Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-09-24
The Confederate seaI.-in one

The Confederate Seal.-in one
of our exchanges we find the following
letter by Washington correspondent.
Our readers will find it interesting:
AR. Boteler, of the attorney generals
office, is one of the fine old gentlemen
about Washington who have made
great deal of history. He was repre-
sentative from Virginia in the United
States congress at the opening OF the
war, and during the rebellion he was a.
member of the Confederate congress.
He is a man of fine education and great
literary attainments. He was chairman
of the house committee of the Confeder
ate congress which designed the Con-
federate flag, and he himself was the
designer of the seal of the Confederate
States of America. This seal consisted
of picture of Washington OIL horse
back, surrounded by wreath made up
OF the agricultural products of the
south.
| asked him how he came TO select
this design. He replied: cat the time
the Confederate seal was discussed there
were many ideas proposed for it, and
some of these were very ridiculous ones.
Some of the more ignorant of the Con-
federate congress were opposed TO hav-
ing any Latin words upon the seal, and
remember one delegate who denounced
the Latin as dead language. Judah
L. Benjamin had, at this time, proposed
that new plan be adopted in the nam
ing of The money coinage of the south,
and that the unit or dollar be called by
the name of Cavalier" instead of dollar
This took very well, and there was great
talk for some time of the cavaliers, half
cavaliers and quarter cavaliers, which
were 10 represent the money OF the
south. 1t was during this discussion
that one night was walking in compa.
nv with Mr.. Preston past the statue of
Washington in the capitol grounds at
Richmond. Wewere talking of the sea-
and coinage, and when Preston made
some remarks about the statue it struck
me at once that Washington WAS the
ideal cavalier of America, and that his
figure would make an appropriate design
for the Confederate seal. / had an
artist of Richmond draw design from
it, and this design was sent off to Lon
don to James NJ. Mason, who was the
Confederate minister there. He had
the seal made by Wyatt, the man who
has for years made the great seals oil
England, and it was sent back to the
Confederate government"
Judge Botele- tells inc that the scrap
book OF designs which spoke of about
year ago as existing in the war depart
ment, containing ideas for Confeder-
ate flag, comprises only small amount
of the large number which were re-
ceived. Said he: ''We received very
many designs, and when it was found
that the first flag was not distinguislla-
BILE from the Union flag in battle, and
second one was proposed, designs came
in by the hundreds daily, and VIC had
altogether as many as would have filled
a packing box big enough to hold pi-
ano. a great many of these designs
came from England. Many Of them
were by ladies, and some were made of
satin and silk Of various cOlors. Some
were very ridiculous, and out of all
symmetry or propriety. Many had the
idea of the rattesnake with the words,
'Don't tread on me-" and others were
made up of the moon, stars and all the
signs of the zodiac put up in different
shape and forms"