Cindy,

So, are your Chitwoods Captain R. C. and 1LT William T. of Company H, 8th Cavalry Missouri State Militia? I see that CPT R. C. Chitwood patrolled from the Lebanon, Laclede County, garrison, particularly in the early months of 1864. Both Chitwoods gave Glaze City, Missouri as their mailing address. I would suppose Glaze City was near Grand Glaize, another familiar Camden County name.

Nobody asked, but I will tell about the discovery of the Tilley treasure anyway. Tales of the treasure were popular in the Pulaski County area for many years after the Civil War. So when an unnamed bulldozer operator who was part of building Fort Leonard Wood in about 1940 or 1941 spotted something suspicious broken open by the blade of his machine, he rushed forward to investigate. He must have been thrilled to have the treasure in his very own hands, because he left the dozer with the engine still running to place his new-found fortune in a safer place. Leaving the dozer running with the remains of whatever the money was buried in was like leaving a calling card that locals quickly read as the treasure the murderous Yankees failed to find was finally found. This part of the story does not reveal the identity of the bulldozer operator, but I suppose that wasn't too difficult to figure out at that time. I don't have a source or reference to cite for the "treasure found" part of the story, but perhaps another reader knows that. It is also possible that I heard about this while I was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood years ago.

Bruce Nichols