Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-04-24
Cincinnati Enqsirer }

single word in letters an inch and
a.half tall. There is no uniformity
in the designs. On some bills there
will be imaginary heads and
sketches-a woman, pile of arms,
a rush to battle. On others appear
liKenesscs of Confederate heroes
and Confederate state houses; as
Jefferson Davis OH the flties and
Alexander II. Stephens on thctwen.
ties. The Nashville, Tenn, state
house oil the twcnties and the Rich.
mond, Va, state house Oh the hyes.
The face of Confederate money is
cOlored pink around the llkenesses.
The first bills were simple notes,
payable in six months. The second
and all subsequent issues were made
payablc nc different times 'att,r O
ratification Of a treaty of peace be-
tween the Confederate States OF
America and the United States
Confederate money WAS not long
in going below par. During the
war it was not the cXtOrtlOn OF
merchants which ran up prices to
fabulous figures, but it was the de-
preclation Of the currency. In
some sections calico sold for $40 a
yard, good shoes at $50 and 800 a
pair. Fifteen dollars would pur'
chase a spool OF thread or n paper
N pins. Medicines and all luxu'
RES were as hard to get rs husbands
and natural protectors-they were
not i'm the market for that sort Of
paper. A silver dollar was worth
at least thirty Confederate dollars.
The Confederacy understood that
it had to protect its currency as
we'll as it's rights, and an act was
passed making ittreason for moneys
TO he exchanged at different values.
rhere is something tender and pa
theticin the Willingness of the gray
soldiers to receive Confederate bills
for pay. They knew its dePrecia-
ton. bat they loved the principles
il tcnrcsented. 1t took hatiul
Of the paper to buy loaf of bread,
said nm old Wal horse 10 an Enqulr-
or writer; bnt bread bought with
It tasted mighty sweet! Great
collyt said another, was in NOR
tai dread the wholcpaper supply OF
the country would give out they
issued so much Of the stun and
that we would have to do without
periodicals and news There were
sharp men in the south who never
HAD confidence in Confederate mon
ey, and they never kept it as long
AS a week. They wore always on
the buy. They bought everything
rbut negroes and were glad to buy
at high pfices-at any price. Re
! suits commended their wisdom.-
/ When the war ended they were the
proprietors, while others owned
nothing save piles Of bluc-back
bills and negro tracks at the back
yard gate.
Money accumulated so rapidly Oh
some men that they kept it in large
boxes, in barrels, in bureau-draw
ers. Thewriter means Confederate
money; silver and gold were nm
known quantities. This was the
sort Of stuff they had to live on ant
take comfort in when days wer'
dark aud dreary-valueless notes
as miserable an eye-sore as can b'
imagined.
I'm 1860 a law was passed by most o
the southern states for the relief o
trustees, administrators and eXecu
tors who might have in their pos
session Confederate money realized
from sales. BY depositing the mon
ey in the Office of the ordinary o.
probate Judge of the county, an'
! swearing that it was the amoun
, received for that property, thu
guardian or administrator was re
leased from all liability. Like
two.edged sword, this law cut TIVE
ways. 1t was a blessing to man!
honest men, and it led into tempta
ton others who were not strong Il
resist. The wards lands and houses
went into the possession Of the font
guardian who paid for it with a lie
kissed on the Bible, aud a numbe
of worthless blue.back bills stucl
in pigeon.hole in the ordinary
Office An Enquirer writer was re
Gently shown in Georgia lag
amounts of Confederate money thu
deposited; one lot of $50 bills Ither
were 400 of them seemed so brigh
and crisp that eyes sparkled at ih
4 sight.
There has never been a crar
among tho curiosity collectors 70
n Confederate money. At old boOl
r. stores aud small shops it is bougt
and sold opce in long while. Tb
Y $1,000 bill is scarce, and readil
a finds buyers at So or 50 each, th
$500 bill can be bought for 20 or !