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.
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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