Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-08-02
rRA NsFER OLE THE CHARGE.

lows: 1--WE went TO Augusta, Ga, on
the 20lh and here the money was
placed 10 the vaults ola bank. Some
of it. l know not how much, was sold
to citizens; at least men crowded around
With rolls of Confederate currency to
| get gold. On the 26th we were ordered
back to Washington. Ca, the things
going along with US. Ga the 9th the
midshipmen who desired were offered
furloughs. All Of them accepted ex-
cept five Virginlans, namely, Quarles,
Hudson, Slaughter, Carter and Flem-
ing. The things were again put in
wagons and across the country we
marched on the 29th Of April to Abbe-
vile the things were put on board
ssme cars that stood at the depot. We
had no guard duty to do after leaving
Washington, GA. On May the III
President Davis and Cabin et and staff
reached Abbevllle, coming, 1 imagined
from Charlotte on horseback. On that
day we five Virginians were discharge l
as per the following order, probably
the last official act of the navy Of the
Confederate States:
ABBEvILLE, S. e. May, 1865.
SIR: You are hereby detailud from
the Naval School, and leave Is granted
you 10 visit your home. You will re-
port py letter to the Hon. Secretary OF
the Navy as soon as practicable. Pay
master Wheloss will issue you ten days
ratlons, aud all quartermasters are re-
quested to furnish transportalion,-
Respectfully. your obedlent servant,
WIN. H. PARKER, Commanding.
By order of the Secretary of Navy.
Midshipman r. H. FLEMING. Z. S.N.
MR.. DAVIS NOT RESPONSIBLE.
In continuation, Mr.. Fleming does
not remember when the money lett
Abbeyille, but thinks It was on the
morning of the lst Of May. Some
money was paid to the soldiers en-
route home rafting coin in their pock-
cts and singing Zone dollar and fifteen
cents for four years service" The
President and staff left on the night Of
the I'd. \ committee of the five dis
charged midshipmen, through Captain
Parker, requested Secretary Reagan be-
fore leaving to pay them IN gold suffi-
cient to enable them to reach home.
He obtained from him several hundred
dollars 10 be distributed pro rata among
the naval officers, and each of the mid
shipmen received $40 apiece. They
remained in Abbeville until May 7th
when they started homeward. A few
DAYS before the remaining specie had
been placed in charge Of some general
of the army, and there personal
knowledge of 1t ends. This is the high
testimony ola man who had followed
closely the fortunes of the Confederate
cause in lis death throes and who ad-
bered until the last feeble nucleus. OF an
organization had dissolved. In the
close of q private communication re-
Gently received from him he says, re-
ferring TO the inputatlons against Presi-
dent Davis and his connection with the
government money: II have no word
of commentator for his accusers. Mr..
DAVIS was never with the specie train
single day during our connection with
it," We contribute this as a subject
which has never been referred 10 in any
written records of the rebellion, aud it
possibly contains more sncclnct his
tory Of the route pursued by the heads
of the government ate. the 81 Of April
than any yet given.
TRIBUTE To THE CADETS.
We have ever regarded the sale
transit OF this treasure through 80 large
an area of country as tribute 10 The
honesty and law abiding spirit of The
Southern people. It will not be ior-
gotten that the region through which IL
passed. with Its little guard OF forty
bows. was filled with stragglers aud un'
oflicered bands OF scattered and s'liier-
inc soldiers. Men kno wing all the
pangs of hunger and nakedness, anu
homeless utterly Of the success of their
cause; yet. men who instInc'lYeiy
obeyed their sense Of the law when nc
law existed, and kept their hands Iree
from the stain Of robbery while boxes
of this treasure Law in their midst, win
the lives of Its slender little body-guard
only between them and its possession
The address Of the commanding officer
to the mdshipmen at the depot calling
1t duty of dellcacy and danger, was
we'll justified, aud the manner OF It's per-
Torrance entities these gallant boys &c
high need of praise aud to the his
toric mention which they have never
before received. Although it comes 10
them now, in the sober days OF almost
middle life, when the young edge o
their ambition is worn we'll away, II
will serve its purpose if but recalls
the arduous service of their youth anc
bring bank the consciousness
they then felt of duty bravely and
honestly done.
Staunlon, Va, 1882.
How n WOman's Life Was
saved.