The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-07-28
EXHIBIT RELICS
IN WASHINGTON
FOR VETERANS
Vaults at Treasury Depart
ment Contain Documents
Pertaining to Confederate
Government.

WASHINGTON, July 2S.-TO 6dd
another Interesting feature to the
evtns Of the forthcoming forty.ninth
annual encampment OF the Grand
Army Of the Republic in Washington,
the citizens committee. which has the
matter in charge, is endeavoring to ar.
range for exhibition during the week
OF September 27-October 3, wonder
full collection OF historic war relics.
Washington Is filled with reminders
OF the great struggle: many OF these
eminent. but the average visitor sees
few Of them. 1t is planned to extend
special courtesy to the old veterans
and allow them an opportunity to view
come OF these highly priced treasures.
In fire-proof vault, opening from 4
small room on the third floor of the
treasury building. are the manuscript
archives which set forth the diplomatic
efforts OF the Confederacy to secure
recognition as member Of the family
OF nations and to obtain the means to
establish navy and maintain an
army
Contains Correspondence.
When the most important Of the
Confederate archives were removed
from Richmond, the diplomatic cor
respondence, consisting Of tho state
department" records, except the Sc
cret service papers, which had been de-
stroyed by Mr.. BENJAMIN, were hidden
In a barn in Virginia. Later they
were packed In four yellow trunks.
and brought from Richmond to Wash
ington by their custodian, Colonel
John r. Pickett. After endeavorins
for years to dispose of them, Colonel
Pickett having indexed them, took
them to Canada, where in April, 1872,
the trunks and their contents were
purchased for the use OF the United
States. On July 3. 1872. the trunks
were delivered at the white house, and
later were removed to the treasury.
Colonel Pickett. in payment, received
the stipulated sum Of $4,000, a large
portion OF which was distributed to
needy widows and orphans Of Confed-
crate soldiers.
The money for the Pickett papers"
had been appropriated by special act
OF congress. Many persons asserted
that no good could result from the
resurrection Of these long-buried doc
uments, even II genuine. as some fear
ed they were not, and that Secretary
Boutwell, had wasted $4,000 on four
trunks filled with worthless paper.
Defeat Many Claims.
However, time has demonstrated
the wisdom OF this purchase. The
names in the induces Of the Pickett pa.
pers, In addition to those of the cor
respohdence OF the Confederate treas
ury and other departments. have been
Of great convenience and inestimable
value in defeating fraudulent claims
. to the amount OF many millions OF dol.
lars. These diplomatic papers remain.
ed in the original receptacles until
about a year ago, when the quaint old
trunks were sold at one OF the treas
ury auctions. The papers had already
been placed in three new chests OF
polished pine.
Colonel Pickett was the latest
known custodian OF the great seal of
the Confederate states. OF this seal,
which never was used. many romantic
stories are told. That It was destroy
ed at the close OF the hostilities is un.
true. In 1870, after having had its
genuineness attested by its English
manufacturers, Colonel Pickett order.
ed from a Washington jeweler many
replicas Of it, in gold, silver and
bronze, which were sold for the bene.
fit OF destitute southerners. One OF
these replicas Is now in the National
Museum. and another in the state de.
rartment Of the capital OF South Caro-
lima. The original was made in Lon.
don, at a cost OF f122 los. 1t was fin
ished July 2. 1854, and did not reach
Richmond until the evacuation of that
city. II is believed that Colonel Pick.
ett's heirs are the only persons who
know it's whereabouts.