The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-08-18
THE CONFEDERATE TREASURE.
An Interesting Event Tint Followed the Fall
OF Richmond.

OF blChmOnd
Q'rom an Article by Gen. Dukc in August Bivouac
on the Fall OF Richn nond.)
1t was determined that we should re-
snmc our march that night for Washing
ION, Ca, one or two days march dis
tant, and orders were issued by General
Brecklnrldgc that we move mt midnight
About 10 Oo'clock / received Il message
from General Breckenridge that he dc
sired to sec mo Immediately. | went to
his quarters, and he informed mo that
the treasure which had been brought
from Richmond was at the railroad sta
ton, and that it was necessary to pro
vide for its removal and TRANSPORTATION.
He instructed me to procure n sufficient
number of wagons to remove it, and TO
detail guard of fifty men under field
officer for its protection. He further in
formed me that there was between $500,
600 and 5000, 600 in spccie-he did not
know the exact amount-the greater part
gold. ] must, he said, personally super
intend its transfer from the cars to the
wagons. This was not very agreeable
duty. L represented that if no one knew
Just what sum of money was there, it
would be rather an unpleasant
responsibility to impose on the party
who was to take charge of it. | would
have no opportunity to count it, nor
possible means of asccrtaining whether
the entire amount was turned over to
me. He responded that all that had
been considered, and babe me proceed
to obey the order. | detailed fifty picked
men MS guard, and put them under com
mand of Colonel Theophilus Steele and
four of my best subaltcrns. | obtained
SIN wagons, and, proceeding to the sta
ton, began mt once the task of removing
the treasure.
1t was in charge of some of the former
Treasury clerks, and was packed in
money belts, shot bags, few small iron
chests, and all sorts Of boxes, some of
them of the frailest description. In this
shape | found it loaded in open box cars
j stationed scntrics at the doors, and,
rlmmaging through the cars by the
faint light of a few tallow candles, gath
cred up all that was shown me, or al
that could find. Rather more than an
hour was consumed in making the trans
fer from the cars to the wagons, and
after the latter had been started off and
had gotten half n mile away, Lieut.. John
Is. Cole, one of the officers of the guard, |,
rode up to me with pine box, which
may have held 81, 600 or s., 900 in gold,
on the pommel of his saddle. He had
remained after the others had left, and,
ferreting about in car which we thought
we had thoroughly searched, had dis
covered this box stuck in corner and
closely covered up with piece of sack
ing. On the next day, General Breckin-
ridge directed me to increase the guard
to 200 men and take charge of it in per-
son. l suggested that instead Of compos-
ing it entirely Of men from my brigade,
1T should be constituted of details from
all five. | thought this the best plan to
allay any little feeling of jealousy that
might arise, and insure more perfect
vigilance, as L felt persuaded that these
details would all carefully watch each
other. My suggestion was adopted,
Nearly the entire guard was kept con
stantly on duty, day and night, and q
majority of the whole escort was gener-
ally about the wagons Mt every halt,
closely inspecting the guard.
At the Savannah River, Mr.. Davis or
dered that the silver coin, amounting to
one hundred and eight or ten thousand
dollars, be paid to the troops in partial
discharge of the arrears OF pay due them.
The Quartermasters of the several brig
AIDES were engaged during the entire
night in counting out the money, and q
throng of soldiers surrounded the little
cabin where they were dividing "the
pile" into their respective quotas until
early dawn. The sight OF so much money
seemed to Danish sleep. My brigade re-
ceived $32 per capita, officers and men
sharing alike. General Breckinride was
paid that sam, and, for the purpose, was
borne on the roll of the brigade. On
the next day, at Washington, / turned
over the residue of tho treasure to Mr..
M. III. Clarke, acting Treasurer of the
Confederate States, and experienced q
feeling of great relief.
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