Swamp Gold

[chlsbrns]

Leaving Punta Rassa, where would corduroy rd be and if i am reading this correctly he went to fort meade which was north towards orlando if I am correct. Would it be possible he left east and buried it on the way heading north or went into the everglades and then headed north. What did they consider everglades then.

Corduroy rd is not the name of a road it is a type of road. A corduroy rd is a road made from trees. https://www.google.com/search?q=cor..._CtLhsATT24Bw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=960&bih=552

Barbours corduroy rd was the road leading over the salt marsh at punta to where the cattle were loaded onto the ships.

 

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[ECS]

ECS, what can you tell me about corkscrew swamp and 50 LBs?

That information is on several earlier posts on this thread.Florida cracker cattleman,Jacob Summerlin,in tandem with the CSA "Cow Calvalry" out of Fort Meade,sold cattle to Cuba,shipped out of his docks in Punta Rassa,which were delievered by way of Confederate blockade runners to Cuba(routes set up by CSA Sec of State Judah P Benjamin),and only accepted Cuban or Spanish gold coins as payment.The Union garrison at Fort Meyers was always on the seek and secure for the cattle,cattlemen,and the gold payments .
Capt Henry A Crane,US Fort Meyers,recruited local Confederate deserter who grew up in the area and was neighbor to several of the cattlemen and "Cow Cavalry",Lt James D Green,and gave him the mission to loot and burn his former neighbors homesteads.Green chased CSA Pvt Lanier into the Corkscrew Swamp.

 

[sabre15]

I have been spending some time tracking through the area. It occurred to me that if Private Lanier made it past SR 29 area, why would he bury the gold and not just take it to ft meade since he made it that far already. If you were running from someone or a garrison, wouldn't you take off and bury it quickly like in your first break or rest stop? Could this be closer to ft myers area? Are there old maps that show the water and creeks etc? Tried to pm you but it said you (ECS) were banned. Weird, anyways I am going back down that way soon after I do some more homework. If you would like to discuss the info we have to date or if you can help me hunt down Laniers private diary that would be great, I would like to find something in writing where he was recorded when he got to ft meade. Something was on record and hopefully more than just he knew how to get back to where he buried it, you think they would have him draw a map. Any thoughts?

 

[sabre15]

He knew he was going to Ft Meade, in doing so he had to cross the Caloosahatchee River, why not find a place along the river (creek junctions) for a reference point? And bury it...

 

[ECS]

He knew he was going to Ft Meade, in doing so he had to cross the Caloosahatchee River, why not find a place along the river (creek junctions) for a reference point? And bury it...

You must take into account that US Lt James D Green,a CSA turncoat,knew all the trails used by the "Cow Cavalry",he raided,looted,and burned their homesites.Lanier broke off from the others in his unit who were pursued by Green and his men.
Some of this is mentioned in the diary of Charles Greenleigh McKinney,who served at Fort Meade under Major Mornelin and Capt Hendry.McKinney's daughter,Lilly Lee,married Charles Christopher Johnson,who had a scam of coating silver dollars with gold and passing them off as $20.Incidently,Mel Fisher consulted with Johnson,who was a treasure hunter,concerning the lost 1/2 ton gold story.

 

[sabre15]

may be the wrong lanier

Regarding Lanier Bridge. James Lanier: Lanier was born in 1799 in Georgia. By the late 1840's he and his family lived in, what was then, Benton County in the Buddy's Lake Settlement. While Lanier was a slaveholder, he most likely contracted additional laborers from family or neighbors to help construct the bridge. Before 1860, Lanier and his family relocated a few miles south to Socrum in what is now northwest Polk County. During the US Civil War, Lanier sold cattle to the Confederate Government. On April 7, 1864, Lanier was the only man killed in a skirmish referred

	By Dean Moss McCracken, June 17, 2013
4. Lanier Bridge Marker
This marker dedicates a 10 mile section of US Hwy 98 North, between Lakeland and Dade City, Florida to Agent John Van Waters.

to as the "Battle of Bowlegs Creek" southeast of Ft. Meade, Florida. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Pleasant Grove Cemetery east of Ft. Meade. Sources: Lanier, Lois Kleinhenn: The Lanier Family in the United States: Vol 1: John and Elizabeth Bird Lanier, 2000. The National Archives: Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens or Business Firms 1861-1865. Pub# M346, Cat ID# 2133274, Record# 109, Roll#0569. US Census and Slave Schedules 1850 & 1860.

 

[ECS]

Letter dated April 13,1864,US Capt Henry A Crane,US Fort Meyers-"The detachment sent to Fort Meade in my last had a fight with the Rebs and drove them from the place Thursday last destroying all their stores complete,and killing a leading guerilla,Lanier,and rounding out several others with horses,and without any loss whatsoever".
Crane held great disdain for the Rebel guerillas and civilians and maintained a scorched earth policy towards all.

 

[Rebel - KGC]

GREAT info from you BOTH! CARRY ON!

 

[chlsbrns]

I think you are looking in the wrong places.



"were engaged by Fort Meyers Union raiders,led by US Lt James T Green on Moses Barber's corduroy road.
Having knowledge of old Seminole War trails,the Confederates plunged into the Evergalades,with the Union in pursuit.
Lesley ordered CSA Pvt Lanier to stay behind and bury the gold,as he led the Union raiders off in another direction,finally losing the pursuing Yankees."

Assuming that Mcgregor blvd in the pic was the Corduroy rd the gold would have to be confined to the Corduroy rd area that currently has very few small streams.

 

[sabre15]

I think you are looking in the wrong places.

