The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-04-16
THE CONFEDERATE TREASURE
TRAIN

] RAIN
Col. I. w. Avery, in his history Of
Georgia, tells an interesting story of
the Confederate States treasure train
which depicts the character of some
of the actors of that period in way
that will bear rehearsing.
This famous train contained some
thing over $4,000 in gold coin and
bullion but the amount was exagger-
ated into many millions.
It was very generally believed that
it would fall into the hands of the
federals, the half-starved and ilIy-fed
Confederate soldiers therefore saw no
good reason why they should not fall
heir to it.
The CHER. officials OF the Confeder-
ate government had left Richmond in
flight and had proceeded as far as
Washington, Ca, near the home OF
General Robert Fpombs. and number
of them had taken refuge under his
hospital roof
We quote the interesting narrative
from Colonel Avery's entertaining
volume:
I'VE not only had no rations to feed
the returning troops, but if we had
had enough to fill every storehouse
on the route, there was no way of
protecting them It was in this con-
tingency that Major Moses. wrote and
induced the commissary general to
sign the last official order ever drawn
by the secretary Of war of the Confed-
crate government. 1t was signed by
Gen J. NJ. st. john, by direction Of
the Confederate secretary of war, in
Washington, Ca. while in transitu
and bound for parts unknown.
1T ordered Major r. J. Moses to
arrange with some federal general at
Augusta or Macon to supply the re-
turning soldiers and provide the hos.
pitfalls with rations and necessary
medicines, and for that purpose apply
to the Confederate government for the
necessary funds. The order being
signed. Maj Moses did apply but It
was ike calling spirits from the Vastly
deeps. They did not come.
In this emergency Mai. Moses ap-
piled to Gen. Toombs. and ne obtain
ed an order from Gen. Breckenridge,
the Confederate secretary Of war, up
on the officers in charge Of the specie
train to pay Mai Moses $4,000 III
bullion. Of which $4,000 was to be
turned over to the quartermaster de-
pertinent, in charge Of Felix r. Ajax
ander. assistant quartermaster under
Gen. Alex. r. Lawton the quarter
master general
Armed with this order, Mai Moses
overlook the train of wagons a nasle
from Washington the night of its de-
parture. and received and receipted
.for what was estimated or guessed to
oEs p1W.3UN I'll gnu sBu1&tOIl.
This bullion was carried back to
washington, and being garded over
night. $4,000 was paid over to Quar-
ter-AIaster General Lawton. and with
the other $4,000 Maj. Moses started
for Augusta guarded by four members
of the Washington artillery. Major
Moses had stirring time with his
periIlous treasure. The VA, had I'M.
hinged mems ideas and principles.
But still more demoralizing of the
public conscience was the desperate
stress Of the people, coupled with the
knowledge that the Confederate cause
was dead, and this specie owner
less and a probable treasure trove
and booty for the federal soldiery.
Maj. Moses, with punctilious honor.
was resolved to part with it only with
his life and to deliver it according
to orders in fulfillment of its kindly
mission
On the train from Washington to
Bernett, where the branch road joins
the Georgia railroad. he was watched
and menaced with constant danger
At Barnett he had his car switched on
before the train arrived at the depot
and left in a cut. but the eager crowd
swarmed around it, The car Wis
taken up to the depot and for several
hours. until the Augusta train arrived.
MAI Moses was II the most perturbed