Photo from State Historical Society of Iowa
Posted on 10/02/2009 10:35:25 AM PDT by iowamark
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) – Researchers seem to have solved the mystery of what happened to the “Big Red” flag flown by Citadel cadets when they fired on a ship trying to resupply Fort Sumter three months before the Civil War.
The Post and Courier of Charleston reports a 10-by-7-foot flag with a large white Palmetto tree and a white crescent on a red field has been located in storage at an Iowa museum.
Researchers think it is the same flag that flew over Morris Island when cadets fired on the supply ship Star of the West, forcing the ship to turn away, in January of 1861.
The Civil War began that April with a Confederate bombardment of Union-held Sumter in Charleston Harbor.
The Citadel adopted a replica of the red flag as a spirit flag almost 20 years ago. But it was unclear what happened to the original.
A woman, who was not identified, posted information on the flag on the Internet two years ago. The Citadel Historical Council began researching and it led to the discovery of the flag at the State Historical Society of Iowa is Des Moines.
Council chairman Tex Curtis, a 1964 graduate of the state military college, calls the flag “a priceless historic artifact. It literally is The Citadel. It goes right to the beginning.”
The school is discussing bringing the flag back to Charleston from the Iowa museum on a long-term loan.
Michael O. Smith, director of the Iowa museum, said the flag was donated by a Union Civil War veteran, Willard Baker, in 1919. Baker said he got the flag in Mobile, Ala.
Researchers think the flag was taken from Charleston to Mobile by Confederate Capt. James F. Culpepper, an 1854 Citadel graduate, and fell into Baker’s hands when Union troops captured Fort Blakeley near Mobile in April 1865. Both Culpepper and Baker fought in that battle.
Smith said the flag has been in storage since 1919. He said officials knew it was from South Carolina because of the palmetto, the state symbol, but did not know the flag’s significance.
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/oct/02/historic-find-in-a-storage-closet/
“”After seeing a photograph of the original flag, Citadel leaders now know that the replica they have been using has historical inaccuracies, Curtis said.
A committee of the school’s Board of Visitors voted Thursday to begin using the historically correct version of the flag as its “spirit flag,” and to assign intellectual property rights in “Big Red” to The Citadel Alumni Association. The full board will take a final vote on the matter today.
The flag in the Iowa museum has a red background with a large white palmetto tree in the center and an inward- facing white crescent in the upper-left corner.
The replica the school has been using has a smaller white palmetto tree on a red background, with a white outward-facing crescent in the upper-left corner. The direction of the crescent is important, Curtis said, because an inward-facing crescent was, at the time, a common symbol of secession in the Charleston area.
The fact that the flag in Iowa carries the secession symbol makes it more likely that it is the flag that flew on Morris Island, he said.””
Ping!
Spoil of war. Hang on to it, Hawkeyes.
http://media.charleston.net/2009/pdf/bigredreport_100109.pdf
Big Red Report: 22 page pdf
That’s pretty neat.
Looks to be in remarkable shape for it’s age. Great find. Thanks for posting.
I'm sure that you also believe that the Germans should hang on to the art works stolen by the Nazis.
Cool
There is a difference between items stolen from civilians and items won on the field of battle.
Germany didn't win the war, therefore the spoils of war would belong to the Allies.
Given that the Palmetto State started the war, it would seem that to give it back would be more akin to delivering a swastika flag to Germany. My gggrandfather fought in the 10th Iowa and took a miniball from a rebel in Vicksburg so I consider the flag to have been earned. Go Hawkeyes.
Ping!
The Hawkeyes would be happy to give it back to the Gamecocks.
I too have an ancestor who fought for the Union at Vicksburg.
Well, ask your slaves.
So much for stupid comparisons.
It is quite a coup for the museum though. Hopefully it will spark renewed interest in American history.
I say give the flag back, The Citadel is a good school and upholds the finest traditions of a war college. They produce officers and gentlemen, not just college graduates. This thing could be like a holy relic to them.
It not art... it a battle flag won
The unit which fought under the flag was not defeated in battle nor was it at Mobile although a former member was. In fact, I doubt if the unit was still even in existence by that time. As such, it was a historical artifact carried by an individual soldier.
But what else would you expect of those people who looted George Washington historical artifacts from the home of Robert E. Lee?
Totally agree.
I agree with Cotton
>> Spoil of war. Hang on to it, Hawkeyes.
I take this to mean that you remain in favor of a large federal government vs. states rights?
If I was in favor of a large central government then I'd be a Jeff Davis supporter.
I’m sorry but what sort of a museum curator are you if you fail to research a flag donated by a Civil War vet??
Obviously artwork is not military property.
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Thanks MNJohnnie. Ordinarily not a ping (because modern), but I think this will be of interest to a great many, so... |
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Interesting.
Ping
Talk about stupid comparisons. Of course you just think that being that I mentioned giving Germany back Nazi art and the flag should be returned to the Citidal, you automatically ASSume the I must be from the south. Honestly, I live in North Carolina and love it here. However, I was born and raised in New York City, schmuck. Nor am I Jewish.
The Hawkeyes don't have it.
Only a few uneducated, low income people could be described as “Hawkeyes” in the great state of Iowa.
And my opinion is that we should give the flag back to SC if it is that much of their heritage.
I would expect the same.
It is the rightful property of the Citadel. Iowa will return the flag.
“I’m sure that you also believe that the Germans should hang on to the art works stolen by the Nazis.”
You compared the North to Nazi’s.
I made you look stupid.
Must have left a mark.
I never said that the NORTH is comparable to the NAZI’s. If you had read my reply correctly, I said that it would be a kind gesture for Iowa to return the flag to the Citadal. However it sounds to me that you are speaking with a, as my father would say, “speaking with a paper a$$hole”.
Don’t be embarrassed. We all occasionally step in it. I provided you your direct quote. My initial response was a shock statement to show how stupid your comment was.
Just take it, dust yourself off, and pull your head out. These things happen. Maybe on the next thread you will take a moment to read your post before you give it to the world.
I think your dad’s quote is very applicable to your first post. I would take his advice to heart.
Believe me, I am not embarrassed. You obviously think that being that you live in Kansas you are superior to anything or anyone that lives in the south and loves it here. You probably also think that it is great that the 1st Arkansas returned the flag of the 76th Ohio only why should you return the favor. Please remove your head from the last sphincter on your body.
“You probably also think that it is great that the 1st Arkansas returned the flag of the 76th Ohio only why should you return the favor.”
Why would the people in Arkansas return the flag to Ohio? I think that is silly too.
“..why should you return the favor.” Beyond your punctuation issues, how do “I” fit in with this? I have nothing against the South. As I stated above, Arkansas should have kept Ohio's flag as part of their state history. It doesn't make sense.
Unless...unless you align yourself with the neo-confederates who hate America? Is that it? You are one more racist America hater masquerading as a conservative here? Are you one of those that give the South a bad name? Is that your ugly little secret? You want to put the Civil war in modern terms but why? Us verses them is a bit silly when you think about it. At least to those who are patriotic Americans who love the whole nation, not just sections of it.
Let me come straight to the point. Get your head out of your a$$. I will move on at this point.
Tired of being shown for a fool?
I can understand that.
I’ll let you go now. Perhaps you are wiser.
My father also taught me that the one that makes the most accusations is the one that has the most to cover up. Bye.
What cover up?
Didn’t your dad teach you to admit when you were wrong? It is part of being a man.
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