G.W. McClintock
Germanicus Wellington "G.W." McClintock (1837 – April 15, 1912) was a Scottish-American entrepreneur, Confederate soldier, and frontier cattle baron whose life spanned the tumultuous years of the American Civil War and the expansion of the American West. He is John Avery Whittaker's great grand-uncle on his mother's side. He is a central character of the novel Young Whit and the Traitor's Treasure.
Early Life and Civil War Service
Born in Scotland in 1837, McClintock left his homeland at the age of 16 in 1853, traveling aboard a merchant ship bound for Wilmington, North Carolina. Settling in the region, he found work as an apprentice shipping clerk before establishing himself as a freighter, transporting goods throughout North Carolina, including the Raleigh-Durham area and the town of Provenance.
During the American Civil War, McClintock enlisted in the 26th North Carolina Regiment, a renowned Confederate unit that fought in major battles, including Gettysburg. Despite fighting for the Confederacy, McClintock was an outspoken critic of slavery, condemning it in letters to his brother, Thomas Avery McClintock. He also defied Southern law by secretly teaching enslaved individuals to read and write before the war.
The Confederate Gold Incident
In April 1865, with the Confederacy in collapse, President Jefferson Davis personally ordered Captain Thaddeus Knox and Lieutenant G.W. McClintock to transport a cache of Confederate gold to pay General Joseph Johnston’s troops near Raleigh. Knox and McClintock, both familiar with the region, were chosen to covertly move the funds through Union-patrolled territory.
As they neared their destination, the two men realized that advancing Union forces, under General William Tecumseh Sherman, had cut off most viable routes. Fearing capture and the loss of the gold to Union hands, McClintock and Knox made the decision to bury the treasure on the grounds of the Granville Estate at a secluded location known as Lover’s Circle. The only witness to this act was Ben Huck I, an enslaved man owned by Knox, who had accompanied them on the journey.
Tensions between McClintock and Knox escalated shortly thereafter. As they prepared to rejoin Confederate forces south of Raleigh, Knox—intimidated by the overwhelming strength of Union troops—suggested they abandon their regiment and flee with the gold. McClintock, who viewed Knox’s suggestion as an act of treason, vehemently refused and accused him of cowardice. The argument quickly turned physical, with McClintock striking Knox and opening a wound on his head. In retaliation, Knox drew his revolver and fired, grazing McClintock’s temple and knocking him unconscious.
The sound of gunfire alerted nearby Union patrols, forcing Knox to act quickly. When Confederate reinforcements arrived, Knox, knowing he had to cover his tracks, fabricated a story in which McClintock was the one who had attempted to flee with the gold. With little time for verification, Confederate troops accepted Knox’s version of events. McClintock, disoriented from his head injury, was abandoned in the chaos of battle, presumed either captured or dead.
The Disappearance of the Gold
Knox, believing McClintock had perished, later deserted his regiment and returned to retrieve the buried gold. However, upon digging at the original site, he found that it had vanished. Unknown to Knox, Ben Huck I had secretly relocated the treasure, burying it beneath the water tower in Provenance. Huck, ashamed that he had not intervened during the fight, saw this act as a way to both aid McClintock and defy his master.
With the war over and Confederate authorities seeking answers about the missing funds, Knox, unable to admit the truth, perpetuated his false account. His version of events became widely accepted in Provenance, tarnishing McClintock’s reputation as a coward and traitor.
Life in Texas and Legacy
McClintock never returned to North Carolina to clear his name. His letters, once frequent and detailed, ceased in the aftermath of the war, only resuming five years later from Texas—containing no mention of the war, Provenance, or the gold. It is speculated that his head wound may have caused memory loss, explaining his silence on the matter.
In Texas, McClintock built a vast empire, becoming a prominent rancher, timber magnate, and mining baron. His holdings expanded through relentless efforts to tame the frontier, engaging in conflicts with outlaws, Native American raiders, and cattle rustlers.
On April 15, 1912—the same day the Titanic sank, McClintock passed away, leaving much of his land to the state as a nature preserve.
Episodes
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