Heard of the surrender.
On the 18th of April, or thereabouts, we left in the train, and at the junction, while we were waiting for the western train to pass, we heard of
General Lee's surrender.
This we did not at the time credit.
We arrived at
Augusta in due time, and I made my report to
General D. B. Fry, the
commanding general.
General Fry informed me he could offer no protection, as he had few troops, and was expecting to surrender to
General Wilson as soon as he appeared with his cavalry.
However,
Generals Johnston and
Sherman had just declared an armistice, and that gave us a breathing spell.
The money remained in the cars, and the midshipman and the
Charlotte company lived in the depot.
While in
Augusta, and afterwards, I was frequently advised by officious persons to divide the money among the
Confederates, as the war was over, and it would otherwise fall into the hands of the
Federal troops.
The answer to this was that the war was
not over as long as
General Johnston held out, and that the money would be held intact until we met
President Davis.