The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-05-11
HISTORY OF A GOLD PIECE.
jefferson Davis Had 1t When He
Was Captured in 1855.
Washington Post.

Washington Post.
1t was q noticeable fact in connec-
ton With the recent exercises Of the
unyeiling and dedicaGiug OF the Gen
eral Hancock statue that Genoral
Miles, commander in chief OF the
army, who was in command Of the mil
ltary parade, made q decided change
in the personnel OF his staff officers for
the occasion.
When the val closed General Miles
was in command Of the first division of
the Second Army Corps, which was
commanded by General Hancock. OF
the half dozen officers then composing
General Miles's staff, four still survive,
n these were present, to take part in
the statue unwilling ceremonies. One
came all the way from North Dakota,
another from Michigan, the third from
Ohio, and the fourth from New York,
and they had not all been together be-
fore for twenty-five years.
Whom making up q list OF those who
should compose his staff for the occa-
sion, General Miles paid a very grace
full tribute to his old staff officers by
announcing that as president OF the
Society of the Second Army Corps and
the ranking officer under General Han
cock, he felt that he would be justified
In choosing the few survivors Of his
old staff, to the exclusion OF his pres
ent stall. AS a consequence, General
Miles marched on foot down Pennsyl-
vania avenue with the four members
OF his former STAFF at the head OF the
parade, as they had so often marched
or ridden on other far more dangerous
occasions more han thirty years be-
fore.
General Nathan Church, the Michi-
gan representative OF the quartet Of
the old officers, who rose from captain
to colonel Of the famous Twenty-sixth
Michigan, and then to assistant gene
raj and chief of staff upder General
Miles, showed with much pride while
in Washington a So gold piece that has
a wonderful history. When General
Church's regiment was to be mustered
out In 1855, General Miles requested
The war department to allow him to re-
tain his chief of staff in tho service,
which request was granted, and fer six
months after his regiment had gons
home, and until he declined to remain
longer, General Church was with Gen
eral Miles at Fort Monroe, their prin-
cipal duty being to guard their distin-
guished prisoner of war, Jefferson
Davis.
When captured Mr.. Davis had in bis
pocket the gold piece in question and
a Mexican silver dollar. General
Church procured other similar pieces
ard effected an exchange for the two
found in Mr.. Davis's pocket. He re-
tanned TIE gold piece, and gave the
dollar so Major Black, the Dakota
member Of the four who wero present
at the recent exercises, and who had
been his tent mate. A few months
thereafter Major Black was showing
his lannon's dollar aft On nvapipr cath
ering, passing it from ono to another,
n he has ever since mourncd for his
lost treasure.
General Church, however, had bet
ter luck with his gold piece, and while
he occasionally exhibited it TO his
friends, carried it as a much-pri2ed
pocket piece for twenty-five years,
when he suddenly discovered that he
had unintentionally paid it out instead
OF another similar piece Of money he
carried with it, but to whom he had
not the slightest recollection. He
promptly directed the cashier Of his
bank to lay aside any So gold piece
bearing the date of 1857 that Nigh,
!, pass through his hands in the course oil
/, business, thinking thore might be pos
sibly one chance in q million that the
valuable keepsake would soma time
make It's appearance. Six weeks az
forwards an old farmer dropped in and
made a small deposit, when the cash.
lGiier said to Mr.. Church Hero, see il
as Ia the gold piece you arc looking
ye for" h+ook it and was overjoyod to
w lind the distinguishing marks he had
10 placed upon the COLI ben it first left
I'd Mr.. Davis's pocket and 1ounits wav
le into his own. Since then the reciony
piece has been kept carefully \amneG
st and safely secured against anokrp 55is.
20 appearance.
1t While In Paris five or six yeaSapo
~ General Church was q guest oueven,
u ing at the home of o wealthy Nil,
n who had formerly resided in Jayg
O York. La some way the hostess l,rnn.
ed that he had helped to guards
Davis while he was q prisoner OF H.
"a and said, with much apparent satisE'
~ ton 81 have u Mexican dollar IN
% was taken from Mr.. Davis's pockety
" That time which [ value very highly.
Without hetraying the anxiety lie fell
Nir. Chlrch asked Hhen and whore sh
q obtained 1T, and was told that it ha
n peer presented to the late President
Andrew Johnson, while he %occupie
the white house, and that she bein
mis- near relative, it had fallen to he
alter President Johnson's death. Gen
GRAZ church had no o%pportunit" .lor in
;, ~c!ination then to explain what ho kpe,
OF thc old relic, but he has now had a.
n opportunity to personally tell Maio
4 Black where his long-lost dollar il
y and he, too, may, like General Church
= como again in due time into possessiol
Of his own.