The Opelousas courier., 1886-05-15
A Treasure Of the War.
BY AN E-x-CoNFEDERATE

Georgia, and before the conflicts at Lost
and Pine Mountains, | was continually
on the front with a band of scouts. We
penetrated the Yankee lines time after
time, but always toreturn to headquarters
with the same report. Sherman had one
of the grandest armies in the world, and
he was in such strength that he could
fight Johnston in front and pass his
TANKS at the same time.
One day, when scouting between Mari
eta and Etowah River, the Federal cav-
airy passed and cut off my retreat by the
highways, and for six or seven hours /
was obliged to secrete myself in a thicket.
It 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 Skin
mishing. He took to me kindly, and had
logged my heels for half an hour when
he suddenly leaped aside and began paw
ing the ground at the foot of a large
we E.ES
beech. halted for a moment and saw
that the earth was fresh as if a grave had
been dug. It was but natural to con-
clude that some one had been shot near
by and that his comrades had given him
burial.
Upon closely examining the tree 1
found the fresh-cut-lines: I'D. S. Gu
They were not where one would have
looked for them, but within three feet of
the ground. / had no doubt whatever
that a dead man rested there, and I
picked up a club and drove the dog away
under the impression that he was hungry
and determined to get at the body. I
succeeded after q couple Of days in get
ting back into the Confederate lines, and
the incident did not recur to me for long
years.
One summers day in 1870, while I was
going from Rome to Gainesville, I formed
the acquaintance OF a stranger who gave
his name as Charles Gains, and who
claimed to be a Virginian- He said he
was looking for improved land, and had
been advised to locate near Marietta.
This story was straight enough, except
that I did not believe he was a Virginian.
He hadn't the look nor the dialect, and
when came to quiz him about certain
locations around Richmond he soon be-
came confused.
I was then a detective In the employ of
several railroad lines, and it was only
natural for me to ask myself why this man
had lied to me / took pains to let him
know that ! was willing to answer all his
questions, and directly he began asking
about the section of country between
Marietta and the EtQwah. He wanted
TO know the value Of land il much forest
had been cleared since the war if there
had been any finds of treasure around
Marietta, and various other things, He
worked the answers out of me without
seeming to be more than generally inter
csted, and while I was somehow suspic-
ious Of him, could not exactly determine
on what to place my finger. But he had
lied. Why2 / kept asking myself this
question, but could not answer it.
He had a ticket To Gainesville, and be-
fore we reached that place / had made up
my mind to go with him to Marietta.
What decided me was this: He sat on
the outside Of the seat and d passenger
going to the water-cooler knocked his
hat of. It rested for d moment ID the
aisle, and ] plainly read the name "Bos-
tom inside In gilt letters. The name of
the maker was above it, but Iscould not
catch il. No hat sold in Richmond
would bear the name of Boston. Where
did he get ita By and by I made q care
ful examination Of his boots. He never
bought them south Of the Ohio. / de-
cided the same III regard to his clothing.
He was trying to deceive me. What OBJ
ject could he have IN view?
When we reached Marietta both of us
vent tt the same hotel. I thought he
began to fight shy Of me and I took pains
10 keep out Of his way. During the
evening he asked several townspeople ID
rsgard to.the country north Of Marietta,
And engaged OF d livery man . saddle