The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-17
DIVISION OF O. s. Il. COIN.
what Became or the Gold and silver shipped
from Richmond.

From the Louisville Courier Journal.
Judge Lewis Shepherd, one OF the leading
lawyers of Chattanooga, and for years the attor.
ney for the Cincinnati Southern Railroad, gave
a correspondent Of the Courier.Journdt the fol-
lowing interesting story. the details of which
have never before been printed, and for the
truth Of which he and Judge Eakin, ALEC OF
Chattanooga. both vouch. Judge Shepherd was
an officer in Vaughn's brigade. as was Judge
Eakin, and they were both with the army at the
time the incidents narrated occurred:
when the Confederate Government aban-
6oncd Richmond as its capital. all its archives
and treasures were sent, under strong military
escort, to Charlotte, n. C. The banks Of Rich
mond sent away their treasures under the pro-
lection Of the same escort. President Davis and
his Cabinet also came to Charlotte and estab-
lishcd temporary headquarters.
Before they reached Charlotte. Richmond
and Petersburg had fallen and Lee had surren-
dered, and in a very few days Sherman and Jo-
seph Z. Johnston had agreed upon an armistice
by their celebrated paper. under which 1t was
proposed that peace should DO made and that
the seeding States should resume their rela-
tions TO the Government.
This treaty. If 1t had been carried out. would
have obviated reconstruction. under what Is
known as the Reconstruction acts of Congress,
Tor 1t covered the entire subject OF restoration
the Union and OF their Senators and Repro
sentatives to Congress. This armistice was
repudiated by President Andrew Johnson and
his Cabinet on the ground that these military
commanders had exceeded their power in un-
dertaking 10 settle the terms on which the
erring States might resume their political func-
tions with the general Government.
IN may be admitted that these Generals went
a little further than they had the right TO go,
but it cannot be denied that they displayed a
profound statesm ,nship in their comprehensive
ward so sorely disturbed Congress, so nearly
caused the conviction upon impeachment of
the Presi- ent, and so completely bankrupted
Mr.. Davis. being advised that President
johnson had brought an end to tho armistice,
and repudiated tho SherInan-J Johnston treaty,
Immediately began efforts to prevent the cap
ture OF himself and the treasures OF the Con-
federacy; the gold ana silver OF the COntederacy
and that OF the richmond banks was loaded into
wagons. and the President OF tho Confederate
States, with his Cabinet Ministers. started South
with ii. guarded by three brigades OF cavalry
Dibbrelfs. Naughn's and Dukes.
when we arrived at Washington, Ga, it be-
came apparent TO Mr.. Davis that he could not
with such a retinue escape tho vigilance OF the
Federal cavalry. which was rapidly closing in
belonging to the Government were opened and
the silver was divided among tho boys. each.
they We're granted indefinite furloaghs. Mr..
Davis with his family ana a much smaller es.
eort pushed on further south, and was. a few
days Rfterward. captured by the Federals.
Meanwhile tho officers OF tho banks sought
the aid OF the Federal commanders to return
their specie TO Richmond. and from them OBJ
tanned II permit to return with it to Richmond,
and also q guard OF soldiers TO protect 1t on its
some Of tho officers and men of Gen.
Vaughn's brigade became appraised that a train
of specie was being carried Sorth under Federal
escort, and they Jumped TO the conclusion that
ment, which The, FederaIs had captured. They
for the Contederacy entitled them to a share OF
this gold, provided they could succeed In secur-
Ing IT. from the . Federal guard; With VT them TIE TIE
idea that anything was fair in war.
They organized an expedition with tho view
until a favorable opportunity OF attack pre-.
scented itself; they charged the train, captured
10 knock the heads out OF tho kegs containing
the gold. and to I'LL their forage sacks with shin
Ing twenty ana ten dollar gold pieces: much -.
S60, 700 apiece; some were content with $4,000.
and still others with less amounts, depending
upon the CARRYING capacity OF their forage sacks
~ fellow began to M his sack out OF the
first KEY he came to, which proved to be a keg OF
silyor: Hewas happy when he lugged or his bag
full OF silver dollars. but when he met his com
pnnions later in the rendezvous, where they
stopped 10 count their money, ana FOUND that,
while he had such large bulk and heavy load Of
money. i only counted up about ~ 900, his com.
kegs, had secured such large sums In gold, he
became greatly disturbed over his III luck and
ers" TO- DIVIDE Hids" Their Ts gold Ehs WITH ts' him- Ii pre- predi Hs",
tions for free silver had cost him many thou
sands OF d9llnrs1and he determined, to turn in
former. Upon information furnished by this
silver king several OF the goldbugs were appre'
hendcd and compelled TO give up their booty,
but u number OF them were wise enough to keel
ON going until they got safe away from the scene
of their capture.
"Two of these mon, officers of Col. Meals Six
tcenth Tennessee Battalion. went with theii
money, amounting to $3.50, 900. to q Western
town and established a banking house; the town
grew to be n great city, and these bankers be
came men of great wealth.
IL have heard it said that they subseq uentl,
lost their heads in "A real estate boom similar tc
that which about the same time struck Chatta
noosa ami dissipated the fortunes they hnC
built up OIL, their captured gold.
Two others, whom / knew, invested theil
oooly IN the cattle business and became wealth,
cattle kings, while another became u wealthy
The Richmond banks spent a large sum OF
money In "a vain effort to recover their MONEY
and detect the men VINO had gotten IT, som,
information that the bankers anu boomers o
the W estern city were among the men who hul
captured their money. but they had no way o
establishing the truth of thG information, III,
Witnesses to the transaction I0uId not afford Il
tell on them, and so their effort 10 get sometime
back from this source came 10 nothing.
II give you this unwritten chapter OF tn,
civil war to show how a handful OF rebel soldier
were seized with the Klondike fever long befor,
the YUKON was known or Alaska had becom,
the property OF the United StatsAs"