The Photographer and the Missing Confederate Gold

Fictional story based on events of the American Civil War. The Civil War broke out in April 1861 when secessionist forces from the Confederate States of the South attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The loyalists of the Union in the North faced secessionists of the Confederate States in the South, who advocated for states' rights in order to uphold slavery. Photography was still in its infancy. Our story follows the life of photographer Jim Hooker as he travels through the battlefields and headquarters of the Confederate States of America. Toward the end of the War, Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, under siege in Charleston, is forced to leave as the Union Army continues its bombardment of the city. Expecting the possibility of an encounter with Union soldiers as he escapes, Davis entrusts four naval cadets with all the gold that remains in his treasury. He instructs them to bring the gold to him in Danville where he is heading. He believes they have a better chance to get past the Union army than he does. The narrative follows these young lads who meet up with the photographer Jim Hooker along their way. As events unfold, the gold has to be hidden. The story switches to the present day and the discovery of a map by a shadowy character named Smythe. The map is a key to the mystery of the missing Confederate gold. Smythe discovers the map after purchasing a chest full of old photographs at a closed box auction. Having no use for the photos, he sells them to photograph dealer Kathy Tyler. Among the many photographs is an old journal written by Jim Hooker. After reading it, Kathy and her boyfriend Nick decide to go on a hunt to see if they can find the gold.