The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-04-16
THE CONFEDERATE TREASURE.

I
A Doubtfal Story from a California Paper.
When the Confederate army under
Gen. Lee was forced back from the
trenches at Petersburg by the Federal
army, President Davis hurriedly ordered
about fourteen millions of dollars, the
property of the banks of Virginia and OF
the Confederate States, to be placed on
trains at Richmond and sent South, in
tending to convey it to the trans Missis-
sippi Department, if possible, there to
make final stand. The treasure was
carried down TO Charlotte, N. c., where
the railroad ended. At this place it was
decided to leave the money belonging to
the banks of Virginia, in keeping of their
officers. The rest of the money, belong
ing to the Confederate States, was placed
in wagons, and the retreat continued.
The brigades of Gems. Basil Duke and
Vaughn, who had succeeded in escaping
from East Tennessee, and had arrived at
Charlotte a few days before, were placed
under the orders of Gen. John G. Breck-
inrldge to act as an escort to the treas
ure, and the command proceeded
South until Greensboro, Washington
county, Ga, was reached. At this point
information was received that the Federal
General, Wilson, had captured Macon, a
few miles distant and in the line of
ment. The news soon got among the
men. They became demoralized, and a
rush was made for the wagons containing
the treasure. 1t was speedily divided up
among them, the officers being unable to
restrain the men. Among the lucky ones
were two soldiers belonging to Company
b, Third Tennessee mounted infantry,
of Vaughn's brigade, from Monroe coun-
ty, Tenn. One of them was named Al
bert Stevens, and the other we will Call
J. Z. Jones. They had charge OF q
wagon containing $50, 900 in gold and
when the panic spread among the
peut," they retained their presence of
mind, and drove off in the woods, where
they divided the money, making some
$75, 900 apiece, and separated, Stevens
taking his to his home In Tennessee,
where he buried it, confding its hiding
place to his mother, very old lady.
Finding that it would be dangerous for
him to remain in Tennessee, owing to
the unsettled condition of things there,
the people being equally divided on the
question of the war, he went to Georgia,
where he found Jones, who had bought
a small place and was quietly waiting
until it would be safe for him to return
home. Stevens staid awhile with Jones,
and then went off to another part of
Georgia to visit some relatives. Before
going, however, he informed Jones about
the hiding place of his money and his
mothers knowledge of its whereabouts.
As soon as Stevens was gone Jones
mounted his horse and made bee-line
! for Tennessee, to the place where Stevens
lived. Arriving there he presented mis-
comrades mother with forged letter,
| purporting to come from her son, direct
| ing her to deliver the money to Jones,
| which the old lady did Jones then
started direct for California Arriving
here he purchased large tract of land
in Mendocino county, land being very
low at that time, and has since amassed
large fortune in addition TO his i'll gotten
gains, and is now highly respected and a
member of the church.
In the course of time Stevens, having
ascez4ained that it would be safe, started
! for home, possibly dreaming of a future
/ life of ease and comfort on soIne blue
1 grass farm, raising fat cattle and blooded
/ horses, this being your average hentuck-
! ian's or Tennessean's s idea of an earthly
I paradise. On reaching home he soor
/ found out his loss. Buckling ON his re
/ volver, he soured the entire South and
West in search of his faithless friend,
/ vowing to shoot him ON sight. and only
/ recently asceItained his whereabouts. He
/ is now in correspondence with a promi
nent lawyer OF this city, and an attempi
| will shortly be made to bUng Jones tc
! account through slle courts Frnss
cisco E.r0sasaaseY-