Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-10
CONFEDERATE TREASURE.
An Interesting Event that Followed
the Fall of Richmond.

From an article 6V Gen. Duke in the Au91st
BiUOUGc on The Fan Of RicinOnd.
1t was determined that we should re-
sumo our march that night for Washing
ton, Ca, one or two days march distant,
and orders were issued by Gen. Breckin.
ridge that we move at midnight. About
10 o'clock received a message from Gen.
Breckenridge that he desired to see me
Immediately. / went to his quarters,
and he informed 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 a sufficient number OF wagons to
remove 1t, and to detail a guard Of fifty
men under a field officer for it's protec-
ton. He further informed me that there
was between $500, 900 and 100000 in spe-
cie-he did not know the exact amount
the greater part gold. l must, be said,
personally superintend its transfer from
the cars to the wagons. This was not q
very agreeable duty. / represented that
II no one knew just what sum Of money
was there, IL was rather an unpleasant re-
sponsibllity to impose on the party who
was to take charge Of il. j would have
no opportunity TO count it, nor possible
means of ascertaining whether the entire
amount was turned over to me. He re-
sponded that all had been considered, and
babe me proceed to obey the order. | de-
tailed fifty picked men as guard, and put
them under command OF Col. TheOphilus
Steele and four Of my best subalterns.
obtained six wagons, and, proceeding to
the station, began at once tue task OF re-
moving the treasure.
1t was In charge OF some OF the former
ala NJ 40 L.,
money belts, shot bags, few small
iron chests, and all sorts Of boxes, some
OF them of the fraileet description. In
this shape found il loaded in open box
cars, | stationed sentries at the doors,
and, rummagipg through the cars by the
faint light Of a few tallow candles, gath
cred up all that was shown me, or all that
| could find Rather more than an hour
WAS consumed In making the transfer
from tue cars to the wagons, and after the
latter had been started off and had gotten
half "A mile away, Lieut.. John h. Cole,
one Of the officers of the guard, rode up
10 me with pine box, which may have
held 50 OO0 or 81, 900 IN gold, ION the POM
mel OF his saddle. lie had remained after
TIE others had left. and, terreting about
i'm a car which we thought we had thor
oughly searched, bad discovered this box
stuck in corner and closely covered up
with a piece OF sacking. On the next day
Gen. Breckinridge directed me TO increase
the guard to 200 men and take charge Of 1t
in person. ! suggested that instead OF
composing 1t 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 a more perfect
vigilance, as felt persuaded that these
details would all carefully watch each
other. Ny suggestion was adopted.
Nearly the entire guard was kept con-
tstantly on duty, day and night, and q ma
dority OF The whole escort was generally