The Washington times., 1904-06-12

Mr.. Baumgarten. that his grandfather
made a seal for the Confederate gov
eminent and sent 81 TO Richmond, backs
up the story related by Jones, who also
says that when the seal came from
England this other seal was discarded"
As the Confederate government was
doing business without a seal It is
reasonable 10 surmise that after a de-
sign was adopted a cheap seal was or
dered made in Baltimore or Washing
ton. which was TO be used until the
Engraver to Her Majesty" could do the
work on a more costly scale. which
there is evidence he did.
Used a Seal of Wood.
This respected and truthful colored
man, who was so near to Mr. Davis
during the war, says he has no recol-
lection Of the first seal used by the
Confederate government, but that he
has always understood II was made
OF wood when the government first
formed at Montgomery. Ala" He has
not been misinformed. for the first seal
was engraved with pocket knives and
surgical instruments on a block Of
wood secured from the Office of the
Montgomery Advertiser"
Mr.. Davis wanted to issue a commits
OF the Sumter. a vessel he had been
sent TO New Orleans to purchase, but
there was no seal and II seemed that one
was a necessity. Clerk Of the Treasury
II. d. Capers said he had seen wooden
seals on deeds 10 papers and impress
sions made from wooden seals. and the
President OF the Confederacy instructed
him to go ahead and get a seal OF this
kind. Commander Semmes was anxious
70 get his commission and with Dr.
Deleon accompanied Mr.. Capers 10 the
Office Of the Montgomery Advertiser"
where the editor. foreman, and devil
were soon going through box after box
Of old cuts and engravings trying to
find a block that would answer. -
Finally a good piece OF lockwood was
found and the engravers set to work
They laid out design, and then blade
after blade of pocket knives cracked
and broke as they dug into the hard
wood. By the fickerlng light of taliow
dips the men continued and IL was near
the midnight hour when the Job was
declared completed. A proof was taken
and the result was reasonably fair.
Next morning Mr.. Davis was handed the
seal and he complimented the engravers.
declaring that the three should apply
for positions with the American Bank
note Company.
Commission to Semmes.
Commander Semmes' commission was
brought forth and the wooden seal was
sunk into the wax leaving an impress
sion which was declared good As the
commander carefully stored the docu-
ment away in his coat pocket he said 10
Mr.. Davis: Il have served in the navy
during the Mexican war. and I promise
you. Mr.. President. 1 Will make the
Sumter do good service for the Con
federacy."
This was the first seal Of the Con-
federacy and the commission TO Ra-
phael Semmes as commander of the
Sumter, was the first commission hear
ing seal Of the Confederacy.
Jones tells an interesting story OF the
part he played the night Mr.. Davis was
captured. He says:
1T was in the latter part Of February
1865, that Mr.. Davis thought IL best to
send Mrs. Davis to Charlotte, n. c, and
/ was sent with her. or, rather. she was
sent with me. with Mrs Davis and
other members OF the family, together
with horses and carriages, we went 10
Charlotte, but the ladies held themselves
in readiness to travel at moments no.