Chapel Hill University Hidden Civil War Treasure

[Judge William Battle buried his valuables in the woods (and later forgot where he had put them).]

When hopes for a southern victory vanished by late 1864, Chapel Hillians confronted the grave problem of how to protect their property, including the University. Gen. William T. Sherman had reached Savannah by Christmas 1864 and was expected to head north, driving retreating Confederate troops ahead of him, to assist Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Richmond. In addition to worrying about the safety of relatives fighting or living in the path of Sherman's army, local citizens had to determine how to secure their valuables from both Confederate and Union soldiers, especially the "bummers" who followed Sherman's army but were not under his command. Silver, watches, and important papers were stashed in wells or hidden in walls and under floorboards. A bank cashier concealed $20,000 in one of the stone walls surrounding the campus. Professor James Phillips put his watches in Joseph Caldwell's old telescope. Charles P. Mallett removed the hams from his smokehouse, buried them in a field, and plowed the surface for planting to disguise their location. Judge William Battle buried his valuables in the woods (and later forgot where he had put them). The University's library was removed from Smith Hall to Old East for safekeeping, and many important papers were taken to Gov. Swain's home.

Another great story!

Unfortunately, history will never fully reveal what was recovered...how many of the people died or simply couldn't remember where they buried their valuables...we will never know.