New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-07
JEFFERSON DAVIS, GOLD.


I
! ern COnfederacy.
| Mr.. K. j. Moses, late confederate com
missary for the State of Georgia, contri
buted to the Columbus Enquirer an inter
esting letter on the subject OF the gold left
by President Davis, at Washington, Geor-
| gia, Just as the war closed:
| President Davis, General Breckenridge,
| Reagan, Of Texas, and others Of the cabinet,
arrived in Washington with the gold Gen
eral Bragg was also there, and large body
! of cavalry who had guarded the gold to
Washington, and who received a part OF
| their pay in gold. l had received orders
| to have 10000 rations at different points,
with which to supply the returning soldiers
from General J. L. JohnstOn's army. TIE
Commissary General, General J. II. St.
Johns, then in Washington, Lad no funds.
l called 10 see the President, but could not
not see him; he was exhausted from Ia
tgue. ! then had an interview with Sen
eral Toomhs, and told him of the necessity
of having funds to supply the troops. The
gold had already started, President Davis
having left previously.
General TooInbs had an interview With
General Breckenridge; the result was tia.
| received an order for S40000-Sl0 900 for
the quarternasters department and $50. 900
among the last orders ever issued by the
confederate government and was sent by
NE to General TOombs about a year since,
as historic relic in which he had acted
generous part in behalf of our soldiers, and
is now, presume, in his possession. l fol
lowed the train and overlook it that night,
and received sixteen boxes of bullion esti-
mated to contain $4,000. l returned with
this to Washington and paid on the order of
Alexander rn
the q1artermaster general, three boxes of
bullion, estimated at $4,000, to be opened
and weighed before two commissioned Off
GERS. The boxes were delivered to Il. X.
Wood, ior and quartermaster. at Wash
ington, Wilkes county, on the fifth OF May,
1863
l employed four young men of the Wash
ington Artillery to guard the gold that
night, and accompany me with it to Au-
gusta. The guard was rendered necessary
because there were great many struggling
soldiers and cavalry proving about Wash
ington. The next morning l started for
Barnett, where l would have to wait an
hour or two for the Augusta train. \ num-
Der OF cavalrymen and returning soldiers
went on the same train with us. and when
we arrived at Barnett, made what was then
These, with the guard and the kind asst
ance of Colonel Sanford, now of Montgoln-
cry, and private Shepherd, now of Texas,
were successfully resisted
When / reached Augusta / addressed
letter to General L. McLaws, commanding,
and. with his concurrence, entered into
correspondence with General Mollyneaux.
who received tie funds in my hands, thir-
teen boxes Of bullion, weighing S3i, 965, and
he amply provided for the returning troops
from the United States Commissary Depart
ment; so that the fund. 1866 in excess Of
what l receipted for, was every dollar ap-
priated, as IL was intended by the order
The excess occurred from tie fact tia. the
bullion when received could not be weighed
but had to be taken by estimate. II was
delivered by me to a Captain Adams. Of
resiaental proves. marshal
OF Augusta, weighed at the Mechanics
Bank, Augusta, and certified TO by M.
Hatch. the cashier, and two officers OF Cen
eral Mollyneaux's staff The original re-
ceipt is in the hands of Hon. jeremiah S. |
Black. | left il with him in the presence Of |
Colonel j. w. Waddell, present CLERK Of the |
House Of Representatives, as | was curious |
through some one in W Washington % ascer- |
tain whether the bullion had been accounted |
for to the United States, OF which fac. am
still uuaGT;Sea.