Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-07-22
THE CONFEDERATE TREASURY.
Lncoln's Brother-in-Law Tells How thu
Last $4,000 Was Divided.

DR.. G. r. G. Todd of Barnwell, S. c..
distinguished surgeon of the Confed-
crate army and a brother-in-law of
Abraham Lincoln, as well as connec-
ton by marriage with the Brecken-
ridge family of Kentucky, during his
younger days was often thrown with
Abraham Lincoln, who married his Sis
ter. Thus, by family ties and associa-
ton, he is closely connected with
Breckenridge and Lincoln, who were
both Presidential candidates in 1860.
DR.. Todd was in charge of the Con-
federate hospital at Charleston under
Gen. Hardee, and was with the party
of the fugitive Confederate Cabinet
when it disbanded. He describes the
division o, the last money of the Con-
federate treasury, a matter much dis
cussed in the newspapers few years
ago.
"A great deal has been said about
it," said he, "but, so far as | know, no
description of it is on record. | was
there in the room when the money was
paid out, and saw the whole proceed
ing. Indeed, am partly responsible
for the division of it at the time. |
had been with the soldiers coming
down, and | heard the kentucky and
Virginia troops saying they were 60
ing to have some of the money or have
blood. l told Breckenridge, who was
the Secretary of War, what | had
heard, and said that there might be
rioting and bloodshed.
There may be rioting,' he said, but
no bloodshed.' | then suggested to
him the propriety of a division of the
money among the soldiers, and he re-
piled: we will see about it, In the
party were the Confederate Cabinet
and the officers of the four brigades of
troops which were with us when we
crossed the Savannah river. We had
the last money OF the Confederate
treasurv-$7O,0O 900 in gold and silver,
besides some gold belonging to the
Bank of Richmond. The money was
in charge of Col. Morgan, brother of
the famous John Morgan. We crossed
the Savannah river on pontoorw and
went on the road toward Washington,
Ga. When we had gone two miles
from the river we stopped ut a log cab
in on the south side of khe road, and
there the $4,000 was paid out. Mr..
Davis had gone on about four miles
ahead of us with his staff.
"In the cabin were John G.. Brecken-
ridge, Secretary of War, Judah Z. Benz
jamin, who looked as scared as the
devil and appeared to be panic
stricken, Gen. Bragg, the commander
of the four brigades, and Colonel Nor
gan, who had charge of the money.
"Ihe division was made by caucus
of the men. Those present were
Vaughn's, DeBrell's, Basil Dukes and
Humphrey Marshalls brigades. Mar
shall was then under arrest, and his
brigade was in charge of Col. w. G. T..
breckenridge. The census of the sol
dlerS was the reverse of Porter's.
Some of the brigades returned ticti-
tlouS names in order to get more mo-
ney. The division was $40. 25 for each
man, officers and common soldiers far
ing alike. Some of them, by stufiing
the census, got as much as $50 head.
Divide $4,000 by 26 Il and you will
see how many (2,6G6 mem were re-
turned 10y the census of four brigades.
IN the paying out we finally came to a
key of silver ingots-pieces by 4
inches square. They opened box Of
Solu pclollSlhS 10 inc Bank OF Rlcn-
mond. 1t was about Is inches long
and 10 or II inches wide, and con-
tanned purses of gold. They made a
rough estimate of tho value of that
gold and OF the key of silver and ex-
changed them. In that way | got
some gold. Then they carried the
Bank of Richmond money to the bank
at Washing Ton, Ga, and deposited it.
They took none of it, except little
box, for which they substituted the
ke@ of silver ingots. While the money
was being divided out, Col. Morgan
paid a man five dollars an hour to
guard it. When we got through Nor
gan took the remaining money and
drove it away in the dark Thence it
landed in the bank at Washington, Ga.
| know only by hearsay, but | am sat
islied that the information was cor
rect, that the Bank of Richmond sent
for its money, and on its way the men
guarding it were attacked by maraud-
ers. The guard was temporarily dis
persed, and the marauders got some
of the money before they were driven