For nearly half a century a mystery has surrounded the sudden disappearance of the Great Seal of the Confederate States of America, about which thousands have been concerned in this country as attested by the columns in magazines and newspapers which have appeared from time to time for a period of thirty five years.
The mystery has often been reported to have been solved, when from some part of the country a paragraph would appear, stating that the Seal had been located. Almost immediately another paper would come out with the proverbial denial, setting forth as good proof that the seal had been located in their section of the country.
The mystery was not solved by the paragraphs however, not even when Jno. Sharp Williams in an eloquent appeal from the floor of the House of Representatives attested his belief in the story of the ex-slave Jas. H. Jones, that Jefferson Davis had intrusted the Seal into his keeping and that after carrying it about for months he turned it over to Capt. Park of Newberry, S.C., who with the ex-slave's help buried the Seal and some other valuable trifles near Washington, Ga.
It will be remembered that so much feeling was aroused by the Southern Senator, who was then in the House, that the ex-slave, in recognition of his services in carrying the Great Seal, was pensioned by the government, and allowed to spend his last days in peace and comfort at his home.
It will be of interest to many who have read from time to time these stories, to know that in Houston there lives the brother of the woman, Mrs. Alice Berryman Bromwell, who actually carried the Great Seal of the Confederacy away from Richmond after the evacuation, concealed in her bustle, and delivered it to Col. John T. Pickett at Washington, who afterward journeyed with the seal and other valuable Confederate papers to Canada to escape their seizure by the United States Government.
Mrs. Alice Berryman Bromwell was the wife of William J. Bromwell, Chief Clerk of the State Department of the Confederacy in Richmond, and was herself the private Secretary to Judah P. Benjamin, Secretary of State of the Confederacy. Her brother Wm. M. Berryman has lived and worked in Houston since 1905, and at the present time resides at 1710 Jackson St.
He is a young man for his sixty five odd years, and a Virginian by birth, having been born and reared near the town of Warrenton, Fauquier Co. Va. At the time of the evacuation of Richmond he was in his teens, but remembers vividly the instances which have since gone to make up the history of the Southern States.
The Father of Mrs. Alice Berryman Bromwell and Wm. M. Berryman of Houston was Lieut. Ottway Henry Berryman of the U.S. Navy. He was in charge of the surveying party that succeeded in locating the Atlantic plateau, and was the first man of that party to make the casting that located the plateau. The Atlantic cables were afterward laid upon this plateau-land, Lieut. (Commd.?) Berryman assisted in the work.
In telling the true story of the mystery of the seal of the Confederate States of America, Mr. Berryman refers with pride of the true Southerner, to the prominent part played by his 'Big Sister' in saving the Seal, and carrying it safely out of Richmond.
Mrs. Alice Berryman Bromwell has passed into the great beyond but at her death only 18 months ago (Will prob. Jan. 5, 1911) in Washington, she was faithful to the Stars and Stripes. Like all Southern women she retained her enthusiastic affection for the lost cause.
The real story is here told for the first time, and can be attested by a number of persons yet alive.
William J. Bromwell, Chief Clerk of the State Department of the Confederacy and husband of Alice Berryman Bromwell, heard with trepidation the approach of the Federal troops on Richmond; hurriedly secured all of the State papers he could care for, put them into boxes, and stored them in an old barn, so dilapidated a structure, in fact, that it was beyond suspicion. Mrs Bromwell accompanied him upon his mission, and assisted in packing the papers.
While so doing, she came upon the Great Seal, made of solid silver, and weighing several pounds. This she quickly placed in the pannier, or bustle worn at that time, where she could carry it without fear of detection. It was easy to thus secrete it, on account of the fashion of hoopskirts and crinolines then in vogue.
Shortly after the evacuation of Richmond, Mrs. Bromwell arrived in Washington, exhausted, indeed, almost prostrated, by the weight of the great silver Seal which she carried tied about her waist. She had come to the capital by steamer, and had not dared to remove her burden for a single moment. Only to her mother, Mrs. (Sarah F.) Berryman at Washington did she confide the secret at first, but years afterward, when the Confederate papers were taken to Canada, the Seal, saved by a woman's wits, went with them.
Shortly after the war Mr. Bromwell came to Washington to live and practice law, becoming a member of the firm of Isaac N. Morris & Co. He kept track of the Confederate papers, and had them brought to Washington. The trunks containing them were distributed among women loyal to the Confederacy, and were taken to their homes and stored with their other trunks, awakening no suspicion.
Mr. Bromwell employed Col. John T. Pickett, who had held positions of trust with the Confederacy, to negotiate with the United States government for the purchase of the papers, Col. Pickett acting only as the agent of Mr. Bromwell. Through Col. Pickett's efforts they were sold to government for a consideration of $75,000.
Romance, as well as historic interest attaches to the sale of these papers, which have since become known as the Confederate Archives, and it is inseparable from the history of the Great Seal of the Confederate States. A list, or catalogue of the papers was given to the proper official, and he was told that they had been taken to Canada.
