America was the first winner of what would become known as America's Cup. Originally known as the Royal Yacht Squadron's "One Hundred Guinea Cup", the trophy was later renamed after the original winning yacht.
America was sold in1860 to Henry Edward Decie, who brought her back to the United States. Decie sold the ship to the Confederate States of America the same year for use as a blockade runner in the War Between the States. Blockade runners ran the Union blockade around Confederate ports to bring much needed supplies. Decie remained aboard as captain.
America, now named Camilla or Memphis ran Union Blockades up and down the Eastern coast. At Wilmington, Charleston, and Jacksonville. After Jacksonville fell to the Union Decie sailed the America to close to where this cache is hidden and scuttled it to keep it out of Union hands.
In March 1862, the United States Ship Ottawa and other vessels discovered her scuttled near Haw Creek.. She was raised, towed to Port Royal, S.C., and outfitted for service in the United States Navy under her original name. She was made part of the Union blockade.
(Everything above here is true. Not so much after here.) Nothing is in the record as to how Decie and his crew got to safety after scuttling America. We can only speculate. Was he being pursued? Did he have help? My two bits: They came ashore in the area where the cache is hidden. The Union gunboat Columbine was hot on their trail. Decie and crew headed into the swampy area carrying what they could. The Columbine opened fire with grape shot and small arms fire. One sailor carrying a metal container was hit and hid the container as best he could. Inside were important items for the Confederate war effort. Things like plastic shot glasses, a toy fish, a small key chain tape measure, an LED flashlight, and a pen and log. It's said that metal container may still be in the area where the coordinates put you.
If you decide to go looking be advised. You have to have a boat to get there. You can put in at the boat launch on Dead Lake or it's a nice paddle down Haw Creek from Haw Creek Landing. It's a very swampy area and you will get your feet wet. Watch your step there are holes where you go from ankle deep to hip deep. There may be some unexploded cannon balls. Snakes abound. Good luck. Thanks to Clan Riffster for the container
More true stuff: There was a Union gunboat on the St Johns called the Columbine. It was captured by JJ Dickison's Confederate cavalry on the St Johns south of Palatka at Horse Landing. It was the only gun boat captured by cavalry in the War Between the States.