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1052174"/>

"were engaged by Fort Meyers Union raiders,led by US Lt James T Green on Moses Barber's corduroy road.
Having knowledge of old Seminole War trails,the Confederates plunged into the Evergalades,with the Union in pursuit.
Lesley ordered CSA Pvt Lanier to stay behind and bury the gold,as he led the Union raiders off in another direction,finally losing the pursuing Yankees."

Assuming that Mcgregor blvd in the pic was the Corduroy rd the gold would have to be confined to the Corduroy rd area that currently has very few small streams.

I challenge anyone to show where there is recorded info to where pvt Lanier said he buried the gold. If anyone could prove it isn't heresay it would probably be ecs. I just am starting to question this because there is alternate info out there regarding the name lanier. I went to ft meade, they have a yearly reenactment of the bowlegs battle. Their website and literature state a lanier was the only one to die in the battle and that he was an older man and of a civilian type cattle guy. I am wondering g if names and stories are getting confused or have been confused. If someone can show proof where pvt Lanier was recorded of burying gold where 2 creeks meet etc. I will find it if it has not been found yet.

 

[ECS]

I challenge anyone to show where there is recorded info to where pvt Lanier said he buried the gold. If anyone could prove it isn't heresay it would probably be ecs. I just am starting to question this because there is alternate info out there regarding the name lanier. I went to ft meade, they have a yearly reenactment of the bowlegs battle. Their website and literature state a lanier was the only one to die in the battle and that he was an older man and of a civilian type cattle guy. I am wondering g if names and stories are getting confused or have been confused. If someone can show proof where pvt Lanier was recorded of burying gold where 2 creeks meet etc. I will find it if it has not been found yet.

Battle reenactments are more show and entertainment,than real history The raid of Yulee's Margarita Plantation in Homosassa is held in Crystal River,and the Union raid of the Marshall Plantation reenactment has nothing to do with the actual event.
Most reenactments have the two sides fighting,with at least one obligatory field cannon-what is not reenacted are the Union looting,pillaging,rape and burning raids conducted against the Florida civilians,or the guerilla hit and run of the Florida Confederates.
If Lanier was 75yo,a land and slave owning cattle baron,the Confederacy would have given him an officers commission,which was a common CSA practice-he would have been a Captain,not a private.The account comes from the diaries of CSA Capt John T Lesley and and CSA Capt James A McKay,CSA Commissary Agent for South Florida at Fort Meade.

 

[chlsbrns]

I challenge anyone to show where there is recorded info to where pvt Lanier said he buried the gold. If anyone could prove it isn't heresay it would probably be ecs. I just am starting to question this because there is alternate info out there regarding the name lanier. I went to ft meade, they have a yearly reenactment of the bowlegs battle. Their website and literature state a lanier was the only one to die in the battle and that he was an older man and of a civilian type cattle guy. I am wondering g if names and stories are getting confused or have been confused. If someone can show proof where pvt Lanier was recorded of burying gold where 2 creeks meet etc. I will find it if it has not been found yet.

I think you may be right. Ive searched official records and found nothing. I started searching shortly after you posted and search every imaginable search term and nothing!

I did find $50k in gold tossed from a captured ship. Im going to see what I can find on that. $50k in gold is what? About $2 million now?

 

[Rebel - KGC]

HH! Good Luck!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think you may be right. Ive searched official records and found nothing. I started searching shortly after you posted and search every imaginable search term and nothing!

ECS found the story from reading Civil War soldiers diaries I believe and he posted it here on this thread somewhere. It has been a long time since I read this or posted here. The location of two creeks I dont think has been found anywhere outside of treasure books.

ADDED: The account comes from the diaries of CSA Capt John T Lesley and and CSA Capt James A McKay,CSA Commissary Agent for South Florida at Fort Meade.

 

[ECS]

Welcome back, BCH. Any new discoveries?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Welcome back, BCH. Any new discoveries?

Hello ECS. I have been living and working in the swamp for 8 months. I havent done any treasure hunting whatsover and I havent talked to anyone about Cloud Mountain. Maybe it died with Billie, his Indian friend.. I havent heard anything.. I notice that BDD no longer posts here.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

BDD is back on his Pirate treasure thread. Some new links to post. Possible Al Capone Site in the Everglades Who is Jessie Thomson?

 

[diggummup]

BDD is back on his Pirate treasure thread. Some new links to post. Possible Al Capone Site in the Everglades Who is Jessie Thomson?

Jessi Thomson is probably Rob Thomson's wife, the webmaster and managing partner of Waterfront Properties and Club Communities. His facebook page says he's married but his list of family members does not include his wife's name. She's probably smart and stays away from facebook, lol.

 

[ECS]

I challenge anyone to show where there is recorded info to where pvt Lanier said he buried the gold. If anyone could prove it isn't heresay it would probably be ecs. I just am starting to question this because there is alternate info out there regarding the name lanier. I went to ft meade, they have a yearly reenactment of the bowlegs battle. Their website and literature state a lanier was the only one to die in the battle and that he was an older man and of a civilian type cattle guy. I am wondering g if names and stories are getting confused or have been confused...

James Lanier Sr, 75 years old was killed at his homestead during a raiding party of US Lt Green before the Bowlegs Creek battle.
CSA Pvt James Lanier Jr was killed at the Bowlegs Creek Battle.
Below are two different accounts, and one can see that the Laniers became mixed in the accounts.
http://www.museumsouthernhistory.com/warcomestoflorida/battleatbowlegscreek.html
Rebuttal

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

James Lanier Sr, 75 years old was killed at his homestead during a raiding party of US Lt Green before the Bowlegs Creek battle.
CSA Pvt James Lanier Jr was killed at the Bowlegs Creek Battle.
Below are two different accounts, and one can see that the Laniers became mixed in the accounts.
The Museum of Southern History
Rebuttal

Ah there were 2 Laniers both killed. Captain and Private. Which one buried the gold? Im sorry I dont remember.