This was done because the United States was the sole heir-at-law, or residuary legatee, as it were, of the Confederate States and for this reason the papers were kept hidden by Mr. Bromwell, as otherwise the government would have undoubtedly have seized them.
It was after the negotiations were complete that the papers were taken to Canada, and out of the jurisdiction of the United States. It was to Rear Admiral Thomas O. Selfridge, U.S.N., that the important task of going to Canada to verify the listed catalogue and bring the papers to Washington, was intrusted.
Papers on Same Train
A highly amusing feature of the entire transaction lies in the fact that as the United States agent accompanied the gifted Confederate ex-officer to Canada, and they smoked and dined and traded stories of the war times, the same train carried the papers of the Confederacy along with them.
A man of courage, like John T. Pickett, -- of the Fighting Picketts of Kentucky -- would dare and glory in a display of strategy, such as the action called for, because it will be remembered that it was in his arms at the battle of Cardenas, during the ill fated expedition into Cuba in 1850, that the intrepid Lopez, leader of the expedition died.
The Great Seal of the Confederacy was given to Col. Pickett upon this trip to Canada, but was not included in the catalogued papers to be sold to the government. Many a grim smile has played upon the lips of old Confederate soldiers, as in later years Pickett told the story of how the papers were landed in Hamilton, Canada, the point of inspection.
It has now been proven beyond a doubt that the Seal, which has, for so many years interested and mystified historians, relic hunters, and the curious in general, was given by Col. Pickett to the naval officer, who now bears the rank of Rear Admiral, retired.
About that time Col. Pickett, who was notoriously generous, conceived the idea of having a number of copies of the Seal made to be sold for the benefit of the orphans, widows and needy soldiers of the South. One of the most prominent jewelers of the City of Washington was given the agency for the distribution of the copies, while another agency was established in Memphis, where the Seals were offered for sale for the benefit of the Church Orphaned home, and other institutions in the South.
The criticism of Col. Pickett, in taking this step, became so unpleasant, and his actions were so unjustly censured, that he directed the Seals that were left to be withdrawn from sale.
Afterward he amused himself by giving them away to his friends. It was the distribution of these copies which has so often misled the public into thinking the original Seal had been discovered.
The permanent Constitution of the Confederate States was established Feb. 22 1862, and at the 3d session of the first Congress the necessary legislation for procuring a proper Seal was enacted. There was a joint resolution passed to establish a Seal, which read as follows: Resolved, by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the Seal of the Confederate States shall consist of a device representing an equestrian portrait of Washington (after the statue which surmounts his monument in the Capitol Square at Richmond) surrounded with a wreath composed of the principal agricultural products of the Confederacy (cotton, tobacco, sugar cane, corn, and rice) and having around its margin the words: The Confederate States of America, twenty-second February, eighteen hundred and sixty-two with the following motto: "Deo Vindice". This resolution was afterward approved on Apr. 30 1863.
Judah P. Benjamin of Louisiana who had resigned from the United States Senate to ally himself with the Confederacy, was Secretary of State, under Jefferson Davis, on that date and on May 20 1863 he sent a dispatch to Jas. M. Mason, commissioner of the Confederate States near (?) the government of Great Britain asking that gentleman to have the work executed in England, and requesting him to supervise its construction along the lines adopted in the resolution.
In this despatch, Secretary Benjamin suggested that the date might be expressed in figures on the Seal, instead of the words indicated in the resolution, and also that the artist who drew up the design for the Seal need not deem it imperative that all of the agricultural products named had to be placed upon the wreath, but had been offered as examples. He suggested that in so small a space as the wreath must occupy, it would be impossible to include all and suggested cotton, rice and tobacco as being distinctly products of the southern, middle and northern states of the Confederacy should be retained.
In reply at a later date Mr. Mason wrote Mr. Benjamin as follows:
4 Upper Seymour Street
Portman Square
London, July 6 1864
Hon. J.P. Benjamin, Secretary of State:
Sir -- I have the pleasure to inform you that I send by Lieut. Chapman, C.S.A., who bears this, the Seal of the Confederate States, at last completed. It is much admired by all who have seen it here, and I hope you will approve it as a fine work of art. The Seal is carefully put up in a separate small box, and Lieut. Chapman is charged under no circumstances to run the risk of its being captured.
He takes the route to Bermuda, via Halifax, to sail on Saturday, 9th inst. & I ship, through Messrs Frazer, Trenholm & Co. by the steamer that takes him to Halifax, two boxes containing the iron press, with a full supply of wax and other materials for the use of the seal. Although not expressly ordered, in the difficulty of obtaining these in the Confederacy at present, at least of approved quality, I have thought it best to have them supplied here, all of which I hope you will approve. The enclosed duplicate bill will furnish a list of these materials with the prices. The original I have paid and will retain.
I have requested Lieut. Chapman to take charge of the boxes at Bermuda, and see them to their safe delivery. To relieve him of expenses on the route, I have requested Messrs Frazer, Trenholm & Co. here, if they can do so, to pay the freight all the way to Bermuda, and to write to Major Walker at that place to pay the freight thence to the Confederacy should they not go in a Confederate ship. Still it is possible that some part of this may not be done, and I have accordingly told Lieut. Chapman, should any expense in the transportation devolve on him, it should be paid promptly at the Department of State, which oblige me by having attended to.
