After having put everything in good shape we felt somewhat relieved and took a rest.
We had brought along some books and papers that helped to pass the time. 'Twas the morning after our work had been completed, as we were about through with breakfast, that we were somewhat startled at the appearance right in the camp of a man with a long-barrelled squirrel rifle on his shoulder. His appearance in our very midst without detection did not speak well for our vigilance, and this incident put us on our guard, and we kept a stricter watch by day and a guard by night thereafter.
It is scarcely conceivable (and hardly believable) what the imagination will sometimes conjure up. It was Mr. Kennedy's and my watch. The camp was quiet and asleep and those not on duty were asleep. It was about ten o'clock at night and a light rain had been falling. Owing to this the watch had taken their station in one end of the wagon, so as to be protected from the rain. Everything was deathly still, except the occasional call of the whipperwill. The watch were sitting with their backs to sunrise, one of us had occasion to turn his face in that direction, and to his horror saw a party coming right toward us, and bearing a large torch. He at once drew the attention of the other to it who looked around, hesitated a while, and at last gave it as his opinion that it was the moon. The one that first discovered it had also, after a more satisfactory scrutiny, pronounced it to be the moon, but he imagined when he first saw it, that he could see it move just as a torch does when borne by one walking. This was a pretty good joke in camp for several days and helped in some degree to while away the weariness of camp life.
Nothing else of moment occurred at camp. Occasionally some of us would imagine that we heard a drum or firing of cannon in the direction of Monroe or Charlotte, but it was only imagination.
For about a week we saw no one and, of course, had no intelligence from the outside world, and this state of affairs was almost unbearable. Finally we decided that one of us must go to Charlotte and get the news as well as some supplies that we were running short on. Mr. Riddle was the one selected to make the trip, so taking Mr. Kennedy's saddle mule he left camp about four o'clock one afternoon so as to reach Charlotte after night and without observation.
He made the trip successfully, spent a day gathering up the news and some much needed supplies, left next morning before day and arrived in camp about eight o'clock next morning.
The news he brought was encouraging and discouraging. Stoneman had left the vicinity of Charlotte, and Sherman had gone east in the direction of Fayetteville, but Richmond had fallen, Gen, Lee had retreated from Petersburg, and President Davis and Cabinet were retreating south. These were rumours only, as telegraphic communication had been interrupted for some time, and the news could not be confirmed, but it was generally believed.
The intelligence left us in a quandary. We were at sea as to what course to pursue. Finally we decided it would be best to break up camp, leaving the treasure where we had placed it, and return to Charlotte. We thought that if we should fall in with any of the marauding bands of cavalry (Confederate) that were going through the country stealing stock and anything else that came in their way, it would be much better to fall into their hands some other place than at the camp where the money was buried. So we left camp about three o'clock one afternoon, and having but a light load, arrived in Charlotte soon after nightfall, and without encountering any stragglers on the way.
We found on reaching Charlotte that Lee's Army had surrendered at Appomattox, and President Davis with a part of his Cabinet had just passed through Charlotte going south. For a period of some two or three weeks there was much disorder and lawlessness around Charlotte. Bands of Confederate Cavalry were the worst. They would steal a man's horse or mule in the main streets and carry them off. This reign of terror continued until Federal troops were sent here, when some degree of order was restored.
During all this time the money of the bank remained buried at Grasshopper Springs, and, of course, our anxiety for its safety was great.
After order had been somewhat restored, we made application to the Commander of the troops stationed here, [Colonel Willard Warner, 180th Ohio] for a guard to go with us to bring back the coin. The request was cheerfully granted. He furnished an armed escort of five or six men and a wagon and team, but Mr. Kennedy thought he ought to have the honor of bringing back to the bank's vaults the treasure which he had so faithfully assisted in taking away. I think that all of us that were in the first expedition were in the last, but of this I am not positive.
The soldiers occupied their own wagon and we ours. I have forgotten, but think we left in the afternoon, and spent the night at our old camp. In the morning we went to work unearthing the hidden coin. We found our old camp fire, where the bulk of the money was buried, in good order.
The cattle had tramped over it but nothing but the ashes were disturbed. We found the boxes all in good condition and just as they were put down. We had our plat or chart with us and next located the boxes hidden in the branch. Then we located the kegs and soon had the wagon again loaded with a quarter million of specie which landed safely in the bank's vault without one dollar missing.
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