Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-03-15
From the Columbus (Ga.) Enquirer.
Historic Reminiscence of the Last
DAYS of the COnfeGleracy.S

From the Columbus (Ga.) Enquirer.
..Hfa,0ric Remi niscence of the Last
Days of the COnfetleracy."
To TIC Editor of the Enquirer:
You publish this morning All extract
from the Richmond Dispatch in reference
to the
CoNFEDERATE. GOLD
left BY President Davis at Washington,
Wilkes county, Ga. The extract referred
to has this sentence, whichIeqlireS an an
swer from me:
az learn from an old army acquaintance
of highest responsibility, who was one OF
the party formed here to guard it while
being transported to Augusta, that the re-
turned soldiers were prevented from help
ing themselves by being told that the
money was to be used for the benefit OF
our prisoners at the North that it reached
Augusta in safety that guards were then
paid $25 each for their services, and dis
charged and while it cannot be proved
exactly what became of the gold, yet &c is
certain tllatour suffering boys in prison
never heard of it.
As am the officer with whom that gold
was entrusted, and as | am able to prove to
the curious who desire toinspect the vouch-
ers that the gold was appropriated in exact
accordance with my orders to the utter
most farthing, think it is due to myself
that this much further should be added to
what the writer in the Dispatch terms
sshistoric interest i'll connection with the
last days of the Confederacy."
President Davis, Gen. Breckenridge, Re-
gan, of Texas, and others of the Cabinet,
arrived III Washington with the gold. Gen.
Bragg was also there, and large body
Of cavalry who had guarded the gold to
Washington, and who received part OF
their paw in gold. / had received orders
to have 10000 rationS at different points
with which to supply the returning soldiers
from Gen. j. E. Johnston's army. The
Commissary General, Gen. J. NJ. st. Johns,
then in Washington, had no funds.
called to see the President, but could not
see him; he was exhausted from fatigue.
then had an interview with Gen. Toombs,
and told him of the necessity of having
funds to supply the troops, The gold had
already started. President Davis having
left previously. Gen. Tolnbs had an inter
view with Gen. Breckenridge. The result
was that received ali order for $4,000
ten thousand for the Quartermaster De.
partment. This was among the last orders
ever issued 10y the Confederate Govern.
ment, and was sent to me by Gen. Toombs
about Il year since, as a historic relic, il
which he had acted d generous part in be
half of our soldiers, and is now, presume
in his possession. l followed the train anC
overlook it that night, and received siXteer
boxes of bullion, estimated to contain $40,
600. returned with this to Washington anC
paid on the order Of ". +. Alexander
Major and Assistantsto the Quartermaster
General, three boxes of bullion. estimated
at $4,000, to be opened AMI weighed be
fore lWO commissioned officers. TheSt
boxes were delivered to r.. X. Wood
Major aud QuaItermastcr, at Washington
Wilkes county, on the 9Th Of May, 1865
! employed four young men of the Wash
ingtOn Artillery to guard the gold tina
night and accompany me with it to AUl
gusta. The guard was rendered necessary
because there were 4 great many struggling
soldiers and cavalry prOwling about Wash
, ington. The next morning | started TO
Barnett, where l would have to wait al
hour or two for the Augusta train. y nun
! Der Of caYalr1mcn and returning soldier:
went on the same train with us, and whel
we arrived at Barnett, made what wa
then called several charges" upon tn,
gold. These, with tn" guard AID the kint
assistance Of Colonel Sanford, now @
Montgomery. and private -- Shepherd
NOW OF Texas, were successfully resisted
L a
letter to General l.. McI4aws. command
ing, and, with bis concurrence, rntered in
to a correspondence with General Molly
neux, who received the funds in my hands
( thirteen boxes bullion weighing S34.065
and he amply provided for the returning
troops from the United States Commissar
Department 80 that the fund, &l,96J il
excess of hat ] rccciptCd for. Was ever,
dollar appropriated is it WAS intended b,
J tho order. The excess occurred from tn
] fact that the bullion when received coul
! not be weighed, but had 10 be taken b.
! estimate. 1t Was delivered by me to Cap
! tain Adams. OF Massachusetts,, regimen
! provost marshal of Augusta, weighed at tn
! Mechanics Bank, Augusta, and certified t
, by MIR. Hatch, the cashier, and two officer
! OF General MollyncuX'S staff The Origina
! receipt is in the hands of Hon. Jcre
Black. left it Will. him in presence G
Colonel j. ID. Waddell, present clerk of tn
House Of Representatives, as | was curiou
through some one in Washington to asCer
tain whether the bullion had been account
ed for to the United States; Of which fac
| am still unadvised.
Another curious ''histOric incident" oC
Cured about this time. The day after tn
gold Chat was carried away by the Cor
tedelate ;rain) left Washington ID cavalry
man threw a bag over General Toombs
fence and gallOpcd off. On examining il
the bag contained $1,000 i'll gold coin
General TOOmbs Immediately sent it b
my son to the Federal quartefmastes thel
stationed at Washington TO be used TO
provisions to supply such troops as migL
pass through Washington unprovided fol
| could state many amusing incidents
and annoying ones too, that occurred Will
l as possessed Of the treasure; but suffic
it 20 say, i'll the then condition of he cour
Try, determined to execute the order wit
which | was entrusted, found So, 0OO i
gold All elephant i'll my hands, and was rC
ioiced to get rid of it, and at the same tim
have the soldiers supplied with rations an
the Confederate government rindicate
from anything like disregard 10 the
comforts.
Respectfully, Il. j. MOSES,
Late Confederate Commssary fort tue Stat
Of Georgia.
Meeting i'm (Rrteret.