The Silver Madonna and Other Tales of America's Greatest Lost Treasures (21 page)

The reverend cautioned his family members not to dig up any of the treasure until such time as the passions of the war died down and it would be safe to do so. Researchers have determined that the Chennault cache was never retrieved and still lies buried somewhere on the old farm. Over the years, a number of people have arrived at the farm to undertake a search for this rich portion of the Confederate treasury, but with no success.

In recent years, the state-of-the-art technology associated with metal detectors has improved to the point that a number of professional treasure hunters once again began developing plans to make additional attempts at recovering the Chennault farm treasure. They are disappointed to learn, however, that the small tributary near where the gold and silver were cached has been inundated by the waters of Clarks Hill Lake. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Chennault portion of the Confederate treasure lies beneath thirty feet of water today.

A Word about Sources

I have been searching for and accumulating research and information on America’s lost mines and buried treasures for close to six decades. During that time I have read and examined thousands of articles, documents, journals, diaries, maps, and books. To list all of the pertinent resources employed in the writing of this book would require almost as many pages. Should anyone be interested in pursuing their own research on some of the subjects treated in this book in greater depth, I recommend a simple Internet search.

In addition, and perhaps just as important, I have been involved in hundreds of interviews, conversations, discussions, and debates with other treasure hunters, professional and amateur, who have invested significant portions of their lives and finances over the decades in studying about and searching for many of the lost treasures described in this book. For these opportunities I am grateful, and the sharing of their knowledge and experience has contributed mightily to my store of information.

Finally, when it comes to research, nothing beats personal experience. In the course of my more than five decades as a professional treasure hunter, I have had the opportunity and pleasure to be involved with expeditions in search of most of the treasures described in this book. Sometimes I came away with important and valuable discoveries, sometimes not. Invariably I came away with knowledge and information to be filed away for the next quest. And I always experienced an adventure. After seven decades of living for the quest, I no longer get into the field as often as I would like. I suggest that it’s time a new generation undertake the hunt. May you have as much success as I did.

About the Author

W.C. Jameson
is the award-winning author of more than eighty books. He is the bestselling treasure author in the United States and his prominence as a professional fortune hunter has led to stints as a consultant for the
Unsolved Mysteries
television show and the Travel Channel. He served as an advisor for the film
National
Treasure
starring Nicolas Cage and appears in an interview on the DVD. His book
Treasure Hunter: Caches, Curses, and Deadly Confrontations
was named Best Book of the Year (2011) by Indie Reader. In 2013 he was inducted into the Professional Treasure Hunters Hall of Fame.

Jameson has written the soundtracks for two PBS documentaries and one feature film. His music has been heard on NPR and he wrote and performed in the musical
Whatever Happened to the Outlaw, Jesse James?
Jameson has acted in five films and has been interviewed on the History Channel, the Travel Channel, PBS, and
Nightline
. When not working on a book, he tours the country as a speaker, conducting writing workshops, and performing his music at folk festivals, concerts, roadhouses, and on television. He lives in Llano, Texas.