The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-07-29
Notable Collection of War
Relics to Be Displayed at
National G. A. r. Meet.
BATTLE FLAGS TAKEN DOWN

An'iA 0ilIuo1 6HcdIuEm0nG OF the UTdnQ
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 27October a wonderful
collection of historic war relics. Wash
ington is filed with reminders of the
great struggle; many of these relics
are owned and held by the government
but the average visitor sees few of
them. 1t is planned to extend special
courtesy to the old veterans and allow
them to view some of these highly
priced treasures.
In fre-proof vault, opening from
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 a member of the family
of nations and to obtain the means to
establish navy and maintain an army
When the most important of the Con-
federate archives were removed from
Richmond, the diplomatic correspon-
dence consisting of the Estate Depart
/ment' = records, except the secret SER
vice papers, which had been destroyed
by Mr.. Benjamin, were hidden in a
barn in Virginia Later, they were
packed in four yellow trunks, and
brought from Richmond to Washing
ton by their custodian, Col. John 7.
Pickett. After endeavoring 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 pur-
chased for the use of the United States.
On July 3, 1872, the trunks were de-
lvered at the White House, and later
were removed to the Treasury. Colonel
Pickett, in payment, received the stipu-
lated sum of $75,000 a large portion
of which was distributed to needy wild
ows and orphans of Confederate sol
diers.
The money for the "Pickett papers"
had been appropriated by special act
of Congress. Many persons asserted
that no good could result from the res
direction Of these long-buried docu-
ments, even if genuine, as some feared
they were not, and that Secretary
Boutwell, had wasted $4,000 on four
trunks filed with worthless paper.
However, time has demonstrated the
wisdom of this purchase. The names
in the induces Of the Pickett papers,
in addition to those of the correspon-
dence of the Confederate treasury and
other departments, have been of great
convenience and inestimable value in
defeating fraudulent claims to the
amount of many millions of dollars.
These diplomatic papers remained in
the original receptacles until about a
year ago., when the quaint old arunks
were sold at one Of the treasury auc-
tions. 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 Con-
federate states. Of this seal, which
never was used, many romantic stories
are told. That it was destroyed at the
close of the hostilities is untrue. In
1870, after having had its genuineness
attested by it's English manufacturers,
Colonel Pickett ordered from Wash
ington jeweler, many replicas of it, in
gold, silver and bronze, which were
sold for the benefit Of destitute South
erners. One of these replicas is now in
the National Museum, and another in
the state department of the capital Of
South Carolina. The original was made
in London, at a cost of e122 los. It
was finished July 2, 1864, and did not
reach Richmond until the evacuation of
that city. 1t is believed that Colonel
Pickett IS heirs are the only persons who
know its whereabouts
In small dark room under the caves
of the south wing of the treasury
stand seven large packing boxes with
covers nailed down. Sightseers are
never permitted to enter this dingy at
tic room, and very few persons, even
among the oldest employees, could
guess the contents of the boxes. They
are filed with Confederate money, a
ppoprptppiopnpp poi which was cap
portion of which was captured from
Southern banks and from dead or liv-
ing Confederate soldiers and forwarded
through the war department to the
treasury. The largest share of this
money was collected by the treasury
agents who conducted the cotton bust
ness of the United States in 1864 and
succeeding years.
These boxes contain not only the
bank notes Of the Confederate govern
ment, but thousands Of the bills issued
by the states in Instruction, to take
the place of the "chips'' which trades
men were compelled to offer as change
after the South suspended specie pay
fent in July, 1861. Later the is
sue of small bills by the various states
rendered these chips unnecessary.
A license has been issued for the