mostly considered a Tampa resident during the war. He played both sides during the war, and found himself at odds with both sides at different times. He was dealing with old friends in Union Key West, and had a boat confiscated by Confederates on his return, and later burned when it was ordered returned to him. He was indeed captured by Union forces on Oct. 14, 1861, but not carrying gold at Ft. Meade...but aboard his blockade runner, the Salvor....where contraband, including guns and ammunition, was found. The ship was seized and later sold as a prize. He was held by Union forces for about 7 months.
I think you guys should read: "Tampa in Civil War and Reconstruction" by Canter Brown Jr.... It covers all these guys that are tied to this story during the time it was supposed to have occurred....In fact...I think the next logical step would be to contact Mr. Brown, and see if he has heard anything of this story. I think there is no better source for information on central Florida before, during, and after the Civil War, than Canter Brown Jr.
James McKay Jr. was a cow catcher, and often deployed in the Ft. Meade area...mostly to keep an eye on his fathers cattle interests...but I don't think he was the paymaster...just another cowboy/soldier.
I think something that might shoot a hole in the cattle gold payment story is this excerpt from the above mentioned book:
Page 63.
"Naturally, James McKay led all others when it came to slipping through the blockade. From summer 1862 until October 1863 he passed unharmed through six voyages to Cuba. McKay's steamer Salvor having been sold for prize money by its navy captors, the captain used the Scottish Chief. As was true of most of the other blockade runners, he carried cotton as his cargo (the legislation had outlawed cattle exportation). Bringing back medicines, rum, foodstuffs, and other supplies, McKay and his fellow runners relieved in at least a small measure the deprivation endured by the region's frontier settlers."
So....no cattle or gold from early in the war, until about late 1865, after the war, according to this source (which I trust wholeheartedly).
Canter Brown Jr.'s other books on Ft. Meade go into great detail about pre, and post, Civil War cattle for gold business, and the fighting at Fort Meade, and Fort Myers, including the carelessness with which the gold was sometimes handled during the cattle trades boom after the war.
I never did understand why the Confederacy would ship cattle to Cuba and I questioned this point. However there may be an explanation. Maybe Ill hang around long enough to see it solved lol and I may purchase the book and I can read it later during my time in the swamp..
