About the Author
Philip Tate
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Philip was moved to Marion, NC, at age five and assimilated into the foothills community and was friendly received by the First Methodist Church congregation and the Carnes and Dameron and Teeter family in particular.
Growing up in Marion, Philip learned to hunt and fish and participate in the community through Scouting and all school functions. And hiked the mountains and sat on the porch with kindred, hearing tales of long ago.
An Eagle Scout and Navy Midshipman at UNC, Philip learned some rudiments of wood lore and military operations. Philip began his writing for teacher Robert Howell in Marion High School, who had a fine influence on him, as well as Dr. Sam Barnes of the University of North Carolina.
Philip has served as an independent insurance agent, Paramedic, and Minister in the Methodist Church. Having served on various Boards in his community, his first academic love has been writing.
He is blessed with his wife Kay, daughter Karen, son-in-law Paul, and super grandson Tate. Philip resides between Marion and Newland, NC, and often in his imagination.
Recognizing Excellence Honors and Distinctions
Best-Selling Book of the Year
Featured in Top Book Lists
Rave Reviews from Readers
Highly Praised by Literary Critics
Inspiration in Every Word Discovering the Book's Origins
This Novella, or short novel, came from the initial question as to what the bankers at the point of North Carolina’s secession from the Union would possibly do to preserve their Gold.
History tells us that the Confederacy sought to trade a note for the gold. Also, in the conversion of currency from Federal to Confederate, my fictional story ponders how that might work. I also had questions about how existing offices under the Union might be changed or if they might be continued under the Confederacy.
The book is set in Asheville, NC, in 1861 and is fictional, with a little true history mixed in. The characters are entirely fictional and do not portray any person, living or dead, whose name might be the same.
My family, living in the foothills 45 miles east of Asheville for multiple generations since the American Revolution, has always appreciated Asheville as a Western North Carolina Community. I had aged relatives there.
The picture on the cover of this book is of Samuel Pinckney Tate, who served the Confederacy under AP Hill in the Lees Army of Northern Virginia. His history is his own, and this story xiii does not involve nor commemorate him but does honor his service.
As I have always loved and respected the Native American Cherokee in North Carolina, I placed some of the story there, but it is entirely fictional and makes no inference of malice toward the reservation nor representation thereof.
This story is in the tradition of mountain story telling narrative in the oral tradition of the mountains. As I am a son of these mountains, forests, rivers, and fields, this is my first public attempt at story telling.
I would like to thank and acknowledge my Nephew, Jason Petty who helped research information about the history of banking in North Carolina in the 1800’ s which helped galvanize the question of what might the bankers might have done to protect their gold holdings at the time of secession and oncoming war?
This book is dedicated to Sharon Godfrey, who typed it for me and for her fine association with my family through two generations, her support of my business, and all my varied projects through the years. May God Bless the rest of her life.
