Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-02-11
A TREASURE OF THE WAR.
En- Confederate in Detroit Free Press.

When Johnston was falling back before
Sherman's advance through Northern Geor.
gia, and before the conflicts at Lost and
Pine Mountains, was continually on the
front with band Of scouts. We penetrated
the Yankee lines time after time, but al
ways to return to headquarters with the same
report. Sherman had one Of the grand
est armies in the. world, and he was in such
strength that he could fight Johnston in
front and pass his fanks at the same time.
One day, when scouting between Marietta
and the Etowah River, the Federal cavalry
passed and cut off my retreat by the high
ways, and for six or seven hours l was
obliged to secrete myself in thicket. 1t
was in leaving this hiding place that
came across a dog which was doubtless
owned in the near vicinity, but had been
frightened into the woods by the skirmish-
my heels for half an hour when he suddenly
leaped aside and began paving the ground
at the foot a large beech. l halted for a
moment and saw that the earth was fresh
as if grave had been fresh dug. 1T was
but natural to conclude that some one had
been shot near by and that his comrades
had given him burial.
Upon closely examining the tree l found
the fresh-cut-initials I'D. S. g." They
were not where one would have looked for
them, but within three feet of the ground.
| had no doubt whatever that dead man
rested there, and l picked up club and
drove the dog away under the impression
that he was hungry and determined to get
at the body. l succeeded after couple OF
days in getting back into the Confederate
lines and the incident did not recur to me
for long years.
Io,, in u,hi1a 7
going from Rome to Gainesville, formed
name as Charles Gains, and who claimed to
be Virginian. He said he was looking
for improved land and had been advised to
locate near Marietta. The story was straight
enough. except that l did not believe he
was Virginian. He hadn't the look nor
dialect, and when l came to quiz him about
certain locations around Richmond he soon
became confused.
was then detective in the employ OF
several railroad lines, and it was only nat
ural for me to ask myself why this man had
lied to me. took pains to let him know
that l was willing to answer all his ques-
tions, and directly he began asking about
the section of country beween Marietta and
the Etowah. He wanted to know the val
ue of land if much forest had been clear
W
finds of treasure around Marietta and va
rious other things. lie worked the an
swers out of me without seeming more than
generally interested, and while was some
what suspicious Of him. l could not exact
ly determine on what to place my finger.
But he had lied. Why? 1 kept asking
myself this question, but could not answer
it satisfactorily.
had ticket to Gainesville, and before
we reached that place l made up my mind
to 90 on with him to Marietta. What de-
cided me was this He sat on the outside of
the seat and a passenger going to the water
cooler knocked his hat off. 1t rested for a
moment in the aisle, and plainly read the
name "Boston" inside in gilt letters. The
name of the maker was above it, but /
mond would bear the name Of Boston.
Where did he get it? BY and by l made
careful examination of his boots. He
never bought them south of the Ohio. |
decided the same in regard to his clothing.
He was trying to deceive me. What object
could he have in view?
When we reached Marietta both of us
went to the same hotel. l thought he be-
gan to fight shy of me and took pains to
keep out of his way. During the evening
he asked several townspeople in regard to
the country north of Marietta, and engaged
of a livery man saddle-horse for next day.
did a heap of thinking that night over
the strangers case, but when morning came
| was none the wiser for it. His horse was
brought around after breakfast and he rode
off. l was tempted to get another and fol-
low him. but by what right? What had he
done or what was he going to do? went
up to my room on an errand, not yet decld-
ed whether to 60 or stay, and in the nall
way my foot struck q memorandum book.
I carried it into my room, and the frst
thing my eye caught was the name inside
the cover, "George Paige" 1t was we'll
worn book and nearly full of entries. Most
of them seemed to relate to trips between
Boston and Providence, but near the back
end found one reading:
"About ten miles north of Marietta, Ga;
turn to right where highway bends to left !;
90 into woods about ten rods; look for twin
beech tree, with initials ID. S. g. cut low
down."
My heart gave jump. That was the
spot where the Yankee cavalry run me into
hiding, and those were the initials | had
seen on the tree! Had this stranger come
down to unearth skeleton? was wonder
ing over the matter when l heard the clat-
ter of hOofs and knew that he had returned.
He had discovered the loss of his book.
Now, then, | did what you may call mean
trick. / pOcketed the book, got down stairs
without being seen, and went to the nearest
Justice and demanded warrant for the ar
rest of George Paige, for robbery. Before
he had ceased looking for his lost memoran-
dunn constable made him prisoner. Mean