The next cannon they emptied had been marked with the number thirty. Like the others, this cannon also yielded another surprise for them. After Paul removed the broken up mortar, he found the cannon did not contain either loose or bagged coins, but rather it held a combination of twenty-eight gold and silver bars. They were soon found to be similar to the ones they had found in the cemetery a couple of weeks earlier.
The gold and silver bars alone had captured everyone’s attention, but it was the first item Paul had pulled out of the cannon which really surprised all of them. After the mortar had been cleared from the barrel, a decaying cloth bag was removed from inside the cannon. It was the bag of jewelry Francis had placed in the cannon. The bag contained some of the finest jewelry Southern women had ever worn at the time of the war. After the bag was opened, all who were present were stunned by what they had found.
“This is totally unexpected. No one has ever mentioned this as being part of the Confederate treasury that I know of.” For Chick, the person who knew the most about the Civil War among those standing around him, it was a find which caught him totally off-guard. “This had to be a great sacrifice to make for so many ladies. The donation of their jewelry, while likely difficult to part company with for some women, had to have been a personal sacrifice they were willing to make to show their support for the Confederacy. I would suspect this jewelry was among their most prized possessions. This jewelry has just caused this find to be an even more special one than we expected as it shows the personal sacrifices these women made. Some likely donated their jewelry in hopes it would be used to buy food or medical supplies their loved ones might have benefitted from. Money is money, but this collection of jewelry shows how personal the Southern cause had become to them and how much they wanted the Confederacy to succeed. Wow!”
After they spent several minutes examining the jewelry, Paul handed one of the gold bars to the mayor so he and Judge Morgan could examine it. As he turned the gold bar over and over in his hands, Mayor Davis was overwhelmed by what they had just found within this one cannon. “These bars are magnificent, crudely made, but magnificent. What do you think they were made from?”
“Not sure, but I’m guessing they were likely made from people’s silverware, perhaps even from jewelry similar to what we have just found. All melted down to support the Confederacy.” Paul held one of the gold bars in his hands and tried to imagine what had been melted down to make the bar he now held. “Doesn’t really matter though, they are likely worth more than the coins are. We already have found seven similar bars, found them at our last site. They look just like these do.”
“You found more of these already?” Mayor Davis was surprised by the news that other similar looking bars had already been found by Paul and his friends.
“Yes, we did. They surprised us when we found them there also, just as we were surprised by these. A nice surprise though, a very nice surprise.”
The remaining cannon was then opened and emptied of its coins. Overall the contents of each cannon contained between three and four full tote bins of coins. When they had emptied the five even numbered cannons of their hidden assets, a total of fourteen tote boxes had been almost completely filled with gold and silver coins. Two additional tote boxes held the twenty-eight gold and silver bars they found in one of the cannons. They had found even more than Paul hoped they would.
As Mayor Davis stood with Paul near the emptied out cannons, they could not help but stare at the three wooden pallets stacked with tote bins full of gold and silver. The bins now held several million dollars worth of valuables. Paul could not help but needle the mayor while they looked at what they had just found. “Think we have enough to pay for that Anniversary Celebration of yours yet?”
“Yes, Paul, I think we do. So what’s your guess on the worth of what you have found today?”
Paul called to Chick to come over to where he stood with the mayor. As he walked over to join them, Judge Morgan and the mayor began speaking to each other. Paul and Chick briefly talked between themselves for a few minutes as they roughly tried to calculate what they had found. “Mayor, it’s a very rough guess, but we feel we can add another six to eight million, perhaps up to ten, to what we have found already. Conservatively we are looking at somewhere between six to ten million sitting here in front of us. Not a bad days work and we aren’t even done yet.”
“You mean there’s more?” The excitement of the afternoon had caused Mayor Davis to forget that Paul had earlier mentioned they would be moving to another location after finishing up at the garage.
“Let’s get together with Chief Barber so we can get to the other two cannons as soon as possible.” As Paul, Mayor Davis, Judge Morgan and Chief Barber talked, Steve stood nearby listening to what was being discussed. Meanwhile, Chick and Jayne, with help from Bobby Ray and Paul’s two sons, supervised the loading of the now filled tote bins into the armored car. As they did, Pete filmed the process to its end. When they were finished, Chick put eight empty tote bins into his van for their needs at the cemetery.
After speaking with Chief Barber and after the armored car had been loaded, Paul called everyone together in the garage. He then addressed Judge Morgan. “Your Honor, I hope what you and the others have seen here today gives all of you even more of an appreciation for the Civil War than what I know you already have. It certainly has done just that for my friends and me. We have no ownership of this money and we will not be making a claim for any of it as we realize it still belongs to others and not to us. Our motivation has simply been about our passion for the war. It has also been about solving the clues Captain Francis left behind for us. I guess you could say it was the thrill of the hunt which kept us going. We haven’t mentioned this today as we have been kind of busy, but we plan on making a documentary of what we have found as we think it’s a great story that needs to be told.” Paul paused a few moments to collect his thoughts. “Very soon we are going to secure the tote bins with lids and with security tags we have had made up. The tags are tamper resistant. How does all of this sound to you so far?”