I have the honor to be, etc etc,
J.M. Mason
(The cost was one hund. & twenty-two pounds, 10 sh. incl. boxes)
At the time that Col. Pickett was offering for sale through his agencies the copies of the Great Seal some question was raised as to the authenticity of the copies, but J.S. & J.B. Wye chief engravers of Her Majesty's seals sent a signed certificate to the effect that the copy was correct. This satisfied the purchasers of the copies, and many persons no doubt have today copies of the Seal, the same that were made by Col. Pickett, many years ago.
Where is the Great Seal Now?
Rear Admiral Selfridge is reported to have sold the Seal to Eppa Hudson, Wm. H. White, and Thos. P. Ryan of Va., and it is thought that it was placed in Richmond. (? H.E.B.)
Mr. Wm. J. Bromwell departed the U.S. with Judah P. Benjamin, for London England where he died in Chelsea, Aug. 22, 1874. He is buried in England.
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The following Re: the death of Ottway Henry Berryman was retyped by Marvin Berryman from "Official Records of Union & Confederate Navies in the War of Rebellion". Series I vol. 4 - Denver Public Library
Report of Captain Adams, U. S. Navy, senior officer present off Pensacola, Fla., of death of Lieutenant Berryman
U. S. Frigate Sabine,
Off Pensacola, April 2, 1861.
Sir: It is with sincere regret I have to inform you of the death of Lieutenant Commanding,
O. H. Berryman, of the Wyandotte, which occurred this day at 3:25 p.m.
He has fallen a victim to his zeal and anxiety of mind in the discharge of his duties.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. A. Adams,
Captain, and Senior Officer Present.
Hon. Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C.
Letter from Captain Ingraham, C. S. Navy, to Captain Adams, U. S. Navy, senior officer present off Pensacola, Fla., regarding the death of Lieutenant Berryman, U. S. Navy.
Navy Yard [Pensacola], April 2, 1861.
My Dear Adams: I was never in my life more shocked than when your officer informed me of Berryman’s death. Poor fellow! Only Saturday he was laughing and talking, and he looked in perfect health. Truly “in the midst of life we are in death.” Everything shall be prepared for his internment to-morrow at the time you name, and if you think proper I will have a guard; but the volunteers are not in very good trim. If you choose, bring a guard with you; it would be better; and I hope as many officers as can attend will come on shore. Let me know your wishes to-morrow, should you desire anything particular done, and you will know this will be complied with. There will be no expenses.
Faithfully, yours,
D. N. Ingraham.
[P. S.] - I started your letter to the Secretary of the Navy immediately by a special messenger on horseback, and directed him to give it to Lieutenant Smead. I shall have the grave dug in the same yard where Hayne was interred. We can supply you a pine coffin, ready-made. I only wish we had better.
[D. N. I.]
Ottway Henry Berryman Ancestry
Ottway Henry Berryman
born: 1812 died: 7 days before Fort Sumnter, aboard U.S. Wyandotte off Pensacola, FL (Lieutenant Commander U.S. Navy at death)
2nd great grandson of John Berryman & Elizabeth? (?)
Great grandson of Major Benjamin Berryman & Elizabeth Newton Gilson
Grandson of James Berryman & Sarah Dishman
Son of Newton Berryman & Alice Hipkins
Ottway Henry Berryman m. 1836 - Sarah F. Hipkins, she was still living in 1865
Their children:
Columbia N. Berryman Payne b. Oct. 12, 1838, d. Feb. 29, 1920 m. William S. Payne
Alice Berryman Bromwell b.1840, d. 1911 m. Wm. J. Bromwell - ca. 1861 He d. Aug 22,
1874 in Chelsea, England
Ottway Calvert Berryman b. ca 1847 (twin) (Col. U.S. Marine Corps.)
William Marsden Berryman b. ca 1847 (twin)
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From Warrenton VA Public Library: "W.P.A. Records" Pub. by VA Book Co. - Box 431 - Berryville, VA - copyright 1978 - "Old Homes & Families of Fauquier Co., VA".
The estate then called "Ellerslie" now "Rutledge" was built in 1855 and named "Ellerslie" by Mr. Jacquline Smith to honor his wife, Ella Buckner. It is located 2.3 miles north of Marshall, VA on Rt. # 55 (North Side) thence .5 mile on private road.
Owners: Richard Buckner
Ella Buckner Smith - 1855-1867
Mr. Robert Beverly
(This, and the below item, are from notes made October 3/4, 2000 and have been slightly reworded.)
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Capt. Otway Berryman (Ella Buckner's uncle) had given her white wool blankets with the letters "U.S." worked into the center in Red.
According to Mr. Bernard Smith, during the War Between the States, Federal Troops entered their home and took these blankets off the bed where he and his brothers were sleeping.
The troops declared anything marked "U.S." was Federal property and belonged to them.
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My new email address is Man2Berry 'at symbol' prodigy.net - Note: this method is to an attempt to foil email "address harvesters"
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