Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-12
Ex-tonfederafe Treasurer CIark-s
Statement.

Mr.. Clark SAYS: As | am in a position
to know all the facts, think II not improper to
state them IS briefly as can. 1 left Richmond,
Virginia the night of the evacuation on the spe-
cial train containing the president. his staff his
cabinet, and many other.goVernment officials, be
ing at that time chief and confidential clerk OF the
executive ottice. The party reached Danville the
next day, where the government offices were par
TALLY organized remaining there until the 10Th OF
April when news of General Lees surrender was
received. The next move was to Greensboro, the
beadquarters of Beauregard's little arlny STAY
Of some days yas made there, and the railroads
had been cut in many places south OF us by the
Federal cavalry, who were still raiding southwest
Of our line of travel, made up train of wagons
aud ambulances for the OF the party. for which
General Beauregard gave a carte blanche order on
with which train the party proceeded TO Charlotte
North Carolina.
GENERAL BEAUREGARD
also ordered up the small cavalry division under
General W. c. p. Breckenridge as an escoIt, to
which President Davis demuTred-possibly for the
reason that he did not wish The small force ia
personal protection-but finally consented, it
gave protection to his following, which was com
avoided the road taken by his escort. After stay
of about week at Charlotte, where he heard OF
was to Abbeville. South Carolina. reaching there
the Sd of May At Abbeville the train of the treas
ury department reported il having followed a
different line of travel under the Pre- lection of the
small naval force under Admiral Semmes. who had
guarded it safely. keeping all of its valuables in
tact. This was the first time we had met and at
Abbeyille the trains, escort and all came together
ADMIRAL SEMMES
asked to be relieved of his voluntarily assumed
duty (which had been necessary as General Stone
mans cavalry had several times struck points
within ten or fifteen miles of these different
trains moving in the main on parallel lines), snd
the train was placed in charge of the cavalry =
WasSingion teoroi nnraI 4T1ersa 10
tary of the treasury, had been left some distance
back, quite i'll; and at Abbeville the president
appointed Postmaster-General John IL. Reagan
aching secretary Of the treasury. The treas.
wifi 1nfa-
rate military chest for the use of the
army there, the specie mainly Mexican dol
recollection. That night, the weather beng hot
for day travelling the Presidential party also left
the 18th of May. As soon arrived Mr. Reagan,
acting secretary of the treasury asked the prcsi-
dent 10 appoint me acting treasurer in place of
MR.. HERNDEN.
who had been left at Greensboro. North Carolina
the treasury since that time ha wing been in charge
of the bureau officers. had some time before re-
ceived staff appointment, with the rank of cap
tain. The President made the appointment, Mr..
Reagan drew up my commission, and President
Davis annexed to it the last official signature he
ever made l. OF course, preserve it as a precious
and spent the day in filling the acquisitions OF
the acting secretary settled with the depositors,
way from Virginia; pad of the naval brigade
through Postmaster Whelezs, of Nashville; paid
off the troops who were near us through the
proper accredited officers; burned millions of
bonds and currency in the presence of Secretary
Reagan and
secretary of war; turned to the Virginia bank
officers the specie which belonged to the Virginia
banks, which they had never been able to obtain
from the treasury for want OF proper officers to
deliverit. One of my last acts was to turn to
Major Moses, Confederate States agent. $4,000 in
silver mainly bullion which the president had
ordered TO be used in furnishing subsistence TO
the paroled soldiers who were passing through TO
their homes, thus relieving them and the dis
tres ed country through which they were passing
| took proper, receipts for all my payments, and
with the whole treasury discussed. except in
significant sum, in company with the acting secre-
tary left Washington about IL O'Clock at night
which was shortly dismissed. and joined.
the presidents party next morning about
daybIeak There again took charge Of my train.
and on the morning of the 9th President Davis
heard OF the danger to his family who were tray
cling some distance ahead, from marauders in
search of horses. He decided to take his staff and
coed to Florida-the intention, as understood, be
ing there to take boats to Cuba, and from there to
the Traus- Mississippi department As was more
likely to be captured with the train than with the
mounted party, in order to provide means for the
transportation to Cuba
CALLED THE STAFF TOGETHER
and paid Colonel F. r. Lubbock \. d. C (former
ID. C., and Colonel - [whose name forget hui
a naval officer each $500 in English soyereigns
took their receipts in due form. Having bag
which still contained about $780, placed ii in
the saddle bags of Mr.. Reagan. He objected say
ing he was already weighted, having $500 of his
private funds brought from Richmond; but upon
my urging that the party might need it. he let il
remain. President Davis to the best of my knoyl-
edge, had only some ty dollars-perhaps less
of specie and Confederate currency, his private
funds. The whole treasury pissed through my
hands as acting treasurer. TIE president never
part of it. He could only have received anv of It
through me. did not offer TO pay him anything,
and he would not have receivedit if had.