The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-26
TEE CONFEDERATE SEAL.
what Became OF the Relic--DiSposed of at the
Last Meeting of Davis's Cabinet.


Abbcvile Is. c. Special.
A Washington correspondent, after describing
the elaborate seal made for the confederacy just
before it's fall, speaks of its disappearance as
| mystery. 1t may be mystery to the world at
large, but 1t is no mystery IN this town. AS
recently wrote, here was held the last meeting
OF Jefferson Daviss Cabinet The Confederate
chief and TWO or three members-one of whom
was Judah p Benjamin. but the names of the
others tradition does not giye-arrived here on a
windy March afternoon Of 1860. Mr.. Davis
making his way. it is supposed, to Mississippi
some point IN the Southwest, where he had hopes
of rallying new forces and continuing the war.
The Cabinet consulted that night at the residence
of Mr.. Arelistead Burt. who had been a senator
from the State before the war. 1t was determine ed
then that there no hope of prolonging the
war, though Mr. Davis held out to the last.
They agreed to separate as measure OF precau
ton, because the pursuit was becoming close, and
they could better escape than If they remained
in party Besides, there use in remain
ing together. since the game was up.
No one living, except Mr.. Davis or Mr. Benla-
min, can tell exactly what was done at that last
secret meeting. / only give the tradition
which exists in the town. It is said that they
looked over the papers they had with them, and
destroyed the most important, especially those
of a compromising character Next morning the
open fireplace, where as usual in the South,
wood fuel was used, was found full of white
ashes, such as burnt paper makes The problem
of destroying the seal remained. They could
not at that Late hour hire a blacksmith to de
molish if. Besides, the act would attract atten-
ton, which they wished to avoid, and time was
pressing. They consulted Mr. Burt. He told
them that there an old we'll in his yard, and
that it had been given up and covered over for
years: so long, in fact, that perhaps but
himself knew of its existence. Into this we'll the
seal was thrown. Shortly after the we'll caved
in. was filled up, and the last traces of it
lost. Consequently, the present resting place of
the seal is under fifty feet of earth at spot the
surface above which cannot be guessed.
Such is the tradition / know there are many
such rumors and tales in every small town. and
they have little if any truth in them. Were the
story merely to the effect that Jefferson Davis
in passing through here, had cast the seal into
an old well, it would palpaoly rank among the
doubtful traditions of village life. But the ad-
juncts must be considered Certain it is that
this meeting of the Cabinet took place. That it
was the last is shown by the fact that the mem
bers separated, Mr. Davis being captured in
Georgia shortly afterward. The white ashes in
the fireplace next morning were ocular proofs
naturally is that they were important: and i'm
istence, have disappeared-most probably in the
fireplace These facts being true, they argue
strongly in favor of the alleged disposition Of the
seal
Knowing that all was up, and foreseeing the
danger of capture what was more natural than
that they should have placed the seal where it
never could be reached! Though absolute GER
tainty cannot be claimed, yet there are nine
points out Of ten in favor of the tradition that
the seal was thrown into the old we'll in Mr.
Burts yard