Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-08-21
BURIED WEALTH.
wounded Soldiers who Hid Their
Money md Vnlunbles.

An old confederate veteran who had |
been an attentive listener to the |
strange story OF the gray-haired heroes
of Buena Vista felt moved by it to oc'
cupy their attention concerning an af' |
fair of much more interest to Missouri.
ans, at least.
after the battle of Lexington, No."
snid the ex-confederate, Gen. Price
took possession of n very large building
in the city, which had evidently been
constructed for a female college or sem
mary. Into this building our sick and
wounded were crowded. and was de
tailed by Gen. Tom Harris, of Hanni-
bal, to take charge of large room III
the hospital occupied by the sick and
wounded belonging to his brigade.
Thinking that 1 would be detained in
such inactive business but n short
time, and feeling sure that the army
would cross the river and carry the war
into northeast Missouri, 1 rode to the
hospital, rather glad Of an opportunity
to be in town for few days. Gen. Price
at once commenced hurried retreat
toward the exhausted fields of south
Missouri, and the barren hills of Arkan-
sas. Some two weeks after the army
had retired the warden of the hospital,
whose name, as l remember it. was
Garner or Gardner, came around about
midnight and volunteered the rather
startling information that about 1000
Kansas jayhawkers were within few
miles of the city, and he doubted
whether they would show any respect
for our hospital flag. This rather SOL
| dierly-looking, gray-haired old man
was followed by negro, with bright
new coffee pot full of whisky, and in
obedience to a nod or a wink from the
warden - frequently poured little of
the liquid in a cup and offered it to Il
wounded soldier or a hospital nurse.
The warden advised the wounded, and,
in fact, the whole hospital corps to
throw all their arms, money and other
valuables in pile, and permit them to
be concealed for a few days. The boys
appeared perfectly willing to act upon
the suggestion, and the wounded at
once laid on the floor by the side of
their cots everything that they pos
sessed of any value. The old warden,
followed by myself and two or three
other soldiers, passed around through
the hospital and gathered everything
up and placed the stuff in pillow cases,
using a bed tick for the guns, pistols
| and swords.
''There were several very fine swords
1 remember one in particular that be-
longed to young man from st. Louis.
The hilt fairly glittered with bril-,
liants, and the poor young fellow cried
when he handed it to us, saying that
the sword had been carried by his
grandfather in the old wars waged by
Napoleon There were at least n bush.
ell of pistols and nearly half that guam
tity of watches, rings, lockets and pock
etbooks. One wounded soldier who
belonged to Rains brigade took belt
from his waist which. he said, contained
81, 500. Another officer. IN handing oveV
n heavy pocketbook simply remarked;
There is a good deal of money in that.
Never was piece of business of sucl
Importance conducted with such care
lessness and lack of system. No ques
tions were asked and no names taken OF
attached to the articles. Everything
without regard to value or ownership
was thrown into the pillow cases or bee
tick and carried hurriedly out of the
hospital. The old man, who was evi
IDENTIFY honest and actuated by the bes
intentions, led the way. We did not e.
very far. / am sure we stopped in {
little valley or ravine not more than 40t