The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-30
0!NFEDER GOLD D.
CAUSED SURPR[I
"A Federal General Who Gould.
Not Believe. His Eyes.
.REMAR KAB LE .WAR. !. INc !DENT Mt
An Incident that Proves the High Sense Of
Honor. and Integrity Of tie Confederate
Soldiers-Twenty thousand Dell
lars to Buy Mules. ].
fsp.e,.1 D,,patch to n. rimes.)

&6pA016l O11patCR 10 AQe 440leo.<
CHASE CITY. VA, March 29.-SomeE
time ago in conversation with Major r.
V Gaines, of Charlotte county, I was tod
of an incident connected with our Civil
War, which shows the character of the
Confederate soldiers ana the high sense OF
honor of our people.
It is well known that at the time OF
the fall OF Richmond a large quantity of
gold was sent from that city south by the
Danville Railroad. Some $4,000 or more:
was entrusted to parties to go to Mexico
and buy mules for the Confederacy. They
did not have time to reach their destina-S
ton What became of that money has
never developed. But OF a portion in .lo
possession Of disbursing officers at = the
time, Major Gaines, who was a quarter
master, is perfectly familiar as to where
it went.
FORTUNE IN GOLD.
cantains Johnson, Of Alexandria; Gaines.
OF Charlotte. and -, of Virginia, were
assistant quarternasters They We're near
Staunton river bridge, on the retreat. and
had in their possession after the sur
render $4,000 In gold. ---------. OF. VIZ
GINA, name withheld for obvious reasons,
preferred to take charge Of one-halt, and
did SO. It afterwards developed that he
had this gold; was arrested in New YORK
and Imprisoned. The final result with
him is not known.
johnson and Gaines decided to go to the
hcme of the latter in Charlotte county,
taking 5000 of the coin in a cotton SOCK.
After arriving there they kept the mat
ter a secret while discussing between
themselves what they should do. AS the
whole country then, April, 1860, was IN
a perfect upheaval, they determined to
conceal or bury the gold In an old grave
yard and await events.
DIVISION. SUGGESTED.
They communicated with Colonel Lar
kin smith a prominent staff officer of the
Confederacy. who was then in charlotte
county, who advised. as the old army
officers were in more destitute condition
than others, having lost their positions
and having no source of income, it woulu
be proper to divide the gold among them.
Other Confederates of high standing con-
concurred in that opinion
They then wrote to General Robert r.
Lee and laid all the facts before HIM
True to the last, even in adversely, ne re-
nlied that the money should be treated as
abandoned and captured property and
turned over to the United States Govern
mcnt His advice was regarded as au-
thoritative and final.
So johnson and Gaines met in October
1865, and went to the place OF conceaiHient
with a new boy, and found everything III
statu quo.' They unearthed the gold and
boarded train on the railroad (then OPP
Grated by the United States GovernmenU
for Richmond to find a military COM
mander.
VOICE OF THE TEMPTER.
While on the train a large farmer OF. an
adjacent county, we'll known to Captain
Gaines, ascertained the mission of the par
ties. and strongly advised against the
course they were pursuing. lie offered
iniucement for the loan of the gold and
promised ample security for its return
when the sea of trouble had Gained down
and matters become more definitely settled
and understood. But to this proposition
the custodians of the treasure could not
accede.
Arriving in Richmond Gaines and John
son went to the Ballard House, where Y.
S. General Patrick had his headquarters.
They soon gained an interview with the
General and stated the object OF their
visit to be to deliver to him as the repre-
sentative of the United States Govern
ment this amount of 5000 in gold COIN
and explained their possession and the
motives controlling them.
General Patrick with a piercing glance
at the two men seemed to be struck Win
utter establishment, and said:
gentlemen. this is a miracle. How
mach do YOU claim for your risk and SER
vices?"
81 do not claim anything" Captain
Gaines replied. CAPTAIN Johnson said:
..My expenses from Alexandria have
been about s20.''
General Patrick handed johnson that
for their trouble, and seemed to be per
fectly amazed and bewildered that such
thing could have occurred.
THOMAS D. JEEFRESS