Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-09-10
An Interesting Event that Fol-
lowed the Battle of

An Interesting Event that Fol-
lowed the Battle of Richmond.
From an article by Gen. Duke in the August
Bivouac on the fall OF Richmond.
It was determined that We should
resume our march that night for
Washington, Ga, one or two days
march distant, and orders were issued
by Gen. Breckenridge that we move 1T
midnight. About 10 O'Clock I received
q message from Gen. Breckenridge
that he desired to see me Immediately.
| went to his quarters and he inform I'd
me that the treasure which had been
brought from Richmond was at the
railroad station, and that it was
necessary to provide for its removal
and transportation. He instructed
me to procure q sufficient number Of
wagons to remove it, and to detail a
guard Of fifty men under field officer
for its protection. He further inform.
ed me that there was between $780,.
600 and $500, o0Oin specie-he did not
know the exact amount--the greatest
part gold. l must, he said, personally
superintend it's transfer from the cars
to the wagons. This was not a very
agreeable duty. Represented that il
20 one knew just what sum OF money
was there, it was rather an unpleas.
ant responsibility to impose on the
party who was to take charge oft.
would have no opportunity to count
it, nor possible means OF ascert tanning
whether the entire amount was turned
over to me. He responded that all
that had been considered, and btade
me proceed to obey the order. I de-
tailed fifty picked men as guard, and
put them under command Of Col
Iheophilus Steele and fourof my
best subalterns l obtained six wag.
ons, and proceeding to the station,
began at once the task OF removing
the treasure.
1t was in charge OF some or the for
mer treasury clerks, and was packed
in money belts, shot bags, a few small
iron chests, and all sorts OF boxes,
some OF them of the frailest desclip,
ton. In this shape I found it loaded
in open box cars. Istationed sentries
at the doors, and, rummaginS through
the cars by the faint light OF few
tallow candles, gathered up all that
was shown me, or all that | could
find. Rather more than an hour was
consumed in making the transfer from
the cars to the wagons, and after the
latter had been started off and had
gotten hall mile away, Lieut.. John
b. Cole, one OF the officers OF the
guard, rode up to me with pine box,
which may have held $4,000 or 49,
900 in gold, on the pommel OF his
saddle. He had remained after the
Others had left, and, ferreting about
IN a car which we thought we had thor
oughly searched, had discovered this
box stuck in a corner and closely
covered up with @ piece OF sacklng
On the next day Gen. Breckenridge di,
men and take charge Of it in person.
suggested that instead of composing it
entirely Of men from my brigade. it
should be constituted OF details from
all five. l thought this the best plar,
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 constantly on duty, day and
night, and majority OF the whole cs,
cort was generally about the wagons
at every halt, closely inspecting thu
guard.
At the Savannah river Mr. Davis or.
dered that the silver coin, amounting
to S1OS,OOO or $40, 900, be paid to
the troops in partial discharge OF the
arrears OF pay due them. The quarter
masters OF the several brigades were
engaged during the entire night in
counting out the money, and throne
OF soldiers surrounded the little cabin
where they were dividing 1.-The pile into
their respective quotas until early
dawn. The sight Of so much money
seemed to Danish sleep. My brigade
received S32 per capita, officers and
men sharing alike. Gen. Breckenridge
WAS paid that sum, and, for the pur.
pose, was borne on the roll Of tn: bri
gade. On the next day at Washington
turned over the residue OF the treas.
ure to NJ. H. Clarke, acting treasurer
Of the confederate states, and expert
enced feeling Of great relief.