The famed Confederate Gold
It’s one of the most intriguing unsolved mysteries of the American South: the fate of the massive fortune of Confederate gold that vanished in the midst of the Civil War in the spring of 1865. What has kept this well-known story alive continue to be wild speculations and the persistent rumor that it may still turn up in an unlikely place – Lake Michigan.
The abstract notion of a “treasure” being concealed somewhere within the natural boundaries of Lake Michigan has become a major cultural focus as time has gone on. It’s a topic fired up with controversy, mystery and a certain series of sensational events that have captivated the public’s imagination.
The notion of potentially finding the Confederate Gold in Lake Michigan is an oft-discussed idea even to this day. To date, no substantial evidence has been located to suggest that substantial amounts of this monetary treasure were present in the lake. However, there are definitive reasons to believe the lakes were used for transportation routes for Confederate gold during their retreat and escape.
As with any mystery, there are people who are more than happy to declare Lake Michigan “off limits” while various parties and organizations attempt to mount their own searches and salvage operations. Issues of sovereignty, private property, and jurisdiction arise repeatedly in debates of this kind.
To support their claims, proponents of the Lake Michigan Confederate Gold search point to letters recovered from the War Department in Washington D.C that discuss gold shipments being sent to Lake Michigan ports. Furthermore, the myth suggests that shipment being sent contained gold coins amongst other wealth.
A further reason for supporting the myth is the incredible number of eyewitness accounts and stories that have spread throughout the South for generations. Such accounts provide circumstantial evidence for the treasure’s existence and the potential location of Lake Michigan as the repository.
Beyond the myth and the rumors, there are very few if any tangible indicators that the Confederate Gold of 1864 did in fact cross into Lake Michigan’s depths. Observers and treasure hunters have yet to uncover a single piece of hard evidence that would give a clue as to its exact whereabouts. The search goes on and at the very least, it serves as an interesting subject of discussion and contemplation.
Recent Investigations
In recent years a variety of investigative teams and private organizations have attempted to unearth any historical artifacts or evidence pertaining to the Confederate Gold in the lake. In 2009, the search for Confederate gold in Lake Michigan prompted amateur treasure hunter Bill Gleason to attempt to explore for the riches on the shoreline. Gleason’s efforts were initially blocked as his permit application was rejected by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Regrettably, he later died before his legal issues were resolved.
Gleason’s supposed quest for the hidden treasure has since attracted many thousands of individuals, dredging and searching for the Confederates millions. In 2011 Mathew Honle, a 72-year-old Michigan man, stole a generator and began to personally search the depths of Lake Michigan. According to Honle, he knew exactly where the Confederate gold was, and his stolen generator was all he needed to locate it himself. He was later arrested, reportedly still under the assumption that he alone knew the whereabouts of the Confederate Gold in the depths of the lake.
In 2013, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) responded to a citizen-initiated request for a lake search. The MDEQ found no evidence of the Confederate gold in the lake but concluded that the theory of its presence is plausible, even if the chances of recovering it are low. While the search for Confederate Gold in Lake Michigan continues, the definitive answer still remains to be found.
Possible Gold Locations
As many skeptics and theorists will agree, there are potential locations within Lake Michigan that could possibly conceal any lost Confederate Gold. In the Great Lakes region, many sunken ships from the early-mid 19th century, the golden era of steamships, are said to contain untold amounts of wealth. This is especially the case for ships and vessels that foundered during a storm or war.
The vast size of the Great Lakes is both a protective factor and a hindrance in terms of exploration and discovery. The environmental conditions and the dangers of being out on the lake have made it difficult for amateur treasure hunters to explore. Moreover, almost all the marine life that would have been potentially involved with the movement and burial of the Confederate Gold are long gone.
The only way to determine if the Confederate Gold was either shipped to the lake or loaded onto one of the many steamers that sailed the Great Lakes, is to conduct systematic searches of the lake. Using conventional and unconventional methods, amateur and professional treasure hunters would need to dredge the entirety of the lake until any evidence or clues could be found.
