Saturday, August 23, 2025
62.9 F
Beckley
More

    Revisiting the tale of West Virginia's lost Branch Mountain Treasure

    MOOREFIELD, W.Va. — Tales of hidden treasure appear throughout the annals of West Virginia history. The legends of hoards buried by prehistoric peoples, retreating soldiers, and reclusive misers could fill a book.

    Advertisement

    One of the best-known tales is that of the Branch Mountain Treasure, which allegedly included $40,000 in gold secreted by three deserting Rebels who had robbed a Virginian bank during the early years of the Civil War.

    According to a story published by the Moorefield Examiner, three Confederate soldiers robbed a bank in either Richmond or Fredricksburg in 1861 and passed across South Branch Mountain at the gap near , south of , before they reached "the Cook place" in southern .


    Legend of the Branch Mountain Treasure

    "...they buried the swag in a natural cave, a small one, under one of three cliffs on the northwestern side of Branch Mountain. The line for the cave was directly into the sun from a large, flat rock down the side of the mountain. Since no one knows apparently when the sighting took place; it could be anywhere along a 45-degree area from that rock as the sun travels back and forth with the seasons.

    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement

    "In any event, the law was supposed to have caught up with the miscreants, and one of the two either died in prison or en route to prison. The survivor made a map of the places where the treasure was cached. The flat rock that appears in the tale was supposed to be visible from the chimney of the Joe Cook House. Markings on the rock have the numerals 73 or 74.

    "The directions on the map said that by looking directly into the sunrise from the rock three cliffs were visible and the cave was on the left-hand side of one of the cliffs where there was an opening where a man could see through and could squirm his way into and after he was inside he could stand up. 

    "The treasure was supposed to have been placed in a hole on the inside of the cave along one side of the walls. The hole was covered with 'rock paper,' whatever that is."

    The citation ends, noting: "The cliffs mentioned are located on the old Capon Road."

    Advertisement

    The treasure was apparently never found, nor have any others that became such a precious part of the cultural tapestry. Has anyone heard that the alleged treasure was ever found?

    While we at West Virginia Explorer in no way encourage treasure hunters to trespass or interfere with private property owners, we do encourage daytrippers and others who enjoy a drive in the country to consider this legend when driving the beautiful back-valleys of the South Branch Mountain.


    Sign up to receive a FREE copy of West Virginia Explorer Magazine in your email weekly. 

     

    David Sibray
    David Sibray
    Historian, real estate agent, and proponent of inventive economic development in West Virginia, David Sibray is the founder and publisher of West Virginia Explorer Magazine. For more information, he may be reached at 304-575-7390.

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here

    Hot this week

    Almost Heaven in focus: Here are the most photographed places in West Virginia

    FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Many of the most photographed places...

    Early bear firearms season opens August 30 in four southern West Virginia counties

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An early bear firearms season will...

    Mysterious ghost-focused cult existed briefly in West Virginia in the 1850s

    MOUNTAIN COVE, W.Va. — In a remote wilderness near...

    Breathtaking Dolly Sods wilderness attracts throngs to West Virginia’s high country

    LANEVILLE, W.Va. — At more than 4,000 feet above...

    Topics

    Related Articles

    Popular Categories