Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-08-31

substantial accuracy has not been ques-
toned. Since its publication 1 have
found among my papers some new in
formation on the same subject, quite as
curious as that contained in the article
referred to, and largely corroborating
1T. These things are quite as interest
ing as anything found in the preten-
tious histories Of the war; and / have
no hesitation in placing this fragment
in shape where it may be preserved
for future reference.
1t was an Washington, Wilkes Coun-
ty, Georgia, that the final Cabinet con
sultation Of the dissolving Southern
Confederacy was held. By looking at
the map, the reader will see that this
place is not far from the South Caro-
lima boundary. Huntsville, where Davis
was afterward taken, is almost due
south. After this consultation the party
divided and took different routes
Davis, Reagan, and their escort pursu-
ing general southerly direction, while
General Breckenridge, Secretary Ben
Jamin, and some others, struck off south
easterly, toward the coast. It is well
known that the two latter succeeded in
making good their escape by reaching
an outward bound vessel; and in look
ing back at the useless turmoil and
controversy that followed the capture
OF Davis. and the amazing folly Of his
late utterances, one is tempted to wish
that he had found refuge on the same
ship, and relieved the Lost Cause of its
heaviest burden.
At Washington, in Georgia, lived
Mrs. Moss, an aged lady, who was firm
ly attached to the fortunes of the Con
federacy. The inequalities of her man
sion were offered to Davis and his par
tty, and We're accepted. It was at this
house that the last Cabinet conference,
above referred to, was held. The
movements succeeding it showed that
there could be no agreement among
these chiefs of fallen cause as to the
future. Breckenridge and BENJAMIN
We're able to see that everything was
lost, and that the only course left was
to seek personal safety in flight Davis,
possibly encouraged by Reagan, Tex
an, dreamed of organizing further resist
ance with the forces under General
Kirby Smith, beyond the Mississippi,
in the Southwest. So the party was
separated.
General Breckenridge and those who
decided to accompany him had Jour
ney of hundred and fifty miles before
them to reach the sea coast. The Con-
federate armies had been disbanded {;
the country was swarming with impov-
erished and desperate men, many of
whom would not be nice as to way of
acquiring gold, OF it's equivalent. The
General had with him q considerable
amount of money, and some other treas
IRE, which latter, after reflection, he
decided to leave in the keeping of Mrs.
Moss. He knew that he could depend
upon her fidelity, and he preferred not
to take any unnecessary risk in his
fight.
The conference over, he called the old
lady aside and placed in her hand a
small box of rare material and quaint
design.
"This, my dear madam" he said, els
one OF the few treasures that still re-
main to our unhappy Confederacy.. It
is part of the deposits of the Treasury,
which I, as Secretary of War, have
been guarding all the way from Rich
mond; but 1 am now about to leave
the country, and must find some Sc
cure keeping for this box for the pres
ent. It contains many thousands of
dollars worth of jewels contributed by
patriotic women of Virginia to the
cause, expecting that they would be
used to raise money. desire, by-and-
by, to restore them to their owners. In
the meantime, do YOU kaep them safe