Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-17
The Confederate States Seal.

IT'S HISTORY AND WHAT BECAME OF IT.
To the Editor of The EVENING STAR:
Occasionally, during the past three or four years
articles have appeared In various newspapers pur.
porting 10 show what became Of the Con-
federate states seal after the collapse of the Con-
Tolerate government; but as none Of them that
have seen have been correct, have at the request
OF number Of friends, concluded to give correct
short history OF the same. At the fall OF Richmond
Col Jno. T. Pickett, who was In command OF the
rear guard OF the Confederate forces left there to
cover the retreat OF the army and the officers OF the
government went into the ONCE OF the secretary
Of state TO II there thing left there that
might prove OF any interest. In searching through
found the Confederate States seal. which he put
In bis pocket At the close OF the war Col Pickett
lss the the country and went to Mexico, taking
several years. On his return TO this country,
in 1872, Col Pickett settled in this city,
where i became acquainted with him, and
learned that he mad in his possession the Confed-
crate states seal, which he showed me two or
three times. shortly after settling here Col
Pickett conceived the idea OF having rae smtes OF
the seal made, intending to sell the same and dis
tribute the proceeds OF the sales among the widows
and orphans Of Confederate soldiers. He had a
number OF those fac sioiites made one OF which he
presented 10 me, and which still have In my pos
session. Whether any OF these fac simftes, and II
do know what became of the original as left
this city In short while after and have seen
Col Pickett since. Very little is known as 10 the
synopsis Of what little Is known: AT the third
session OF the first congress OF the Confederate
states held In 1853 oint resolution to esta blish
seal for the confederate states" was adopted
said seal to consist OF an equestrian portrait OF
Washington (after the statue which surInounts his
monument In the capitol square In Richmond sur
rounded with wreath composed OF the principal
agricultural products OF the Confederacy COTTON
tobacco, sugarcane, corn, wheat and rice), and
having around Its margin the words, The Con-
federate states OF America, Twenty second Feb-
ruary, Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-two' with the
following device. .Deo pindtce.'"
Accordingly, on May 20, 1863, Judah P. Ben1a-
min, secretary OF state OF the Confederate states
sent a dispatch 10 James NJ. Mason, commissioner
OF the Confederate states, near the government OF
design for seal as adopted by Congress, and
directing him to have the same made In this dis
the work be executed by any but the lest artist
that can be found, and the difference of expense
between poor and fne specimen OF art IN the
engraving Is too small matter to be taken into
consideration In work that we tondly hope will
lie required for generations yet UNBORN
Mr.; Mason placed the matter In the hands Of a
Mr.. Foley, who employed Mr. Joseph s. WyOns,
chief engraver Of her majesty's seals, to execute
tne work In a letter 10 Mr.. Benjamin, dated
Foley informs me that MI. Wyons says that 1t
Will yet require six weeks or two months to COM
plete the seal, as he Is very anxious to bestOw
upon 1t all the pains so impOrtant work demands.
He is executing IL in silver 0he metal the state
seals OF England are executed il, which offers the
advantage OF proof against rust so often destruc-
tive TO seals executed la steel"
On the 9th OF July, 1864, Mr.. Mason writes Mr..
Benjamin: 81 have the pleasure TO inform you that
send Dy Lieut.. Chapman, Z. s. A, The seal or the
Confederate states, at last completed IL Is much
admired by all who have seen 1t here, and nope
you Will approve II as a fine work OF ART
The seal, which was pure silver and weighed
Tour or nve pounds with the waters and other nee
essar1es, cost the Confederate states government
eEs2 los, equal TO about 500 United States cur
rency. IL arrived In Richmond but a short while
before that city fell so that but few Impressions
were ever made from IT,
This Is about all that Is known OF the Confeder-
ate states SEAL or OF its history and Is sent TO you
Ior the purpose OF settling the question OF what
became OF IL as well as 10 give those who feel an
interest In the matter what little is known OF Its
history. JAMES Il. POWELL,
121 E street Northeast,