As debate continues over the fate of the Confederate monument on Broad Street, a little-known fact has emerged: a time capsule buried within the cornerstone may contain rare — and even priceless — relics.
Yes, some of the coins and currency buried within the monument might be rare enough to spur the cast of the TV program “Pawn Stars” to grab the next flight to Augusta.
Russ Gambill, president of Save Our Monuments, Inc., provided a list that was read aloud in 1875 by Senior Grand Warden Joan S. Davidson of the Order of Women Freemasons at the cornerstone’s unveiling. The list contains some surprises, including one that may settle a very old argument.
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According to legend, during the Revolutionary War’s Battle of Yorktown, British Gen. Charles Cornwallis sought refuge in a man-made cave to avoid bombardment by the Continental Army. Historians with the National Park Service have long argued that Cornwallis did not flee, but remained with his troops until the bitter end.
To this day, the cave in Yorktown, Va. bears Cornwallis’ name, but something buried in the monument time capsule may add an interesting twist to the legend.
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Among the list of items is a French coin minted in 1748 that was purportedly found by Dr. J. S. Coleman in front of Cornwallis’ cave after the Revolutionary War.
While the British were mortal enemies of the French, and one wouldn’t think that Cornwallis or his men would be keeping French coins on their persons, the Americans were paid in French, Spanish and Portuguese currency.
That is, when the soldiers actually got paid, which was not that often.
Cornwallis’ cave does have a connection to the Civil War as well: the complex was used by the Confederates as an ammunition dump.
Another interesting artifact held within the time capsule is a £10 South Carolina Continental paper note. The colony and later state of South Carolina used the British pound until converting to the dollar in 1793.
After the war, Continental currency was not worth very much as it was not backed by anything, and few examples exist to this day. The pound note entombed in the monument might fetch a pretty penny today if the note remains in good shape.
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An Egyptian gold coin donated by Gen. Janifer of the Egyptian Army, is also listed along with various other coins with no distinct description.
Other items in the time capsule are things one might expect to find, such as copies of The Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel newspaper as well as a copy of the Constitutionalist newspaper.
The names of Confederate war dead from the monument at St. James United Methodist Church are also listed as well as the muster rolls of more than a dozen Confederate units in which local soldiers served are interred within the monument.
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A Confederate flag is listed among the items, but it is likely not the same Confederate battle flag that is controversial in modern times, but rather one of the three various flags of the Confederacy.
However, before anyone contacts the “Pawn Stars,” the time capsule is not likely going to be opened any time soon. The capsule is located under the cornerstone of the monument, and while there is a vocal movement to relocate the Confederate monument, current state law prevents such a relocation without an act of the General Assembly.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com.
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