Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-12
PROVIDING FOR TREASURE
Remaining Funds of the Government
Carried to Washington, Ga.
GEN. BASIL DUKES NARRATIVE
Attempt of Unpaid Troops to Seize
the Money-Capture of Presi-
dent Davis.
RY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence OF The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.

Special Correspondence OF The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald
WASHINGTON. Ga, April 8. 1908.
BY a singular caprice of history the last
gasp of the dying Confederacy was heard
In a little village Of Georgia a few mIies
west of Augusta bearing the name OF
WASHINGTON 1t is a singular coincidence
also that the Confederate government
should be dissolved and that its last official
act should be performed at the birthplace
and home of Robert TOombs, who, per-
haps. had as much as any one TO do with
provoking the conflict between the states.
The last note of official authority issued
under the Confederate government was
written in Washington Ga. upon a yell
low, coarse slip of paper, porous as a
blotting sheet, which reads:
Received from Maj. r. J. Jones three
boxes said 20 contain $1,000 in bullion.
This has not been weighed or counted,
and is to be opened before two commits
stoned officers and a certificate made OF
contents. which certificate is to be for
warded- TO Maj. r. j. Moses and by the
amount certified the undersigned is to be
bound.
r. r. WOOD. Major and .. NJ
First Town Named Washington.
There is an air of tranquility about
Wv AANNSSS
painted white, with great Corinthian and
Ionic columns and surrounded by magno-
liza trees massive oaks and towering hick-
cries, typify the residences of the planta-
tion aristocracy of the south And al
though Washington has only little more
than 900 population, it is one of the larg-
est cotton markets in the south. The
planters from L wide area amid the old
red hills and from the valleys OF the Sa-
Vannah, the Broad and Little rivers haul
their swollen bales TO town on big mule
wagons and dicker with buyers from New
York and the leading cities of the south.
This was the first of all American
towns to be named in honor OF the Father
of his Country Wilkes county. of which
II is the seat. was settled in 1117 by Gov.
Wright on lands acquired by purchase
from the Indians. The town was founded
by Stephen Heard. Nirginian who was
of the governors of Georgia during
the revolution, and was originally called
Heard's Fort. In 1ISO. however, when
Gen. Washington and his little band of
half-starved patriots were waiting near
Morristown for the ice to thicken SO that
they might attack the British on Staten
Island, the patriots of Wilkes county
changed the name of Heards Fort to
Washington. and thirteen years later they
succeeded in persuading the federal gov
eminent to give them a post office.
Last Cabinet Meeting.
The last meeting of the Confederate cab
met was held in the Heard House at
Washington on May ). 1859 and was at
tended by Gen. John c.. Breckenridge. sec
rotary of war; Stephen r. Mallory. secre-
tary of the navy: John III. Reagan, post
master general. and NJ. H. Clark. acting
secretary o. the treasury. Gen. Braxton
Bragg, military adviser: Burton y. Har-
rison. private secretary; Samuel Cooper,
adjutant general: A. r. Lawton, quarter
master general. j. NJ. st. John. connie
Sary general. and Coils Wood. Johnson
and Lubbock aidS-de-camp. were also
present. Mr.. Benjamin. secretary of
state: Mr. Trenholm treasurer, and George
Davis. attorney general. left the party a
few days previously At this meeting the
Confederate government was dissolved.
the last official papers were signed. the
residue of coin and bullion which had been
brought from Richmond was disposed o.,
as above stated. and both civil and mill
tary officials. by order of Mr.. Davis. sep
arated to make their escape the best they
could.
When Mr. Davis was notified Of the in
tention of Gen. Lee to evacuate Rich
mond April ,. he Immediately called his