The (Jasper, Alabama) Mountain Eagle, 1 Oct 1913:

Uncle Joe Edgil Has His Money Yet. Has Mexican Dollars Paid Him In 1865 As Services As Confederate Soldier. Jesse T. Davis of Oakman Route 2, was here Thursday. He is one of the challenged soldiers who received notice from General Fred S. Ferguson, that he would have to furnish certain evidence of his services in the Confederate army, or his pension would cease. In order to obtain this further evidence, Uncle Jesse went up Wednesday to Mammoth Mines to see Uncle Joe Edgil, the two being in the war together.

While in Jasper Thursday, Mr. Davis stated that he and Uncle Joe got to talking about the war and the last service they performed. This last service was guarding a wagon load of money—composed of gold and Mexican dollars—Jefferson Davis had with him as he fled from Richmond. It was just before the capture of the President of the Confederacy and the money—a full wagon load of hard money, was giving him much concern in his flight. Jesse T. Davis, then a young man, whose service as a soldier is now challenged, was one of the main guards. It was decided to pay the money out to the soldiers. The gold was worth more than the Mexican silver dollars--$20 in gold to $25 in Mexican was the ratio in which it was paid out.

“Uncle Joe,” said Uncle Jesse, “took the $26 Mexican money, and I was surprised to find that he still has this money stored away.”

Uncle Jesse Davis was one of the guards at one of the most tragic incidents as well as one of the last acts of the war, yet his services are questioned.