Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-07
BATTLES aod LEADERS o. the CYL VA
95kb2ES 'zs' THE LAST DAYS OF THE CONFEDERACY -

that respect was rather increased than
diminished by what he had svid.
do not remember who spoke first.
but we all expressed the snme opinion.
We told him frankly that the events
OF the last few days had removed from
our minds all idea or hope that pro-
longation OF the contest was. possible.
The people were not panic-stricksn
said that an attempt to continue the
war. after all means Of supporting
warfare were gone. would be cruel
Injustice to the people OF the south.
country already impoverished. and
would invite its further devastation.
We urged that We would be doing
wrong to our men IL we persuaded
them to such a course. for il they per
sisted In conflict SO hopeless they
would be treated as brigands and
would forfeit all chance OF returning
to their homes.
He asked why. then. We were still in
the Held. We answered that we were
desirous Of affording him an oppor-
tunity Of escaping the degradation of
capture and perhaps a fate which
would be direr to the people than
even to himself in still more embit-
tering the feeling between the north
and the south. We said that we would
ask our men to follow us until his
safety was assured, and would risk them
In battle for that purpose. but would not
fire another shot In an effort to continue
hostihties.
He declared. abruptly. that he would
listen to no suggestion which regarded
only his safety. He appealed eloquently
to every sentiment and "reminiscences that
might be supposed to move a southern
10
We remained silent. for our convictions
were mistaken: we felt responsible for
the future welfare Of the men who had
so heroicafly followed us, and the pain
speak again In opposition to all that he
urged would have approached alteration.
For some minutes not a word was
spoken. Then Mr.. Davis rose and ejacu-
lated bitterly that al was indeed lost.
He had become very pallid. and he walked
SO feebly as he proceeded to leave the
room that Gen. Breckenridge stepped
hastily up and offered his arm.
Gems. Breckenridge and Bragg took no
part in the discussion After Mr.. Dayis
retired, both, however. assured us of their
hearty approval Of the position We had
taken. They had forborne to say any
thing. because not Immediately in COM
mand Of the troops, and not supposed.
therefore. to know their sentiments so
we'll as we did. But they promised to
urge upon Mr.. Davis the necessity and
propriety Of endeavoring without further
delay to get out of the country. and not
permit other and serious complications to
be produced by his capture and imprison-
ment, and perhaps execution.
1t was determined that We should
proceed that night to WASHINGTON.
Ga. one or two days march distant.
and orders were issued by Gen. Breckin-
ridge to move at midnight. About 10
o'clock / received a message from Gen.
Breckenridge that he desired to see me
Immediately. l went to his quarters.
and he informed me that the treasure
which had been brought from Richmond
was at the railroad station, and that il
was necessary to provide for its removal
and transportation. He instructed me to
procure q sufficient number of wagons to
remove It. and to detail guard of fifty
men under a field officer for it's protec-
ton. He further informed me that there
was between nve and sx hundred thou
sand dollars in specie-ne did not know
! must, he said, personally superintend
its transfer from the cars to the wagons.
! detailed fifty picked men as guard,
and put them under command of Col.
TheOphilus Steele and four of my best
subalterns. I obtained six wagons and
the treasure. 1t was In charge of some
of the former treasury clerks, and was
packed in money belts shotbags, "a
few small iron chests and all sorts of
boxes. some Of them of the frailest de-
scription. In this shape l found it
loaded in open box cars. I stationed
sentries at the doors, and. rummaging
through the cars by the faint light of
a few tallow candles. gathered up all
that was shown me or that I could
find.
Rather more than an hour was con-
sumed in making the transfer from, the
cars to the wagons. and after the lat
ter had been started off and had got
ten half a mile away Lieut.. John B.
Cole, one of the officers of the guard
rode up to me with a pine box. which
may have held two or three thousand
dollars in gold, on the pommel OF his
saddle He had remained after the
others had left, and. ferreting about In
a car which we thought we had thor
oughly searched, had discovered this
box stuck in a corner and closely COW
cred up with piece of sacking.
The next day Gen. Breckenridge di-
rected me to increase the guard to zoo
men and take charge of it in person
1 suggested that instead of composing
it entirely OF men from my brigade it
should be constituted of details from
all FIVE. I thought this the best plan
cAcccpnl E pEcIpEc