Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-02-26
A Treasure Of the War.
BY AN EX-REBEL.


ny AN Ex-REDEL.
When Johnston was falling back
before Sherman's advance through
Northern Georgia, and before the
conflicts al Lost and Pine Mountains,
l was continually on the front with q
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 grandest armies in the world,
and he was in such strength that he
could fight Johnston In front aud
pass his flanks at the same time.
One day, when scouting between
Marietta and the Etowah RiYer, the
Federal cavalry passed and cut off
my retreat by the highways, and for
six or seven hours l was obliged to
secrete myself in a thicket. 1t was in
leaving this hiding place that came
across dog which was doubtless
owned in the near vicinity, but had
been frightened into the woods by
the skirmishing. lie took to me kind
ly, and had dogged my heels for half
an hour when he suddenly leaped
aside and began paving the ground
at the foot of large beach. halted
for moment and saw that tho earth
was fresh as If a grave had been dug.
II was but natural TO conclude that
some one had been shot near by and
that his comrades had given him bu-
rial.
Upon closely examining the tree
| found thee fresh-cut-iniiials: I'D.
s. g." They were not where one
would have looked for them, but with
In three feet OF the ground. / had no
doubt whatever that a dead man rest
ed there, and picked up club and
drove the dog away under the impress
sion that he was hungry and deter
mined to get at the body. l succeed
ed after couple of days in getting
back into the Confederate lines, and
the incident did not recur to me for
long years.
One summers day in 1870, while
| was going from Rome to Carters-
vile, | formed the acquaintance of
stranger who gave his name as Charles
Gains, and who claimed to be Vir-
ginian. He said he was looking for
improved land, and had been advised
to locate near Marietta. This story
was straight enough, except that |
did not believe he was Virginian.
lie hadn't the look nor the dialect,
and when came to quiz him about
certain locations around Richmond
he soon became confused.
/ was then detective in the en-
ploy of several railroad lines, and IL
was only natural for me TO ask myself
why this man had lied TO me. / took
pains to let him know that / was will
ing to answer all ms questions, and
directly he began asking about the
section of country between Marietta
aud the Etowah. lie wanted TO know
the value of land If much forest had
been cleared since the war; if there
had been any finds OF treasure around
Marietta, and various other things.
lie worked the answers out of me
without seeming to be more than
generally interested, and while was
somehow suspicious of him, could
not exactly determine on what to
place my finger. But he had lied.
why ? kept asking myself this ques-
ton, but could not answer il.
lie had a ticket to Gainesville, and
before we reached that place had
made up my mind to go on with him
60 Marietta. What decided me was
this: He sat on the outside of the
seat and passenger going 10 the wa
ter.cooler knocked his hat of. 1t rest
ed for moment in the aisle, and /
plainly read the name "Boston" inside
In gilt letters. The name of the maker
was above 1t, but could not catch it.
No hat sold in Richmond would bear
the name of Boston. Where did he
get it2 BY and by made careful
examination of his boots. lie never
bought them south of the Ohio. l de-
cided the same in regard to his cloth
ing. 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 began to fight shy of me and took
pains to keep out of his way. Durin
The evening he asked several towns
people in regard to the country north
of Marietta, and engaged of a livery
man a saddle-horse for next day. l
did heap of thinking that night over
the strangers case, but when morn
ing came was none the wiser for it.
His horse was brought around after
breakfast and he rode of. / was.
tempted to get another and follow
him, but by what rightP What had
he done or what was he going to do
1 went up to my room on an errand,
not yet decided whether to go or stay
and in the hallway my foot struck
memorandum book. carried it in
| A n.,I l..