The Oldest Flag

Stiles/Akin

Sergeant Major
Joined
Apr 1, 2016
Location
Atlanta, Georgia
"THE OLDEST FLAG
Those who attended the Reunion at Richmond last June
will remember the old flag that was exhibited just after the
Flag Committee had made its report awarding the honor of
having designed the Stars and Bars of the Confederacy to
the late Maj. Orren R. Smith, of North Carolina. This old
flag, said to be a replica of the design submitted by Major
Smith to the Confederate Congress at Montgomery, Ala., in
February, 1861, was made in Petersburg, Va., under the direction
of Mrs. Herbert Claiborne, who had been reared in Louisburg,
and that it was copied from Major Smith's design has
been proved by sworn testimony. On one side of the field
of blue is the North Carolina coat of arms, now almost
obliterated ; on the other side, in gilt letters as clear and distinct
as if but recently painted, is inscribed : "Our Lives to
Liberty, Our Souls to God. Franklin Rifles. Presented by
the Ladies of Louisburg, N. C, April 27, 1861."
This old flag was sent back to Louisburg before the close
of the war and entrusted to Miss Ella Noble for safe-keeping.
Since 1890 it has been in the care of Mrs. J. E. Malone. On
July 7, 1915, with appropriate ceremonies, it was placed under
the guardianship of the State by being deposited in the Hall
of History at Raleigh. As a part of the ceremonies at the
time Miss Jessica R. Smith, daughter of Major Smith, gave
a history of the flag written by Mrs. Malone, who hopes to
prove that it was the very first of the Stars and Bars ever
presented to any military organization. It is doubtless the
oldest Confederate flag now in existence."
CONFEDERATE VETERAN
Volume # XXIII No 9
September 1915

12226943_1704983959738043_7959495356441605527_n.jpg
 
"THE OLDEST FLAG
Those who attended the Reunion at Richmond last June
will remember the old flag that was exhibited just after the
Flag Committee had made its report awarding the honor of
having designed the Stars and Bars of the Confederacy to
the late Maj. Orren R. Smith, of North Carolina. This old
flag, said to be a replica of the design submitted by Major
Smith to the Confederate Congress at Montgomery, Ala., in
February, 1861, was made in Petersburg, Va., under the direction
of Mrs. Herbert Claiborne, who had been reared in Louisburg,
and that it was copied from Major Smith's design has
been proved by sworn testimony. On one side of the field
of blue is the North Carolina coat of arms, now almost
obliterated ; on the other side, in gilt letters as clear and distinct
as if but recently painted, is inscribed : "Our Lives to
Liberty, Our Souls to God. Franklin Rifles. Presented by
the Ladies of Louisburg, N. C, April 27, 1861."
This old flag was sent back to Louisburg before the close
of the war and entrusted to Miss Ella Noble for safe-keeping.
Since 1890 it has been in the care of Mrs. J. E. Malone. On
July 7, 1915, with appropriate ceremonies, it was placed under
the guardianship of the State by being deposited in the Hall
of History at Raleigh. As a part of the ceremonies at the
time Miss Jessica R. Smith, daughter of Major Smith, gave
a history of the flag written by Mrs. Malone, who hopes to
prove that it was the very first of the Stars and Bars ever
presented to any military organization. It is doubtless the
oldest Confederate flag now in existence."
CONFEDERATE VETERAN
Volume # XXIII No 9
September 1915

View attachment 210374


https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/smith-orren-randolph
 
Great Post. Thanks
 
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