The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-30
JEFF DAVIS DREAM
o. a TRANs.MIssIssIPpI EMpIRE
WAsa He Saw the DOunhlI Of the COusdsras,
WnIn'rltahls-ThAs Was The Trus Rsl,suOr
His Carrying on the Csaisdsrnts Money.
What Wsat WIth the Specie.

DAYTON, o., December 29.-The Journa
Of this morning contains an interview witt
Maj, Budd Lewis, an ex. Confederate soldiel
Of the Eighth Kentucky Cavalry, nov
Superintendent Of the Union Depot omni
bus Line OF this city, touching JEFF Davis
Confederate coin and his wonderful con,
ception Of a Trans.M Mississippi empire, The
interview runs about rs follows:
"EIave you any knowledge, Major, ol
these reports respecting JEFF Davis, and the
distribution Of the money in his possession
at the close Of the WARP"
~ don't believe Mr.. Davis ever realized
cent from 1t, don't think there was an
officer in the Confederate service had less
than he, Gen. Johnston was not there,
and 1t Is very possible that he does know
much more than lido Of thematter. IiJoe
Johnston were to say that he knew Davis
had obtained SO much money, then would
believe II, because Johnston would not say
SO unless he knew 1t, And from my per-
sonal knowledge, being present. Idon't
believe Davis ever carried away a large
amount OF the money, | think, Basil
Dukes account will be found correct"
"You were there at the time2"
"Yes, and this ring Showing ring on
the little finger OF his left hand) was made
OF $40 piece from that coin which Is Just
now attracting so much attention. The
story MS know It Is this: arrived in
Richmond in March, 1866, having been
paroled. accompanied Davis with others
when he left Richmond, and went rs far as
Washington, Ga. There were ten army
wagons loaded with money, which un-
derstood was in silver and gold coin and
bullion, though exactly what amount l
never knew. Gen. BIZ Breckenridge was
In charge Of the force, which consisted Of
perhaps 10000 or 1900 men. Twas an
officer acting rs part Of the escort in charge
OF the ten wagons Gen. Basil Duke
was there in charge OF the
money, Mallory was there and other
Confederate civil officers. Mallory and l
changed saddles, us his WINS quite small,
and mine was much too large for me, He
was stout, heavy set man, and q very &C.
nial gentleman. AT Washington II was
determined to pay the men and disband
tho force, Ittook Just day to do 1t. Each
man received 500, the only distinction be-
ing that the officers got gold and the pri.
Yates silver change The next day we
thought there would be fight with the
Federals, and q number OF us hid our
money In the woods, agreeing that the
should divide It between them,
but negotiations were made, and our force
passed on unmolested."
III there were 10000 men It would have
required nearly 100000 in round numbers
to pay them with. What became Of the
rest ~
"These figures, except rs 10 what each |
man received, arc general estimate. The
Of the money, l was informed,
was handed over to the State Bank OF Geor-
gia. The army disbanded there, and scat
tered all over the country. A party OF US
wanted n so with Mr.. Davis as an escort,
but he wanted us to separate. We were
under parole, and could not carry arms,
and he would have better opportunities to
escape alone. He was going In IN ambu-
lance with his family. His concern for
them, could sec, was greater than for any
thing else. / saw his ambulance driven |
away, and 1t was only short time after
thath was captured. What remained ot
the money was taken away; do not know
how"
"Wherc did Davis intend going when he
left Richmond 2"
"There you have It, and that is the bot
tom Of all this accumulation Of money,
md the motive in leaving Richmond. /,
Of course, not being one OF the great guns,
was not admitted into tho secret councils.
but 1t was generally understood among a |
few OF the favored ones, who got 1t indi.
rectly from headquarters, that We were to
make our way through the country, and
into Mexico. The war was virtually over,
but Jefferson Davis was one Of
the shrewdest men in the Confcd.
eracy. He knew that II he could
reach Mexico with an army Of 10000 |
men and q treasury containing four or five
millions OF ready money, we could COM
mand respect and immunity. The Federals
could not have followed us over the border
without violating treaty. Maximilian,
backed by Napoleon, would hardlysrefuse |
10 important an ally. At any rate we
should have been safe Until negotiations |
were commenced. 1t might have realized
Aaron Burr's idea, and founded u Trans.
Empire. 1t would have afford
cd u splendid refuge for all who particl.
pated In the ConfGderacy."
The remainder OF the interview was
merely an expression Of satisfaction as TO |
the course events had taken, and the Majof
termed himself reconstructed
REBEL