American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-03-16
What Became of the COnfeder-
ate Gold.
Historic Reminisceace Of the Last
Days Of the Noathern Comtedera-
cy-7he Facts and Figures Giren
By the Confederate C0mnaissary IN
Charge.
Z iitor Columbus Enquirer :


in references to the Confederate gold
left by President Davis, at Wash
ingtOn, Wilkes county, Georgia.
The extract referred 10 has this
sentence, which requires an answer
from me:
"Ilearn from an old army acquaint-
ance of highest responsibility, who
was one OF the party formed here to
guard it while being transported to
Augusta, that the returned soldiers
were prevented from helping them
selves by being told tina, the money
was to be used for the benefit of our
prisoners, at the North; that it
reached Augusta in safety; the
guards were then paid twenty-five
dollars each for their services and
discharged; and while it cannot be
proved exactly what became OF the
gold, yet it is certain that our suffer
ing boys in prison never heard of it. +"
As / am the officer with whom
that gold WAS entrusted, and as l
am able to prove to the curious who
desire to inspect the vouchers, that
the gold was appropriated in exact
accordance with my orders, to the
utmost farthing, l think it due to
myself that this much further should
be added to what the writer i'll the
JLxpafck terms :. histOric interest III
connection with the last days of the
Confederacy."
President Davis, Gen. Breckin-
ridge, Regain of Texas, and others
of the Cabinet, arrived in Washing
ton with the gold Gen. Bragg was
also there, and large body OF cav
airy who had guarded the gold to
Washington, and who received a
part Of their pay in gold. [ had re
ceived orders to have $4,000 rations
st different points, witt, which to
supply the returning soldiers from
Gen. j. Il. JohnstOn's army. The
COmmissary General. j. f. St. Johns,
then in Washington, had no funds.
/ called to see the President, but
could not see him he was exhaust
ell from fatigue. then had an in
terview with Gen. TODmbs. and told
him fthe necessity OF having funds
to supply the troops. The gold had
already started, President Davis
having lett previously.
Gen. TcOmbs had an Interview
with Gen. Breckenridge: the result
was that | received an olrier for for
ty Thousand dOll:,rs--ten Thousand
for the Quartermasttr's Department
and thirty thousand for the Com
missary Department. This was
among the last orders ever issued
by the Confederate and
was sent by me- to Gen. TOOmbs
about a year since, as Il historic
relic, in which he had acted a gen
ers,,s part in behalf OF our soldiers,
a:K. is nov, l presume, in his posses
sion. j fo.lowed the train and over
took it that II; gii., and received six
teen boxes OF bullion. estimated to
contain forty Thousand dollars. ]
re,urue.i' with tbs to Washington,
and paid on The order of w. + AL
exaT;l..r, Major and Assistant TO the
QMartermaster General, three boxes
of bullion, estimated at ten thoIs.
and dollars. to lie opened and weigh
ed before two commissioned officers
These boxes were delivered to X.
K Wood, Major and Quarternaster,
at aslingt.M,, Wilkes county, OH
the 9Th of Nay, 1855.
i employed four young men, of
the Washington artillery, to guard
the gold that night and ar atnpany
me with it 10 Augusta. Tie guard
was rendered necessary because
there were a great many Struggling
soldiers and cavalry providing about
NTasIli. ss,,ii. Tie next morning
started for Barnett. where l would
have 10 wait an hour or two for the
train. 4 number OF cav
airymcii and returning soldiers went
OH tia. same tram with Us, and when
We arrived at Barnett. made what |
WAS then called several '.-charSes
uioa the god. These, with the |
guard and kind assistance of Colo |
mel Sanford. now OF Montgomery, |
and private - Shepherd, now OF |
Texas, were successfully resisted.
When j reached Augusta l adj
dressed The following letter mark
ri a To Gen. l.. McLaws, command
ng, AMI with his concurrence. enter
al into a correspondence with Gen.
who received the funds
II my hands-thirteen boxes bullion
*34.9j5-and he amply
provided for the returning troops
rom the United States COmmisSary
Department SO that the fund, ST.
% in excess of what / receipted
or, Was every dollar appropriated
$ it was intended by the order
marked B). The excess occurred
rom the fact that the bullion, when
rceived, could not be weighed, but