Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-22
THAT TREASURE.
What General Basil Duke Says
Became of
The COnfederacy's Gold and
Silver. Coin.


LOUISVILLE, December 22.-General
Basil Duke, being questioned by a
Courier-J Journal reporter regarding
the statement of General Johnston's
concerning the Confederacy money,
said: When Mr.. Davis left Char
lotte, North Carolina, at the date Of
the termination Of the armistice be
tween Generals Sherman and John
ston, he was escorted by five brigades
Of cavalry, commanded by Generals
Dibrell, Ferguson and Vaughn, Colonel
W. G. 2. Breckenridge and myself.
These brigades were under the imme-
diate command Of General Brecken-
ridge, although he was still Secretary
Of War. At Abbeville, South Caro-
lima, where we had halted for some
twenty-four hours, l received an order
from General Breckenridge to come
Immediately to his headquarters. This
was about 10 o'clock at night. When
| reported to him he told me that
there were about 100000 of gold and
silver coin and silver bullion at the
railroad depot which Mr.. Davis
desired to have placed in wagons and
brought on with his escort. had not
previously heard about this money.
General Breckenridge directed me to
detail fifty men to take charge of
this specie and to have it taken from
the cars and loaded in wagons and to
personally superintcnd it9 removal.
| ordered the detail putting, if my
memory serves me, Lieutenant. Colo
mel Steele in command of it, and pro-
cured five army wagon and proceeded
to the depot to take charge of the
specie. | found it in charge of some
fifteen or twenty men, whom l under
stood were employees of the Treasury
Department The gold and silver coin
was packed in small pine boxes in
bags (Which looked like shot bags) and
money belts. | made no attempt to
count it and could not have done SO
in the time allowed me before my
escort marched. Coin and bullion was
taken from box cars, two in number,
if | remember rightly where l
found it, and longed in the FIVE
wagons. The night was very
dark and the transfer was
made by the light Of a few tallow can
dies. Tic escort marched at mid
night, accompanied by an improvised
specie train. On the next morning
General Breckenridge ordered me to
strengthen the guard, and take com
mand Of it 10 person requested him
to give me a detail of forty men from
each Of the five brigades of tho escort
under picked officers, making in all a
guard of 200, | preferriDg guard so
composed to one selected entirely
from my own brigade. l was in charge
of the treasure some three or four
days, until we reached Washington,
Ca, and during that time l kept the
entire guard continually on duty, and
was never myself absent from the
train. At Savannah Rivcrall of the
silver coin, amounting, to the best Of
my recollection, to some SlO5,OOO, was
paid out to the troops composing the
escort, and to the paroled Confederate
soldiers who we're present.
On the next day, at Washington, by
order of General Breckenridge, l
turned over gold coin, estimated to be
about 100000, to a gentleman whose
name have forgotten; but, who l
think, was one Of the officials of the
Treasury Department. He loaded it
in two horse wagon and Immediately
set of with it, accompanied by two or
three men on horseback. Whittier he
went l do not know, and did not in
quire. l at no time communicated
with Mr.. Davis in regard to this specie,
but received all instructions respect
ing it from General Breckenridge
Mr.. Davis left Washington after
the gold had been taken off, as
1 narrated. He was accompanied by
a small body Of picked men under
Captain Given Campbell, one of the
most gallant and efficient officers in
the Confederate service. l do not
think it at all probable-indeed, it
seems to me impossible-that Mr.,
Davis ever saw any Of the coin, which
/ have told you was placed in an am
bulance. He was captured in a very
short time after he left Washington.