Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-12-23
THAT SPECIE.
WHAT GENERAL BASIL DUKE HAS TO
SAY ABOUT IT.
How Much There Was, and What Became of
lt-A Straight Forward State
ment From the Man Who .
Guarded II.
HE DON'T BELIEVE DAVIS GOT AD0LLAR

LOUISVILLE, December 22.-General Basil
Duke, being questioned by C0uriT-Journdl
reporter regarding the statement Of General
Johnston concerning the Confederacy
money, said, when Mr.. Davis left Char
lotte n. c., at the date of the termination
of the armistice between Generals Sherman
and Johnston. he was escorted by five bri-
gades of Confederate cavalry, commanded
by Generals \. Debrill, Ferguson and
Vaughan, Col. W. c. z. Breckenridge and
myself. These brigades were under the
immediate command of General Brecken-
ridge, although he was still secretary Of
war.
At Abbeyyille. South Carolina, where We
had halted for some twenty-four hours, l
received an order from Gen. Breckenridge to
come iynmediateIy TO his headquarters
This was about 10 o'clock at night. When
| reported to him he told me that there was
about fifty thousand dollars OF gold and
silver coin and silver bullion at the railroad
depot, which Mr. Davis desired 10 have
placed in wagons and brought on with the
escort.
Il had not previously heard anything OF
this money General Breckenbridge di-
reeted me to det:il fifty men to take charge
of and guard this specie, 10 have It taken
10 the cars and loaded in wagons and per
sOnally superintend the removal. | order
ed the detail, putting, if my memory
serves me, Lieutenant Col. Steele in COM
mand of il. procured five army wagons
and proceeded to the depot TO take charge
of the the specie.
| found il in charge Of some fifteen or
twenty men, whom understood were em-
ployes of the Treasury Department The
gold and silver coin was packed in small pine
boxes and bags which looked like shot
bags, and in money belts. / made no at
tempt to count, and could not have done
so in the time allowed me before the escort
marched. The coin and bullion was taken
from box cars, two in number, if remem-
ber rightly, where | found it, and lodged
it in five wagons. The night was very dark
and the transfer was made by the light OF
few tallow candles.
The escort marched at midnight, accom-
panied by this improyised special train.
On the next morning Gen. Breckenridge
ordered me to strengthen the guard and
take command Of il in person. requested
him to give me detail of 40 men from
each of the five brigadcs OF escort under
picked officers, making in all guard OF
300, preferring guard so composed to one
selected entirely from my own brigade.
was in charge OF the treasure some
three or four days until We reached Wash
ington, Ga. and during that time | kept
the entire guard continually on duty, and
was never myself absent from the train.
At the Savannah river all the silver coin,
amounting, to the best of my recollection.
to some one hundred and five thousand
dollars, was paid out to the troops compos-
ing the escort and TO paroled Confederate
soldiers who were present.
On the next day, at Washington, by order
Of General Breckenridge, turned over the
gold coin, estimated to be about $500, 900, to
a gentleman whose name have forgotten,
but who think was one Of the officials OF
the Treasury Department. He loaded it in
a two-horse ambulance and Immediately
set off with it, accompanied by two or three
men on horseback. Whittier he went l
don't know. and did not inquire.
| at no time communicated with Mr.:
Davis in regard to this specie, but received
all instructions respecting il from General
. & Davis isa. oS u q. fave
narrated.
He was accompanied by small body OF
picked men. under Capt Given Campbell,
one of the most gallant and efficient oiii-
GERS in the Confederate service. 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 the ambulance. He was captured in a
very short time after he left Washington.