The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-02

near the middle of February. 1865, to
meet Governor Vance at his office in
the Capitol We obeyed. We were
directed to leave Raleigh as soon a.
We could. He had made arrangements
TO have the State Valuables put aboard
the train at once. Our train consisted
of an engine and tender, and one pas
senger car One Major Harvey was
engineer The train was put under the
control of Governor Worth subject
to the orders of Governor Vance from
time to time, as his information OF
military moves might render best.
We steamed IN west to Company
Shops, now Burlington. We staid
there, at Greensboro, and an interme-
diate point or two. till about the time
Of General JOhnSon's surrender. The
party ON the train, increased by per.
sons in charge of the valuables oil
Raleigh banks, numbered some fifteen
or twenty. Governor Vance had put
on the train a bolt of English cloth,
to be divided among the State officers,
as Il small compensation for their loss
of time when the end now almost III
sight came, as there was no money in
the treasury 20 pay us, but Coufeder~
ate promises, which We're now worth
less
While we were lying with our train
at Company Shops, and near the time
of General Lees surrender, the con
gregatiOn of camp followers of the
armies, and deserters, who had proba-
bly, deserted their cOlors from the
utter hopelessness of the cause because
so great as to warrant the belief that
our train was in great danger of be
ing plunderCd by force, we had to
keep our car doors locked day and
night, and if a window was raised to
admit a little fresh air and any hat,
handkerchief, or other light article
that could be easily pulled out, it was
done and the rogue at once disappear
ed among the forest of cars on the
side tracks so as to render the pursuit.
and Identification of the thief impos-
sible.
In this state of things Governor
Worth. through Governor Vance. pro,
cured from General j. e. Johnson, the
detail Of one Lieutenant Colonel
Bursey. of Georgia, with n battaliOn
of about 800 Georgia soldiers, to guara
our train These soldiers were en-
camped probably 200 yards from the
train, and guard of two soldiers were
detached by turns to stay at the train
and guard it day and night.
A short time after this guard was
detailed, Governor Worth being I'M
we'll, and spending ms nights dt tn.
house of Il relative in the village, one
evening after he had so retired Col
Bursey came to our engineer. Major
Harvey and told him that his soldiers
had learned of the bolt of English
cloth being on the train, placed there
by Governor Vance. as | have before
stated. If that was divided among
them he thought he could control
them, otherwise he could not and
he believed they would plumber the
train despite all he could do. Major
Harvey Immediately came and report
ed this interview to the rest of us. We
did not disturb Governor Worth with
the matter that night. All of us were
armed with guns or pistols, and some
perhaps with both We at once wen.
10 examining our arms openly to see
if they were in proper condition for
instant service. From seeing this or
some other cause no attack was made
that evening or night Next morning
when Governor Worth. soon after
breakfast came to the train, he was