Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/37

 Confederate Gold. 25

up in his handkerchief, as if it were of no great value, so as not to arouse the suspicion of the boys we would pass. With this treasure uncounted we proceeded back to the town of Washington (some miles), where I opened a pay office, Gen. Bragg still present and superintending the payment. Each sol- dier, as he presented himelf at the window, received a $20 gold piece and receipted to me therefor. When the soldiers ceased coming, there remained on the table two twenties and one ten. Gen. Bragg, turning to me said : "Captain, you estimate closely. Receipt to yourself for what is left and close the account." I pocketed the $50 and signed the payroll therefor. Immediately after this payment we all disbanded, each man going his way. This was the last act of the Confederate Government so far as I know. The following night President Davis was captured by the Federal soldiers.

Gen. Bragg and other officers had previously started my re- ceipt list at $20 each. This payroll I gave as a souvenir to Mrs. William A. Pope, the wife of my intimate friend, William A. Pope. We had been schoolboys together at Frank Minor's Ridgeway Academy, 185 1-2, near Charlottesville, Va., and I, when a student, '55-6, at Georgia University, had visited him. I had been stationed at Washington, Ga., January, '65. I had seen leather belts for carrying specie made by the ladies of W'ashington, Ga. These I had understood were for the use of those Confederate officers who desired prompt flight from their country; and I was informed that Gen. Toombs and others, to aid their escape, did take with them, very properly, as much of this gold as they could conveniently carry in their respective belts. The residue of this gold (I was informed), was de- posited in a bank vault at Washington, Ga. Shortly after the surrender some bankers of Richmond, claiming this gold as their private property, and denying that it ever had been Con- federate property, undertook to transport it back to Richmond, Va., overland in wagons, before the railroads had been restored to operation. This gold train en route was partly robbed a time or two, when finally the United States Government took