Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-09-24
SOLDIERS DEPARTMENT..
CONFEDERATE TREASURE.
Extract From an Article by General Duke
on thu EnII of Rich m onh.


Extract From nm Article by General Duke
| on tho FAN of Richmond.
II was determined that we should re-
sumo our march that night for Washing
! ton, Ca, one or two days march dis
tant, and orders were issued by General
Breckinridge that we move atmidnight.
About ten o'clock received a message
from General Brcckinridge that he de-
sired to sec me Immediately. went TO
his quarters, and he informed me 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 n
field officer for its protection. He further
informed me that there was between
$780, 900 and 100000 in specie-he did
not know the exact amount-the greater
part god. must, he said, personally
superintend its transfer from the cars to
the wagons. This was not very
agreeable duty. represented that If
no one knew Just what sum of money
was there it was 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 ascertaining whether
tho entire amount was turned over to
me. He responded that all that had
been considered. and bade me proceed to
obey the order.e. | detailed fifty picked
men as guard, afidput them under COM
mand OF Colonel Theoph ltis Steele and
four of my best subalterns l obtained
six wagons, and, proceeding to the sta
ton, began at once the task OF removing
the treasure.
1t was in charge ofsome of the former
Treasury clerks and was packed in
money belts. shot bags, few smalliron
chests, and all sorts of boxes, some of
them of the frailest description. In this
shape found it loaded in open box
cars. / stationed sentries at the doors,
and rummaging 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 of
and had gotten half mile away, Lieu
tenant John B. Cole, one of the officers
of the guard, rode up to me with pine
box, which may have held $4,000 or
SO, 600 in gold, on the pommel of his
saddle. He had remained after the 9th
ers had left, and, ferreting about in a
car which we thought we had thor
oughly searched, had discovered this
box stuck in corner and closely COW
cred up with piece of sacking. On
the next day General Breckenridge di-
guard to two hundred men and
suggested that instead of composing it
entirely of men from my brigade it
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 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 n
majority of the whole escort was gener-
ally about the wagons at every halt,
closely inspecting the guard.
At the Savannah river Mr.. Davis or
dered that the silver coin, amounting to
S10S,O0O or $4,000, be paid to the
troops in partial discharge of the arrears
~ the pay due them. The Quartermas-
ters of the several brigades were en-
gagged during the entire night in count
ing out the money, and throng of
soldiers surrounded the little cabin
where they were dividing 1.-THE piles"
into their respective quotas until early
dawn. The sight of so much money
seemed to Danish sleep. My brigade
received 49, per capita, officers and
men sharing alike. General Breckin-
ridge was paid that sum, and, for the
purpose, was borne on the roll of the
brigade. On the next day at Washing
ton turned over the residue of the
treasure TO Mr.. NJ. II. Clarke, Acting
Treasurer of the Confederate States,
and experienced feeling of great re-
lief.-Southern BiUouac.i