In "The Wilson Raid," The National Tribune, January 1, 1891, Lieut. W. E. Doyle, Adjt., 17th Indiana Infantry (Mounted), recounts the following:

"At Jasper there was a very neat country college on a hill about half a mile from the town, perched upon an isolated eminence, surrounded by woods. The dome of the building could just be seen from the village, and an officer of the command asked an old Butternut-clothed countryman what the edifice was, pointing to it at the same time. He responded, "Thar's whar' they keeps witches' bones an' rocks to make gold out ov."

An examination revealed a very fine osteological and mineral collection in this little college at Jasper, which was visited by many officers and men of the command during our brief stay, and which was not disturbed or tampered with. It seems to me, from remembrance, that this very creditable collection should have a better home than in the little hill college, and I have no doubt that the State of Alabama or the Smithsonian Institute would make haste to secure it if they only knew of the treasure."

Was there a college operating in Jasper at this time? The only school I have found mentioned by those in Wilson's column was Centenary Institute in Summerfield, and I think the 17th passed through there on April 2nd.