The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-03-18
THE CONFEDERATE TREASURY.
What Became of IL When lee surren.
dered.
Iron the Atlanta Constitution. |

What Became of Ia When lee surren-
| dered.
From the Atlanta Constitution.
Brooks COUNTY, Ca, Feb. Is, $50
Cot. f.. y. Clarke, Atlanta, Gd.-DEAR
COLONEL: | see from Sacramento Cali
paper an account of story concerning the
purported robbery of the Confederate
Treasury, and give as near correct ae-
count of all the facts connected with the
gold and silver so much talked about as
my memory will permit. L belonged to
Gen. Vaughn's brigade.
When the President, his Cabinet and
general officers, then in consultation near
the savannah River, agreed to divide out
the money on hand to the little army, the
amount of Confederate money, after send
ing several thousand TO Augusta TO be eX-
pended for the use and benefit of our sick
and wounded soldiers, amounted to little
over 100000. All the officers and troops
present received S2S.2 % each, in gold and
silver. The Virginia Bank funds were
turned over, and were all the time in charge
of their own bank-officers. They were
carried TO Washington, Wilkes County.
some ID or 20 miles, by their officers, and
there deposited for safe keeping; would
guess something over $500, 600. President
Davis and his Cabinet then struck out for
parts unknown. Gen. Vaughn, being our
senior commander, received orders from
the proper officer to make the best terms
of surrender that he could with Gen. Up
ton, then in command OF the United States
forces, with headquarters at Augusta, and
on the 18th day of May, 1866, the whole
command surrendered.
After things around Washington, Ga
got quiet, the Virginia bank officers pro-
cured permitfrom the Federal command
er to take back TO Virginia the bank
funds, with small guard and four or five
wagons. The first night they encamped
at the house of the widow where the Con-
federate gold had been divided, near which
a number of Vaughn's soldiers fingered,
afraid TO return to their homes. News
soon spread in the neighborhOod OF the
arrival and camping of the train. Four
teen Of the Tennessee boys and one Ala
bama boy from Johnson's army were soon
mounted, dressed some of them with blue
Yankee coats. Vaughn's command were
generally clothed with Yankee uniforms
The little company moved up in military
style, an ex-Captain in command. They
demanded, in the name of the United
States Government, the surrender of the
funds, claiming land perhaps believing
them to be Confederate funds still, the
officer giving his.name as Col. Brownlow
of Gen. Gillem's or Stoneman's command
The parties in charge of the gold surren'
dered without firing a shot. All the men
were placed under guard, marched of
some distance, and placed in charge of 8
small force. The balance took possession
of the treasury, and broke open key after
keg and box after box. When they found
one containing silver coin, they passed il
by; but, when one contained yellow
eagles, they appropriated them until all
were satisfied. Then the guard was re
lieved and the others filled their sacks
They then left the bank officers looking anC
feeling very blue, and believing they had
been handled by some others, not Col
BrownlOw's command, with orders from
Gen. Gillem. A Lieutenant and his squad
at the time were met by some of Vaughn
men, and were charged, and put to rout.
some of them captured, and on them were
found fourteen watches and other valua.
bic property taken from citizens. The
Confederate squad under "Col. Brown.
low" left with their gold tied up in corn
sacks and blankets; some of the boys took
off their pants and drawers, and tied it up
in the legs; some of them took whole
boxes unbroken. They, as soon as out OF
sight, disbanded, and each one went on
his own way, and to dispose of his own
treasure, some hiding it about in fence
corners. in the swamp and old fields
When done, each one repaired to his home
or to where they were boarding, except
three, who were more judicious. These
three he'd added to their number one
other, and their gold was divided, and not
being able TO carry all one box was thrown
] in IF hr-oYa hr.in
The box had not been opened, the party
believing it contained only Sl,000in silver,
but the men who got it out told the
writerit contained over 1000 in gold
1t was divided among three outsiders
who were relations in part to the three
who placed it there, and described the
place by maps and instructions. After.
wards, some two days or more, the writer
went with some of the same party and
others, with the same map, and hunted
over the same ground. The whole face OF
/ the country had been scratched and dug
up, but still we found few silver quar-
tiers in the brush and an empty box near
pond. The pond was secured and
scraped, and in it an old wheat-sack was
found with $500 or $500 in silver. 1t wa:
considered free property and divided out
But let us go back to the next morning
after the robbery. The bankers offered :
reward, believe, of $4,000. All Georges
around in reach was up and hunting
"Brownlow's" men, all sleeping or lis
tening to the hubbub and excitement go
ing on, old muskets, revOlvers, ETC., wert
brought in. No clue could be given as to
the ones who had carried Off the spoils un
til the Alabama boy, deciding that it was
not prOvident to go to the old field gully
and get his spoils, took gold-piece or two
| believe-two $40 and a few silver quar-
tiers. shouldered his knapsack and struck
bee line for home, intending to soon re
turn after all the excitement would die ou
and claim his gold. On he tramped, think
ing of home, sweet home, and dear ones il
Alabama, and how soon he would make
all comfortable with his friends. As mil,
after mile was left behind, the little TowI
of Danburg, in Wilkes County, was reach
ed. Some nice candy or cake was too
; great an inducement to one of Gen. John
ston's starving boys; his Sl.75 drawn il
Virginia guess was long ago left behind
for the same kind of eatables that now in
duced him to pull out a fresh silver
quarter and invest il, and on hi
way he went rejoicing, more hap
by than his cOnfederates of Johnston
command. But his % cents led to tn
final discovery of those who had the gold
The Georgia boys, always good soldier
! and scOuters. saw something in the new
quarter left in Danburg with the cake sui
Ter. The Alabama boy was followed
The column was ovCrtaken and informa
: ton gained so that all the parties wer
made known, and all found in the neigh
borhoOd, except the squad have allude
. to, and two others who had hid theirs ant
] gone home to upper East Tennessee, car
: rying only $500 each $50 learned). Tn
: Alabama boy, from threats and promise
2 of no punishment, was released after tel
ing all he knew and showing where hi
: Sl7 900 were hid. He then went on hi
way home to Alabama, not so happy q
: before. We have never heard Of him since
/ SO the arresting and investigating con
menced, gold was brought in, and con
{ promise was made with the bankers, fror
| $4,000 to $4,000 paid over by each one
! and a release signed by the bankers. S
r the Tennessee boys went their way reioit
4 ing. for they no doubt saved little for
j wet day. The thirteen lucky ones the
e dispersed in different directions.
Doof ne EuaI