Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-12

only power that could give relief. This
appears to have ended the episode of the
finances of the Confederacy."
The Last Official Order
1.-THE last official paper of the Confeder-
acy came about in this wise" said Mr..
Edward M. Hafer. who is an authority on
such subjects: "Gen. Joseph E. Johnston.
after his surrender, sent Maj. Raphael j.
Moses Of the commissary department. act
ing commissary officer for the state Of
Georgia, an order to furnish 100000 ra-
tions to Confederate troops returning to
| their homes, which was impossible. as
bthere was not at this time a weeks ra-
| lions for one hundred men at any point
between Augusta and Atlanta. In this
contingency Mai. Moses wrote and in
duced Gen. st. John to sign the last OFF,
cial order ever drawn by the secretary of
war for the Confederacy. 1t was signed
by Gen. st. John by direction of Gen.
Breckenridge. in Washington, Ga, and
ordered Maj. Moses to arrange with some
Federal general at Augusta or Macon to
supply returning troops and provide the
hospitals with necessary rations and med
1cines, and for that purpose apply to the
Confederate government for the neces
sary funds. Maj. Moses did apply. but
1t was like calling spirits from the vastly
deep. Maj. Moses in this emergency ap-
piled to Gen. Robert Toombs. and he OBJ
tanned an order from Gen. Breckenridge
on the officers In charge of the specie
train to pay Maj. Moses S4O.Cuo in bull
lion. of which $4,000 was turned over to
Maj. Felix Alexander, assistant quarter
master under Gen. A. r. Lawton. Armed
with this final order Maj Moses overlook
the specie train several miles from Wash
ington and received and receipted for
what was estimated or guessed to be
$4,000 in gold bullion.
This bullion was carried back to
Washington, the $4,000 paid over to Maj.
Alexander, and with the $4,000 Maj.
Moses started for Augusta. guarded by
four members of the Washington Artil-
lery ian Augusta organization. Mai
Moses had stirring time with his treas
ure: discharged soldiers and citizens. des-
perate men. formed a reckless mob and
demanded the money as being as much
theirs as any ones. and they were armed
to enforce the demand. After siren
uOus time Mai. Moses and dis guard re-
inforced by others. stood them off and
finally reached Augusta and delivered the
treasure to Gen. Molineux. The bullion
was weighed and turned out in excess
some $1,000.
Escape of Gen Toombs.
Just after the departure of Gen. Brock
enridge from Washington a cavalryman
rode back at a gallop and threw bag Of
gold coin over the fence OF Cen. Robert
Toombs' residence and rode rapidly away
No explanation was given and no instruc-
tions accompanied the money, and no clue
was ever obtained as to the motive or
purpose of the soldier.
Gen. TOombs at the time was in great
financial stress and was borrowing for
his contemplated flight. but swore with a
round oath that he would not touch a
dollar of this money. This bag was
| turned over to Capt. Aorahams, a Fed
eral commissary. for the purchase of ra-
rnt inc fnI1n
Maj. Moses states that his son aided in
this disposition of the money.
Gen. ToombS was princely f1nancier
and disdained illegitimate and unclean
adventures abroad We're romantic. Short
ly after the breaking up of the govern
ment and Gen. Toombs was about to get
away a Federal soldier rang at the door
The general himself answered the ring
and the soldier told him he was after
Gen. Toombs and asked if he was at
home. The general answered Yes and
asked the soldier to wait while he in
formed the general The general &C
quainted Mrs. Toombs with the situation
and asked her to delay the soldier as long
as possible. with which he went out the
back door and mounted his horse, taking
to the woods and making for the coast
Gen. Toombs escaped to England
where he was without a dollar. but a
banking firm of London. for whom he
had transacted legal business. learned of
his presence and rendered him a loan Of
100000 for his use. which he declined
accepting only $1,000 for the use of
friend One day he was travelling and
accidentally met an English nobleman
whose acquaintance he had made while
In the Senate at Washington. D. c., who
Immediately consulted him professionally
on matter connected with some Amer
lean securities. for which opinion Gen.
Toombs received fee of 5000, which
relieved his necessities"