Even so, there is little to no guarantee that the gold would be found. However, it remains a captivating topic of discussion with many people still unearthing clues and advocating for the real possibility of uncovering the Confederate Gold in Lake Michigan.
Conclusion?
While no item of conclusive evidence has yet been presented to state that the Confederate Gold is located in Lake Michigan, the persistent myths, legends and rumors have generated an ever-increasing curiosity among people to learn more. The telling aspect has been the varied people, stories and accounts that have come forth in an attempt to locate the gold, and the endless speculation over the years as to how it ended up there in the first place.
For now, the mystery and intrigue surrounding the Confederate Gold seem here to stay, and will undoubtedly keep fueling the hopes of finding this legendary treasure trove. Until a direct discovery of the gold is made, the debates over its whereabouts and legitimacy are likely to persist.
Subsequent Discoveries
The story of the Confederate Gold stored in Lake Michigan has continued to attract intense interest despite the publicized searches and investigations. As a result, people have continued to come forward with discoveries that includes shipwrecks and bathyspheres as possible hiding spots.
Of particular interest are the multiple references to elaborate gold-laden vessels in various ship junkyards located on the lake floor. Documents released after the Civil War suggest that dozens of vessels had been covertly spared from destruction and loaded with gold coins.
Boats in hiding from Confederate militia until the end of the war may have sunk around the lake with valuable cargo onboard. In 2015, a decommissioned vessel was discovered underwater in Lake Michigan. Its contents remain unknown, and so the potential for gold remains a tantalizing possibility.
Other artifacts from ships sunk deep below the lake have been reported by commercial fishermen and luxury yacht skippers in recent years. These intriguing accounts have led to ongoing speculation as to the potential for Confederate gold being located somewhere in the depths of Lake Michigan.
Chances of Success
While the chance of actually discovering a hidden stash of Confederate gold in the depths of Lake Michigan is a narrow possibility, treasure hunters and divers continue to search its depths. Despite the many theories, legends, and fables, the waters of Lake Michigan continue to remain mysterious and a source of wonderment.
The physical issues associated with deep sea treasure hunting, transport difficulties and considerations of safety have all played a part in stifling exploration and relic hunting. Other issues, such as the fact that any newly-discovered artifacts and treasures are subject to federal laws, can also complicate matters.
Any true success in the search for Confederate Gold in Lake Michigan is likely to require substantial access, ground penetrating radar and innovative underwater autonomous system. Working with a limited budget, the chance of success for treasure hunters is slim at best.
Unsolved Mystery
The greatest challenge with the search for Confederate Gold in Lake Michigan remain the lack of clear evidence to support its potential existence. Speculation has led to false clues and false hope, with no substantial find in sight.
Still, many individuals hope that the hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in the search will pay off. While people have continued to search, the question of whether Confederate Gold has been located in the depths of Lake Michigan remains an unresolved question to this day.
Modern Cold Cases
As the search for Confederate Gold in Lake Michigan has not resulted in any clear success, the same can be said for similar projects that are being pursued across America. It’s now not only the larger-than-life legends that are the cause of great fascination. It’s the cases of unsolved or cold cases that haunt the public’s imagination.
Over the decades, what has been dubbed the “Unsolved Mysteries” phenomena in the US has proven to be a dream come true for amateur detectives and true crime aficionados. Searching for missing persons, historical artifacts, conspiracies and criminal elements can generate an incredible amount of public interest and debate.
The search for Confederate gold associated with any missing person or case, although not in Lake Michigan, has become increasingly popular in American culture. If a single discovery were to happen in the future, many people would be expecting it to be the result of a cold case solved.
Not only this, but the discovery of Confederate Gold in Lake Michigan would lead to attempting to identify anyone who may have been involved while uncovering the underlying motives behind the original burying of the gold and attempting to track down any related clues.
The American public have followed a variety of cold cases in the past and continue to search for possible clues and revelations to this day. As of now, the chances of uncovering the Confederate Gold in Lake Michigan remain at a wait and see stage.