“Where do you plan on securing this armored truck?” It was a question asked by Judge Morgan.
“With the mayor’s approval and with Chief Barber’s as well, I would like to secure it within the Impound Lot next to the Charleston Police Department’s parking garage. I have briefly looked at the lot already. Between the well secured gate, the ten foot high privacy fence, the security cameras, and the razor wire on top of the fencing, I believe it’s a secure enough location for now. Mr. Henion confirmed to me earlier the folks at Loomis have graciously allowed us the use of their armored car until we can get this all figured out. To me it makes the most sense to just keep the money stored within the armored car. Perhaps we can take the added precaution of disabling the truck mechanically so it cannot be easily moved if someone wants to try and steal it. I know the Impound Lot is monitored by a fairly sophisticated video and audio surveillance system. The system is similar to one we used back in Connecticut. I also know the system will allow for additional monitoring at little expense, so I would like to have the means to monitor the audio and video feeds on both my laptop and on my Blackberry. Mr. Mayor, is this acceptable to you? I’m trying to show you the same trust you showed in us here today by leaving the money with you.”
“I will have Chief Barber make it happen. If Judge Morgan has no problems with your suggestions, then it is acceptable to me.”
Listening to what had been said, Judge Morgan thought for a moment before speaking. “Mayor, I believe the proper safeguards are in place for the city to protect this money for the immediate future, but I will likely instruct the United States Marshal for South Carolina to come take possession of this money within the next week. Until then it is your responsibility to protect this money and this part of our history.” Judge Morgan then looked at Chief Barber. “Chief, I am holding you personally responsible fo
r this money. Put a plan together to protect this money around the clock; I don’t care what it costs to do it. If I learn of any tampering to the armored car or to any of its contents . . . . well, let’s just say you don’t want that to happen. For if it does, you will be standing before me in open court and you won’t be having a good day. Understood?”
“I do, Judge. We will protect the money. Sir, you have nothing to worry about. I may not be sleeping too well over the next few days, but I hear you loud and clear.” Chief Barber knew Judge Morgan had nothing to worry about regarding the safety of the recovered coins and other valuables. He knew it would be himself who would be doing all of the worrying for the next few days.
Paul then excused himself and asked the others to give him a moment with Judge Morgan. The two of them walked a short distance away from the others, standing near the now empty cannons as they talked. “Judge, one more thing. We have two more cannons to open today. I don’t want to wait until tomorrow to do so as I am afraid once the word gets out everyone in the world will be looking for gold inside of ceremonial cannons from here to who knows where. Your Honor, with all due respect, I don’t think you should be there when we open those two cannons. What I am proposing is that we open those cannons with the world watching us do so. I dislike publicity which is directed at me, always have, but I think opening those cannons with the media present gets this story out in the open and a great story starts to get told today. I believe in transparency and being upfront about what I am doing, that’s why I want to open the cannons today. In my opinion, the money still belongs to the people of the South and I just think they should see and hear about it as soon as possible. Doing so would also likely give the people of Charleston an opportunity to feel good about themselves. It would also give Mayor Davis, who has been great about all of this, a pat on the back for his cooperation and for agreeing to safeguard all that we have found here today. But for you, I would again suggest you not be there. Your position needs to be protected, separated from all of the publicity this story is likely to generate.”
“Paul, I appreciate you looking out for my concerns. I have no interest in being in front of any television cameras as I’m not made to do that kind of work. You certainly don’t need my permission to host a media event as I have no authority at this time on matters like that. That’s an issue the mayor and you have to iron out. But I want you to know I appreciate your position on who the money belongs to. The world needs a few more people like you folks.”
“Judge, I appreciate your kind comments. We all thank you for being here as your presence certainly gave some dignity to the events of the day. I will have Steve call you later so you know how we made out when we opened the last two cannons.” They shook hands with each other before Judge Morgan left to say goodbye to the others. Soon Paul left with the others to finish their day by opening the two cannons that waited for them at the cemetery.
******
At six pm, with Duke Johnson now present, along with representatives from every local television station and print media organization from across South Carolina, cannon number eight was opened. Mayor Davis, with help from Tiny Cochran and Gary Montano, symbolically helped to empty the gold and silver from the cannon on the grounds of Charleston’s Confederate Soldier’s Cemetery. The television film crews and the newspaper photographers could not take enough photos of the three tote bins filled with gold and silver coins from the cannon. Next to the tote bins stood two burly Charleston police officers as Chief Barber was already heeding the stern warning Judge Morgan had given him earlier in the afternoon.
As the public part of the event concluded, and after most of the media had left to prepare their follow-up stories for their eleven pm broadcasts and for the morning editions of their newspapers, the gold and silver was loaded into the armored car. As this happened, Mayor Davis took Paul off to the side and away from the few remaining newspaper reporters who were still present. “Paul, I want to thank you for what you have done for Charleston. On a personal note, I appreciate the touch you suggested regarding the media event. It got me some free and much needed publicity. I won’t forget that.”
