Treasure from War of 1812 - London, Ontario - Pirates on Waymarking.com

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013




By Guy St-Denis

In 1888, the London Free Press ran a curious story about a long lost treasure in the Thames River ... near Springbank Park, no less. This treasure was reported to be a shipment of gold coins - some 10,000 "Napoleons" of the French Republic, all of which went missing at the time of General Procter’s disastrous retreat during the War of 1812. Lending credibility to the story, which came "direct from the oldest inhabitants," was their recollection of a stranger who came to visit in 1858. Claiming that his father was one of the boatmen responsible for conveying the gold, the stranger spent a week trying to recover it. Such an incident was bound to leave a lasting impression upon the residents of Byron, but the question remains: Is there any truth to this story of lost gold?

According to the boatman’s son, these gold "Napoleons" originated with Napoleon himself. It was part of an elaborate scheme by which the French emperor hoped to prolong the war then raging between the United States and his arch-enemy, Great Britain. Napoleon’s offer was accepted by President James Madison, who in 1813 allocated the gold for the American war effort in Upper Canada. Madison ordered his agent to "buy" the province, by which he meant the southern part of present day Ontario. Supposedly, 10,000 pieces of gold were thought sufficient to bribe the loyalty of the inhabitants.

But, rather than shipping the gold along a safe and secure route, such as that provided by Lake Erie (which the Americans controlled), Madison’s agent chose an overland trek to the forks of the Thames River. By making this detour, the agent and his men risked capture deep inside enemy territory. And yet, these misadventurous Americans had every intention of meeting-up with their countrymen under the command of General William Henry Harrison. It was an incredibly audacious plan, especially as remnants of Procter’s defeated army were even then fleeing up river. Seemingly oblivious to the danger, Madison’s agent ordered the gold loaded into a boat (which his men must have made or brought with them). Setting off, the Americans did not get very far downstream before they were startled by the sound of gunfire.

A band of scouting and freebooting American cavalrymen had been ambushed by a number of local "yeomanry," or militiamen, who took up their position on the Commissioners Road at what later became known as Reservoir Hill. The ensuing commotion, although it was some distance away, still caused a panic among the American boatmen out on the river. In hastening to escape, they capsized their boat and lost the gold. This mishap occurred near the north side of a small island, not far below the modern-day site of the Springbank Dam.

The Free Press reporter linked this ambush to the defeat of Procter’s army in October of 1813, a military encounter which became known as the Battle of Hungerford Hill (today’s Reservoir Hill). While there is no official record of any such "battle," ample evidence does exist of an ambush at Hungerford Hill in 1814. A confused chronology no doubt explains the mistaken connection to Procter’s retreat.

As for the story about Madison’s lost gold, it can be safely dismissed as nothing more than a tall tale ... unless, of course, someone happens to find a gold "Napoleon" in the river below Springbank Dam.

Site Description: Local park with a plaque for the War of1812 Date of Pirate Activity (Estimated): 1812 Reference Web-link or Book Title: http://www.londonculture.echidnadev.ca/whats-on/news/war-1812-article-series-madisons-lost-gold Site Admission (If needed): Free Hours Available (If needed): Park closes at dusk Additional Information (optional): The location is very generalized to Reservoir Park.

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