The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-05-10
THE FACTS AT LAST.
HOW THE CONFEDERATE SPECIE WAS
DISTRIBUTED.
An Authentic Account by Gen. Dibre Who was
in Command Of the Davis Escort and
Money Train.
Washington Post !

Washington Post
Gen. G.. G.. Dibrell--now a member
,f Congress from Tenpessee-contributes
he following authentic and circumstan
ial account of the disposition Of the
Confederate specie about which so much
ias been said since the publication of
Gen, Joe Johnston's first statement
ED. POsT.
On the 10Th day of April 1865, I re-
reived a few miles below Raleigh, n. c.,
m order from Mai. Gen. Wheeler to
proceed at once with my cavalry com
mand, composed Of part of my own
Tennessee brigade, commanded by Col.
w. $. McIemore, and the Kentucky
brigade, commanded by Col. W. G. p.
Breckinridac, and Wicgin's Arkansas
Battery, to Greensboro, N. G., and there
report to Gen. John G. Breckenridge, the
Secretary Of War, and President Davis.
We had that day at Buffers bridge, be
low Raleigh, learned certainly of the
disaster of Gen Lees Army. In obedi.
enca to that order we passed through
Raleigh and marched fifteen or twenty
miles that night. The next night we
camped above HiIlsboro, and the next
reached Greensboro about u o'clock at
uight, and reported in person with Col.
Breckenridge, first to Gen. Breckenridge,
and then to Mr.. Davis. We left Green's
horo the next evening, moving south.
At Lexington we awaited dispatches
from Gems. Breckenridge and Jos. f.
Johnston in regard to the surrender or
terms Of surrender proposed by Gen.
Sherman, and then moved on to Char
'ottc. n. G, where we were Joined by
the commands of Gems. J. G. Vaughn
and Basil w. Duke, which had come
across from western Virginia. After
wards we were joined by Gen. Fergu-
sons brigade. At Charlotte, Gen. Brock
inridge, who was n Major General in the
Confederate States Army, assumed com
mand of all the troops along in person
and gave orders. Up to this time my
command of Tennesseans and Kentuck.
ianS had done sll of the guard, picket
and scouting duty, and continued to .
50 until surrendered. On leaving Char
otte we marched on through South
Carolina, cncountering large numbers OF
Gen. Lees soldiers who had been pa
LODI aud were on their way to their
homes.
At Abbeville, S. c., on the ID Of May
after having gone into camp, Col Bragg
sent for me and showed me the terms OF
surrender agreed upon by Gems. Sher
man and Johnston, which included all
of Gen. Jobnslon's army. That night a
conference Of officers was held at the
residence Of the Hon. Mr.. Burt, in Ab
bpviile, at which were present Mr. Da
Wis, Gems. Breckenridge, Bragg, Vaughn,
Duke, Ferguson, Col Breckenridge and
myself. After a full and free discussion
of the situation, the condition of the
troops, etc, it was agreed that we would
| move at II o'clock that night across tnC
Savannah river into Georgia, neal
Washington, and there surrender sucl
of the cavalry as did not wish to go tC
the trans-Mississippi department. i
was also agreed there that the troop'
should the next day be paid a part Of
the specie on hand. When orders were
issued to move, ! was requested to fur
nish transportation for the specie, anc
| the cQuarternasicr furnished four wagons
The specie train was placed immediate
lv under the control of Gen. Duke, who
delivered it safely the next day to Gen
Breckenridge at his headquarters, where
it was divided as heretofore published
In the conference Ct officers held thu
night previous, Mr., Davis inquired par
ticularly as to the condition Of each com
mand, whether they could be relied up
on in an emergency. remember stat
ing for my command, commanded by
Cols. McLemore and Breckinrigde, anc
the artillery commanded by Capt. Wig
tins, that they had remained true an'
intact, were under good discipline, ant
never refused to do duty either as scouts
picket, or guards and we're It's ready I
march to battle as tnev had always been
Each officer was asked in turn in reglr
to his command, and my statement
were corroborated by Col Breckinridg
when he wss interrogated.
Mr.. Davis had had the COMPANY {
Capt. Given Campbell, of the Fir
Kentucky cavalry, as an escort, and |
decided to leave next day with his c
cort, staff, and few Others. On goir
into camp hear Washington, Ga, on Il
Sd Of May, the specie train was parke
at Gen Breckinridge's headquarter
and that intended for the troops W
! Iurned over to Maj. L. G. White, Chi
ouartermaster of my command, he bell
the ranking quartermaster present, VIII
after counting the money turned ov
to him, and receiving the pay rolls
, each command present, paid out al
1 furnished me statement of the amour
a | which had misplaced, but Col. W.
0 p. Breckinridge having retained col
o furnished it TO me, which is rs follow
a to wit:
! " crate States net'su government. @ slOS,s22
BY amount paid Capt. Br ggs, a.
Q. NJ, Dibrell's brigade.... 2',o"
b BY amount paid Maj. w. !. Brad
!. ley, @. NJ, Breckinridge's ,o
brigade. de................""....". lc,o4z
O By amonnt paid Capt ClayPrice
n 40. NJ, Ferguson's brig - 49,
ade ................ ........,....." %o,f''
l. By amount paid Capt. J. d.
BRIGADE i a. w. ......... w ........... 1871
70 By amount paid Maj. ID. FLEW
% ellen, A. @. NJ, Dukes brig .. ,o,
- ade ......... ........ .............. l',l'-
w BY amoont paid Capt. w. F. Bell
10 A. @. NJ, Ninth Kentucky -,
m Regiment. ..... ........... lo'
;r By amount paid Gen. j. Z.
:, Breckenridge and twenty. 80,
III four men....... .......... oo'
O. BY amount paid thirty one en-
10 gneer troops with Gen.B,. Ill
=" By amount paid uh rty.six men
N ofvsrious commands per or.
derof Gen. Breckinridge.u "a