When I was a kid, my mom and dad knew this older couple. The man was raised in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. (another interesting story). He told this story of a man that lived in an old house not far from us on a ridge. This was back in the 1940's (house was still standing when I was growing up). His story goes that this old man would disappear months at a time. He would come back with a bag of old gold coins. The one telling the story said he had seen the coins and knew the man well. This man would go somewhere into the Smoky Mountains (south of us) and return with a bag of coins. He said it was "Indian Gold!" I always thought it was a story made up to 'entertain me.'

I've always thought the Indians (Cherokee) would never have gold. It was said to have been hidden in a cave? Being interested in old tales - the fact the Civil War was fought in my area, I wondered if the source of this mystery bag of coins could have been Confederate Gold? I know of stories of caches of money being buried by the Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC). I wish I had paid more attention to his story and asked more questions. Where I lived - at the base of a ridge, near the older couple, there were a lot of huge holes dug. Growing up I would explore the ridge. When I asked the older man what the holes were for, his answer they were hole (pits) dug by treasure hunters.

I think there are a lot of treasure locations in the area I lived, from the Civil War and even older (maybe Spanish?) Gold was mined in the 1800s in the Tellico Mountains (Coker Creek) to the south of where I lived. I no longer live in that area, but am fascinated by Confederate Gold legends. In fact I have gotten back reading about such stories - Bought me a new Metal Detector. Need a partner for adventure. The Confederate Treasury out of Richmond came through my area at the end of the war.

Anyone else hear of these stories growing up?