Free Confederate Gold and Silver by Peter F. Warren

if his letter fell into the hands of the Union army they would know where our assets are and they would learn what steps he is directing you to take to protect these assets. That is why he personally gave us his order to give to you. His concern regarding the safety of our assets is why he sent us to personally deliver his orders to you. He did not want the Union army intercepting such a sensitive message being sent to you.”
    Lee sat quietly, his legs crossed, while a nervous Captain White had summarized what he already knew from reading the letter. He patiently waited for more information to be presented to him. As White began to speak again, Major Taylor, attending the meeting as Lee’s witness for the discussion which was taking place, interrupted him. Taylor ordered a nearby sergeant, who was performing sentry duty by Lee’s tent, to move further away from where they sat.
    “General Lee, as Major Taylor has just done so correctly, President Davis has directed us to tell you this mission is not to be discussed with others except for who you choose to lead it. The other members selected for this mission are not to be told the full details until they reach Richmond. Sir, President Davis is directing you to select someone you hold in the highest regard, someone you can personally vouch for, to lead this mission. While President Davis insists this officer be of the rank of major or captain, he is not mandating who that officer is; he is leaving the choice of that officer up to you. He does insist this person be in Richmond within seven days to personally meet with he and with Secretary Memminger. Secretary Memminger will then provide the specifics, such as the mission’s details and its final destination, to whomever you choose. General Lee, the purpose of this mission is to move the majority of our treasury to a location south of Richmond. We must keep it out of the hands of the Union army. President Davis does not want to wait until the Union army is advancing upon Richmond to move the money. Sir, the President is obviously very concerned about this situation.”
    Lee sat back in his chair as White finished speaking; pondering the additional responsibility Davis had just thrust upon him. The responsibilities he shouldered already were enormous. While he knew President Davis only wanted him to select the proper personnel for the mission, he also knew Davis, and likely others, would hold him accountable if the mission failed. Quietly sitting in his chair, he wished he knew the exact locations of all of the Union outfits that might threaten those men who would soon be moving the Confederate treasury further south.
    Captain McAulay then brought Lee back from his thoughts of what the ramifications would be for the South if the Union army seized their treasury. “Sir, we have more for you to consider as well. Because our treasury includes funds which have been raised from all of the states of the Confederacy, as well as the money we have seized from the Union, President Davis wants each of the states to have a representative present when the money is moved south, preferably a soldier at the rank of sergeant. He believes the entire Confederacy should be represented to keep an eye on the money and to have a role in protecting it. Therefore, he is directing you to have a detail put together which is comprised of four sergeants from the Army of Northern Virginia and one sergeant from each of the armies of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee. Sir, because no Texas units are currently fighting in the region, he is not making it a requirement Texas be represented in this mission. President Davis wants you to have the final say in who those fourteen soldiers are, but he begs you, and these are his words, ‘Sir, please pick the fourteen bravest and honest men who are at your disposal’.”
    Lee sat silent for a couple of minutes, digesting what they had told him.