So the whole thing is total speculation. That cache Finders Keepers located that ended up being recovered, claimed and covered up by the feds seemed to have been a KGC cache. I have a feeling there are caches like that in other places and perhaps much larger. Just a feeling though.
What's total speculation?
The K.G.C. existed.
Collected dues.
Had sights set on a more Southerly empire/country/ place of enterprise.
As war continued , the current war may be expected to be more of a concern than a future one as far as survival not only of an individual or group ....But the "nation" that would follow war.
Who knew what the results of the war was going to be?
What would become of the subjugated? No one knew for sure who would walk free and at will to make a recovery. Or who would own what land a cache was on even....
We have hindsight as to which direction certain individuals headed at wars end with their well being and that of a governments tangibles. Well,part of those tangibles.
Does that fit with the K.G.C.'s orientation/direction of mission?
I'm not saying they are tied , but heading North was not the popular idea ....
Let's imagine (yep , downright speculation now) you are treasurer of multiple dues collecting treasurers for a group with designs on Southern (beyond U.S. borders) expansion of at least influence in business.
With federal government persecution of your organisation (1864) you are being conservative in displaying your treasury and where and how it exists.
The war rages.
Where would you secure your responsibility of that wealth where it could be accessed regardless of the wars outcome?
You don't know if any of your party will be at liberty to do so on U.S. soil. Not in the short term anyways.
The mission was not future war (per my opinion based on a war already going on with unknown results still) but still Southern region /circle. Those it's location possibly extended beyond the U.S. should the Confederacy not prevail.
You need to be able to make a recovery or recovery's without getting caught/noticed/even relieved of it...
Do you have a central collection site of dues? Or let each Castle mind it's own? Or a little of both?
Now dodge the oppression and get the gold where it's going to be secure regardless of war outcome. And recoverable.
Where among the many places it's not now , is the gold you had??
Hedging your bet through diversity of sites can allow losses here and still having assets elsewhere.
All your eggs in one basket means all is lost if the basket is lost.
Quite the task.
Would you hide a portion North in Federal areas? Right under their noses?
Or let treasurers hide their own eggs while you worry about your own?
Or go beyond contested regions?
Dents Run is in the wind as far as provenance to me still.
Yet let's consider the K.G.C. or an agent post war going to PA. to recover a large (tons of large) cache.(If they are alive and at liberty to move about) Suddenly the recovery is obviously fraught with great risk of exposure. No?
Or (speculation,hello) let it set a hundred years. Two hundred years. I'm not liking the idea. More than a gazillion eyes now ,we've got urban sprawl in the bargain.
With hindsight again , what would you do after the war in regards to the presumed remaining gold dues if any remained ? At least those portions you can access.
With international interests , what specie would you change gold coins into? IF you changed them.
Commonly accepted beats one not desired.
And gold bars? Hard to spend traveling (or at home) without attracting attention. And how to spend only a portion of one?
And post war offering a gold bar in exchange? Big red flag....
