Sumptuous Southern Stories ofMissing Confederate Money

Racing against time - and doubling-down on their odds of escaping the pursuingfederal cavalry - the raced south from Richmonduntil it literally ran out of track and options in a north-eastern Georgia town calledWashington. On board this ill-fated train (which ultimately had to resort tobecoming an unwieldy wagon train) was money - a strange brew of northern goldcoins, Mexican silver coins, of Georgia and Carolinian gold sweepings,and bales of Confederate (CSA) paper currency. There were also barrels of probably old US large cents (obsolete, but still valuable).

There was plenty of cunning and internal deal-making, as well as good and badintentions afoot, as the last days of the Confederacy played out and the money thatwas left in the CSA Treasury was hurriedly put on board steam trains that dashedsouth out of Richmond, Virginia when fell to Union forces led byU.S. Grant. Wealth of every description was part of the exodus - the remnants ofthe Confederate Treasury, the gold (and other private treasure) of the principalRichmond banks and unlisted stores of money from wealthy individuals (which nodoubt could have included the infamous and influential Knights of the GoldenCircle - KGC). Private wealth included in this mix of coins were everydenomination from $50 hexagonal gold pieces to older includinghalf-dimes struck in New Orleans.

Official and court records also show that abundant Richmond Bank gold wasfunneled on board - about 7 million dollars' worth in today's spending power - allintended for Confederate General Robert E Lee's bedraggled Army of NorthernVirginia. Controversy existed regarding whether or not the wassubject to the Union's Confiscation Laws; this issue was debated in federal courtfor 28 years.All along the route that the money took -- from Danville, VA to Greensboro andCharlotte, NC and through Newberry, Abbeville and Vienna, SC and finallyseveral stops in Georgia - the troubles multiplied (Lincoln was assassinated;Generals Lee and Johnston surrendered, and the Union forces closed in). Themoney on that beleaguered train- especially gold and silver - became the envy ofpardoned Confederate soldiers as well as the Union cavalry.

Sumptuous Southern Stories of Missing Confederate Money is a finespread of these tales of coins and currency, mishaps and mayhem, and a big dashof adventure that traces the path of the Confederate Treasure Train to its end andbeyond. The events took place in April and May of 1865 - and they involvebarrels of silver coins possibly being left in a cemetery in Danville, VA plus $50California gold pieces being heisted near Petersburg, GA and $25,000-plus ofBritish Gold Sovereigns being secretly disbursed near rural Gainesville, FL.

Our earlier book - -- delved intothis story of the very end of the Civil War. This first book examined many of thepersonalities involved and towns that were traveled through as the steam trainsyielded to wagon-trains and traveled through areas along the Savannah River thatare now under 30 feet of water.

The authors - - traveled through the South on a in June of this year - and uncovered yet more stories and lore, which gaverise to And, more stories are drifting in to us!

This sequel picks up on intriguing stories of missing money and maneuvers toescape capture and ransacking, including more insights into the heist of theRichmond Bank and as revealed by one ofVaughn's Brigade's former cavalrymen when he was in his 70s. And there is anintriguing investigation into a massive iron strongbox that has been sitting quietlyin a Georgia library for a century that was opened with fanfare in 1948 - we'llreveal what was found (or not). And then there is the hand-written to theConfederacy that was originally written on the back of a CSA $500 bill in a hotelin Richmond by a paroled soldier who had served under General Johnston & wascopied over and over by veterans as a memento to the (Talisman &Coiner have the good fortune of having seen such a Confederate bill - this time, ona $10 note - thanks to Erick Windsor, avid coin dealer.) And David Hill of theAmerican Numismatic Society (ANS) was kind enough to share a rare - dated May 10th 1865 - and hand-struck on a Mexican Reale.

The book is 8 1/2 by 11 inches and has nine chapters with fewer than 100 pages. Itis spiral-bound for easy reading and sharing with friends and family. There areample color and black-and-white photos and illustrations through-out,

Bulk orders for coin clubs and school groups are available.

For more information, or to order, see:
https://talisman-coiner-productions.us/

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
NEW BOOK: MONEY, MAYHEM AND MIGHT(https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n34a06.html)
NEW BOOK: THE CONFEDERATE TREASURE TRAIN(https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n46a04.html)
NEW BOOK: MINTING PRINTING & COUNTERFEITING(https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n21a03.html)