Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-09-11
The Flight of Jefferson Davis.

j
Ter General Reagan-Ihe Rebel
Treasury.
Mr.. John H. Reagan, late Postmaster
General OF the Southern Coniederacy,
has written letter TO the Galveston NetrS
concerning the capture of Jefferson Da-
Wis. The following passage in speech
by Judge S. d. Evans,in the Texas Con-
yenton, last January called out the letter.
"On the fall OF Richmond, Jefferson
Davis started the Confederate Treasury
westward, deluding himself with the
dream Of ans-Mississippi empire.
81 asked his Postmaster General, Mr..
Reagan, how it was that the Preslden, Of
their Conlederacy should be caught with
his baggage wagons in the awkward
plight of being under his wife's cloak.
lie informed me that Davis had left his
trains and struck for the sesboard, when.
after days ride, hearing iha, the Con-
federale forces had disbanded, and would
probably endanger the safety OF his iamI-
ly, he returned.
III suspect that Davis feared more ioF
the safety Of his Confederate treasury
which he hoped to get safely into Texas
where, had Magruder been able to keep
his army together, nucleus for the ma
,erisl of war would have enabled him ,c
continue the struggle"
Mr. Reagan denies the statement in The
first paragraph, saying that Davis left
Richmond with the hopo Of uniting the
armies Of Lee and Johnston, and with no
though, Of a "Trsns-M Mississippi empire.
A meeting effected, he hoped 10 defeat the
armies OF Gems. Sheridan and Grant be-
fore they could form a Junction. or, if This
could no, be done, to occupy the first
good defensive line which nigh. be cho-
sen. Desperate as the fortunes Of war
then were for The Confederacy,hc had not
abandoned the hope Of carrying on the
struggle east Of the Mississippi. As to
the second paragraph. he says that Mr..
Davis and his cabinet and staff officers
left their baggage wagon and all their per-
sonal baggage, except such as each took
for himself in his addlebags al Able
vile, South Carolina. The train which
carried such supplies as were taken, and
what funds still remained in the Confeds-
rate treasury, were under the escort Of the
few remaining cavalry troops. And this
train went no further than Washington
Georgia.
Some days after leaving Washington,
Mr.. Davis was captured in the Southern
par, OF that State. While at Dsnvllle,
Virginia, he learned OF the surrender oi
Gen. Lee, and shortly after he left Char
loue. N. c., he learned Of the surrender
OF Gen. Johnston. lie was not "caughi
with his baggage wagons" He had no
train 10 return 10. Mr. Davis family left
Richmond in March, perhaps in the early
part Of that month. Richmond was evsc.
uaied on the ID Of April. lie did not sec
his family after they LEI, Richmond until
a lirlle before daylight on the 7Ih OF Nay
when he, happening TO hear that they
were in serious danger, accompanied by a
few faithful friends. went to their relief
He and those friends travelled with hls
family that day, and camPed With them
that night. The next morning they sep.
araled, but from some Inaccurate inlorna.
ton as to the roads were again by acci-
dent thrown together in the evening, and
csmped together that night, travelled to-
gether the next day. and were captured al
daylight the next morning. the l0ih OF
May.
As to DsViss special anxiety for his
treasury. Mr.. Reagan says that the Con-
feders,e treasury al Washington. Georgia,
consisted. as was supposed,o of some $685.
600 in gold, some $50, 900 or s35, 900 in
silver coin, sbou, the same amount IN sill
yer bullion, and between 100000 and
$4,000 in Confederate treasury notes.
The silver coin was paid 10 the troops
who were there, so much 10 each man
and officer, without reference 10 rank. BE-
it was too bulky and inconvenienl, under
the circumstances, 10 be safely transported
10 the rebel Repositories al Bermuda, Mas
ssu or Liverpool. The silver bullion was
left al Washington in an ordinary ware
house. The gold was placed in the hands
of two officers OF the Confederate navy
then there, with Instructions to convey II,
as soon as this could be safely done,i 10 one
Of The repositories above named.
While in prison Reagan saw statements
in the New York papers thai amounts OF
gold and silver bullion corresponding with
the above had been captured by the Fed
ersl forces. Before leaving Washington
lie directed the Acting Treasurer TO burn
the Confederate Treasury notes above
named, in the presence Of the Secretary
Of War. General Breckinridge and him
self. Mr.. Davis was captured nearly a
week siiT this ln Southern George. Mr..