The National tribune., 1896-07-02
THE TALE OF TWO COINS
1hey Were Found Upon JEFF Davis When
He Was Captured by the Troops.
ITuShiuofOu Post

lWdShington Post
Gen. Nathan Church, the Michigan rem
reseutatlve of the quartet of old staff off
GERS, who rose from Captain TO Colonel of the
famous 26th Mich, and then to Assistant
AdJutant-General and Chief of Staff under
Gen. Miles, showed with much pride while in
Washington So gold piece that has a Won
derful history. When Gen. Chureh's regi-
ment was to be mustered out in 1866 Gen.
Miles requested the War Department to
allow him to retain his Chief of Staff in the
service, which request was granted, and for
SIX months after his regiment had gone
home, and until he declined to remain
longer, Gen. Church was with Gen. Miles at
Fort Monroe, their principal duty being
to guard their distinguished prisoner OF
war, Jefferson Davis
When captured Mr.. Davis had in his
pocket the gold piece in question and a
Mexican silver dollar Gen. Church nrocpred
other similar pieces, and effected an exchange
for the two found in Mr.. Davis's pocket. He
retained the gold piece and gave the dollar
to Maj Black, the Dakota member of the
four who were present at the recent exer-
eises, and who had been his terminate. A
few months thereafter Mai. Black was
showing his famous dollar at an evening
gathering, passing it from one to another,
when 1t suddenly disappeared, and he has
ever since mourned for his lost treasure.
Gen. Church had better luck. however,
with his gold piece, and while he occasionally
exhibited it to his friends, carried i. as a
much-prized pocket-piece for % years, when
he suddenly discovered that he had upin-
tentionally paid it out instead of another
similar piece OF money he carried with il.
but to whom he had not the slightest reeol-
lection. He promptly directed the cashier
OF his bank to lay aside any s. gold pieces
bearing the date OF 1857 hat might pass
through his hands in the course of business
thinking there might be possibly one chance
III million that the valuable keepsake
would some time make its appearance Six
| weeks afterward an old farmer dropped in
and made small deposit, when the cashier
said to Mr.. Church Here, see if that's the
gold piece You are looking for" He took
IL, and was overjOyed to find the distinguish
ing-marks he had placed upon the coin
when it first left Mr. Davis's pocket and
found its way to his own. Since then the
precious piece has been kept carefully
wrapped and safely secured against another
disappearance
While III Paris five or six years ago Gen.
Church was guest one evening at the home
of a wealthy family who had formerly resided
in New York In some way the hostess
learned that he had helped to guard Mr..
Davis while he was prisoner of war. and
she said, with much apparent satisfaction {:
81 have n Mexican Dollar that was taken
from Mr.. Dayis's poeketsat that time which
l value very highly" Without beiraying the
anxiety he felt, Gen. Church asked when and
utN oh
it had been presented to the late President
Andrew Johnson while he occupied the
White House, and that she being his near
relative it had fallen to her on the distribu
ton of his valuables after President John
sons death. Gen. Church had no opportu-
nifty nor inclination then 10 explain what
he knew of the old relic, but he has now
had an opportunity to personally tell Mai.
Black where his long-lost dollar is, and he,
too, may, like Gen. Church, come again in due
time in possession of his own.