Lost Treasure: Lost Army payroll

[Detector]

I have seen quite a few references to a "lost Army payroll" and the accounts vary. Here is one I've always wanted to find.

In 1847 an army paymaster train on it's way to Fort Mann to pay the soldiers forded the Arkansas River at the lower crossing(Ford). In the area of present day Fort Dodge one of the wagons carrying the heavy gold was caught in quicksand.

According to army records they had just time to unleash the oxen before the wagon sunk out of site. It is thought that most quicksand holes in this area were around 10'-12' deep. Somewhere south of the Arkansas near Fort Dodge may rest a fortune in gold just beneath the surface of the ground.

The only issue I have with this story is why they forded the river? Fort Mann was on the north side of the river.

[lurker]

The only issue I have with this story is why they forded the river?

Well DUH!! Jeep's weren't invented then.

Good thing you're a Detector and NOT a detective.

Next question.

doG.

[TexKan]

Where did the payroll come from? I didn't get that part of the story - course with stories like that - my next vacation might be right back in Dodge diggin up the riverbed!

[Detector]

If memory serves me correctly, the payroll train came from Fort Leavenworth which is already on the north side of the river.

Sorry this story is so short but there is little more than an entry into the military records accounting for the loss. Truth be known, they could have buried it themselves and claimed it was lost.

[Zeb]

Depending on the time line, a possible reason was because of pizzed off Indians. They were known to camp in the valley around that fort whenever Gifts were to be delivered. Most shipments of Gifts were almost always late by a month or two.

Perhaps, the safest bet was to ford the river to approach from the south to let them actually see the Valley, with time to retreat if it was occupied with Indians. Approach from the east on the north would give them no chance run for it. At times it was not uncommon for up to 10,000 Indians to be Camped in the area of Fort Mann on the north bank. 10,000 vs 7-14 Dragoons stationed inside the Fort on normal days.

I assume most reports of that volume would be exagerated somewhat. Even a few thousand would look like million to one of the 14 Dragoons that would wake in the morning see they were camped around like ghosts in the night.


Just a guess

[Happening]

Maybe this flood will wash away some sand and leave the gold right there for everyone. It was once said that Corando (sp) came here because the roads were paved with gold. Maybe he was just a few hundred years early.

[TexKan]

I think they mistook the dry hot weatherd CRP as gold - because they had drank too much tequilla and sangria!!!................ streets of gold!!.......... LOL LOL

[Made in the USA]

Streets of MOLDY COW $HIT!!

[TexKan]

Oh yeah on a hot summer day with a wind of 25 mph - just "smells like money"...... right?