“Mayor, it was a pleasure. Thanks for your help today. I’m glad it all worked out. I’m looking forward to attending the Anniversary Celebration.”
“So am I, so am I.”
The mayor was still basking in the glow of knowing his face was already being shown on all of the local television stations that evening. In one form or another, the residents of the city would soon learn their mayor played an instrumental role in helping to discover the missing Confederate gold and silver which had been hidden in Charleston for all of these years. He knew the positive effects from this story would likely carry over to the voting booths in a few months. Senator William Davis had a nice ring to it he thought as he walked back to where his aide waited for him.
As they walked back to where cannon eight was still on display, Paul stopped for a moment. “As the famous philosopher Alice Zerbola often said, ‘Ironic, isn’t it?’”
“What’s ironic, Paul?”
“Mayor, don’t you see the irony in all of this? Here is Charleston, the birthplace of where the fighting first started in that terrible war; it’s a city located in the state which was the first to secede from the Union. Now Charleston and South Carolina will likely be among those who benefit the most from the money we have found. As Alice often said, ‘Ironic, isn’t it?’”
“Yes, I guess it’s just that, very ironic. Say, who is this Alice person you are referring to? I’ve never heard her name before.”
Paul started to walk away, but turned and looked over his shoulder at Mayor Davis. “She was my mother-in-law, a nice lady who I miss.”
In a few short minutes, with Paul and his friends present, as well as Mayor Davis and his aide, along with Paul’s two sons, and the crew from the Charleston Public Works garage, Ken Barton, the cemetery’s superintendent, opened the large overhead door to the cemetery’s maintenance building. Duke Johnson, who had not had the chance to privately see one of the cannons opened up, now saw the last one being opened. After the mortar had been removed from ‘Old Number Six’, Paul looked over at Duke. He was still smiling from what he had just witnessed. “Duke, it’s the last one. It’s all yours to empty out, go for it!”
An hour later they were all done. The last of the blue tote boxes, almost totally full of gold and silver coins from the last two cannons, had now been packed away inside the white colored Loomis armored car. Four Charleston police vehicles, three police motorcycles, the Charleston police department’s helicopter, and Officer Lonnie Mo, who was riding shotgun in the back, escorted the armored car safely back to the Charleston Police Department. It would be safe there until United States Marshals took possession of the money three days later.
Paul had not mentioned to Mayor Davis that one other Confederate cannon had yet to be located. He hoped they could locate it before someone else did. But not tonight, it was time to rest and time to call Donna with the news of the day.
Fall, 1863
28
The Mission Dies.
“I am going fast now. I am resigned; God’s will be done.”
Major General J.E.B. Stuart, CSA
They waited patiently, hidden in the tree line and within the many large shrubs which were mixed in amongst the trees. It was almost as if they were back home hunting, waiting for deer to come out to forage for their nightly meal. Tonight it would be different as it was Yankee soldiers they waited for, soldiers who were hunting them as well. As the night wore on they entertained themselves with their own thoughts to stay awake.
Waiting quietly on the far right side of the tree line, Sgt. Stine had loaded Odom’s rifle to use besides his own. As he waited to see if his trap would work, he spent time recalling the various battles he had fought in before being selected for this assignment. He had been wounded twice, scared more th
an that, and yet he could not wait to get back to the war. He missed being with the folks he grew up with, most of them fighting in the same company with him. More than a few of the men he had served with were dead already, killed in some of the war’s earliest battles. Despite that he longed to get back to those who were still alive as they were the only friends he had known in life. If he was to die in this war, Stine wanted to die fighting alongside his friends and fighting to defend Virginia.
Sgt. Davis had occupied the time daydreaming of home and listening to the sounds which came from the woods around him. He had heard the same noises so many times back home and had hunted many of the same animals making noises this night. Day or night, nice weather or bad weather, he had always felt the most comfortable in the woods. Even on this night he was comfortable as he listened closely for the unmistakable sound a man makes when he is trying to be quiet in the woods. Davis longed to return to the woods and mountains of Virginia as he had long ago grown tired of this senseless war.
Sgt. Banks had not thought of his family or of the war while he waited in the woods. He was fast asleep. He had been fighting a fever the last few days and the lack of sleep, as well as the lack of clean drinking water, had affected him greatly. He had fallen asleep in the woods trying to regain his strength, comfortable knowing his fellow Virginians were protecting him as he did.
As the others did, Francis also had thoughts of home. He spent several minutes thinking of his parents and sister, but spent most of the time thinking of the young and pretty Rita Margaret Lyman who lived near his family’s farm in Virginia. He hoped to make her his wife when the war was over. They had known each other for many years, having first met at the church their families attended on Sunday mornings when they were young children. They had become friends over the years and he had developed a fancy for her during their early teenage years. As he thought of her, Francis thought about the question he would ask her the next time they saw each other. “I hope she will say yes when I ask her to marry me.”
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