The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-04
AR.TlME "REMINISCENCES.
Unwritten Incident Connected
With the Late War.
Ip FROM RICHMOND, va, TO TEXAS
|a~e Reagan's Children Returned
\ Their Home-Big Pile OF Money
and stamrs.

sustin. Texas, October 3.-Dr. L. d. Hill
|Webberville, Travis county. Texas, is
of three men, provided the others are
e. who can give the country hitherto
ritten and unpublished incident OF the
civil war, and one especially interest
to Texans. The Post correspondent met
Hill in the capitol building here the
er day. where he had come on some
u,ess connected with the departments,
one of the representatives of Travis
nty in the legislature.
Tar "reminiscences were INDUCED In by
~ OF old Confederate comrades and
In 1t came DR.. Hills turn. as an old
nber of Hoods brigade, he told the
owing interesting story:
n the first day of February. 1865, left
hmond. Va, on the morning train in
hpany with Major Mathews and Captain
tdon, in charge Of the four children OF
n II. Reagan. the youngest, babe in
Urge OF negro girl nurse, all to be
veyed to the childrens grandmother in
herson. Grimes county, Texas. Besides
children we were intrusted with S9,000.-
worth OF Confederate money in I'M
ided sheets OF bills of different demoni-
lions, and s3,0O0.O00 worth OF postage
mps, all packed in three tobacco boxer.
money was to be delivered to Peter
Gray, secretary of the treasury, and
stamps to John Starr, postmaster gem
II of the Transmississippi department at
rshall, Texas. To run the blockade with
ID charge at such a time was hazar-
bs undertaking. Major Mathews of
18th Carolina, Captain Gordon OF Georgia
myself were selected by the depart
nts at Richmond to execute the plan.
entered upon the discharge of that
~ with firm determination to keep
children and the money out of the
pds OF the Yankees and guard them
ELY to their destination, or to die in
attempt. AS discipline was deemed
eessary to safety and that each should
herstand his duty and do 1t. Major Math-
}, our senior officer, was selected to Sc
e transportation and provisions. and is
marching orders. and Gordon and
re to guard the children and the money
his absence. and to obey his orders in
ger when present. And all to do guard
y alike.
IN the morning we left Richmond I was
pded sealed envelope, said to be from
heral Robert u. Lee, to be delivered to
beral e Kirby Smith, with strict in
bottoms not to let it fall into the hands
the enemy nor give it to any one ex-
Y General l.. Kirby Smith in person.
he first impeachment we met was at
nmbia,. S. c., where we were detained
il the battle was over. and the road
lred for our passage. We were in tele-
phic communication with Richmond ana
" headquarters and moved or stood still
directed by either as long as we were
communication with. them. After we
bed Columbia and reached August by
we were detained there one day From
Re we travelled to Mutbury Plains by
There we secured wagons, in which
slowly Travelled to Miledgeville, Ga.
Pm Miledgeville to Montgomery Ala. we
yelled by rail and rested at Montgomery
about week, and left there on a river
hmboat for Selma. VIZ were deteined at
ma, Ala, one day to secure transpor-
lem to Meridian, Miss, by rail. At Meri-
IN we were detained several days for
I'd repairs to Jackson. Miss We travelled
I'M Meridian, Miss, through Jackson to
Q3stal Springs through desolate coun-
I1E where lone chimneys, torn up rail-
IDS and burned bridges everywhere gave
Whence of the ruthless destruction OF
(09lc and private property by the enemy
1&sCrystal Springs the track had been torn
III and railroad communication farther
tn closed. At Crystal Springs the two
ers who had Joined us at Richmond &c
Al. 81 ,1ah 80
gate conveyance home. They were pru.
u ladies and very kind and helpful te
children. We travelled In wagons from
stall Springs to the mouth of Mink:
Elk. below Rodney, on the Mississippi
er, where We were detained three days
a brigade Of Confederate cavalry II
rs before u.s. think 1t was Ector'!
gade. They finished swimming theil
ses between passing gunboats the thirt
ening after our arrival. Major Mathews
Eing crossed the river secured transpor
ion and returned. We crossed that nigh
skiffs with muffed oars so as not t
ract the attention OF passing gunboats
: We landed the crash Of the skiff upol
bank caused passing gunboat to shell
bank, but We hastily placed the chill
In and other valuables behind the leve
ID into the wagon that was waiting TO
and drove down the river under tn
otection OF the levee while they con
bued 10 shell the bank. We crosse
brne bayou that night In beat and spen
rt Of the night at a hotel that was sal
be frequented by Yankee officers. an
ley may have been there then for a
know, for we left there before day in
vered wagon, though the sleet was fail
* thick and fast. After travelling abou
hour and when 1t was getting dayligf
were met by a detachment Of Cohfed
ate cavalry and never were blockad
lnners prouder to see the Confederai
Piform on approaching cavalry than on
tile band was that morning. The cavalr
ccrted us to Tensas bayou, which "
PISSED the third evening and deposited tn
ildren and the tobacco boxes on (,
hoctaw." That was what the man calle