I've been waiting to report on this. I was suppose to be sent a photo but as of yet one has not been sent. A recent discovery in the attic of the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society yeilded a spectatular find. In a old paper bag, set a side during cleaning, Mrs. Battick removed what appeared to be an old flag. She took it down to her husband Jack Battick, a retire history professor from the University, who realized what they had found was a Confederate Battle Flag.
In actually it was just that of sorts, it was a flag of the 2nd National design and in pretty good shape for one of 140 years old. How it got to the Dover-Foxcroft we may never know but it was sent to Portland where it was authenticated and professionally encased and preserved.
The is roughly 2.5 by 3 feet and entirely hand stitched...meaning not done by machine. The landyard side was folded over a heavy cotton twine which was looped. There were no ties or grommets. This suggested that the flag was periodically raised and lowered. Our best assumption is that this flag was used on a ship. The small battleflag had some damaged as far as bleach like spots that bleached out a small section of the red and blue, otherwise the rest of the flag is in great shape. Their is some repair work that appeared to have been done when the flag was in use.
This was one of the first 2nd National Flags I have seen and have been able to get close to. I have an idea of how the flag came to the town but will have to follow up on a few leads first. The building had previously been the home to some local GAR groups. When and if I get a photo of this flag, I will send a image.
Will
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Sounds like a naval ensign
Sounds like a naval ensign of a raider or some other confederate ship of the line, something from the calis rid or the cushing incident?
Seamus
"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifing......nothing"
MacBeth
I bet if that flag could
I bet if that flag could talk, what stories it would tell... It does sound like it would of been Naval in origin. Maybe a smaller vessel of the "brown water" CSN.
My great great grandfather (8th Maine)was a long time resident of Dover-Foxcroft. I'd like to think that he would of been familiar with the flag's story.
The leader of the Calais
The leader of the Calais raid DID have a small Confederate flag on him!
Major Eric R. Reeder
CSO, 1st Division ANV, Staff
Liberty Hill Signals
2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder United States Army Corps of Topographic Engineers "Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"
CSS Archer
Okay, you are sort of on to me. My scant research is suggesting that MAYBE this the flag from the CSS Archer. We may never know but I will be digging into the accounts over the next few weeks.
Will
Lets just say it
Lets just say it is.....unless we have a better story like it is from a sailor who lived in D-F and served on the kersarge and while in a longboat picking up survivors he spied the flag floating...Now that is a slightly good story but the archer sounds more plauseable...but with maine being a seafarin state reall anything could be possible.
Seamus
"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifing......nothing"
MacBeth
return
We may never know where this flag came from but my guess is that it was either taken from a town or city in the South by a Union veteran as a souvenir or y'all's adventurous theory of it being from a ship may be true as well.
However, I believe this flag MUST be given back to the South. By several acts of different states in the Union in 1905, captured Confederate flags were returned to their home states. I do not know how they enforced this but I believe most were handed back voluntarily at this time as an act of manhood and honor to a defeated foe. However, I doubt that whoever has this new found flag, would willingly give it up. Nor do I believe too many people in the "New South" would be happy to have this flag returned to them. I think the best thing to do would have it turned over to a Confederate Research Center, Museum of the Confederacy, or to the SCV. But most likely it will not go that way, for the ways of 1905 are long gone.
It will be interesting to see what becomes of it.
Returning the Flags
The returning issues are a problem. Mostly because the flags are of unknown origin, except for the one in Houlton. The 1905 rule declared that ALL captured flags (meaning Northern as well as Southern) be turned over to the War Department who would then turn them over to the proper states. This landmark decision actually began 18 years earily with President Cleveland ordering them to be returned. Many rebelled against the idea and questioned whether the President had the authority to issue such an order. Then with the outbreak of the Spanish American War in 1898, popular opinion had changed to agreement and the GAR gave it's concensus to the idea. The theme was to finally lay to rest the past hostilities and ill feelings and truely unite the country as one nation. What is truly significant here is that it was the veterans that mostly made the decision to return the colors.
Still the problem remained of returning flags not in Government Hands. So the fight goes on between Virginia and Minnisota over a Battle Flag not returned. Such may well be the case with Virginia and Maine in the future.
My personal view is mixed. The flags that are identified should be returned however, they are being well taken care of here and is a nice resource for the citizens of Maine and Canada to view. In the case of the flag in the Washburn Library. It is a very sad plight that I won't get into...But this one needs to be removed! The SCV is a fine organization but it holds no more right to hold these flags than the deposits where they now rest. The museum of the Confederacy has more flags than they know what to do with. I highly doubt they will learn much more about their construction or origin than simply examining them at the current sites if they are interested. At least they can keep on file a photo and location of where the flags are.
Will
Will
flag
Is that flag in the Washburn Library real? It is hard to believe cause it is just hanging there in fine condition. I've seen that most Civil War flags would fall the pieces of they were hung like that. When I asked the lady there about it, she was very curt and cold. She gave me no answers about the flag's history.
I agree that the Confederate flags up here in Maine will be of better use than if they were shipped to the South and put into a basement crate like so many at the Museum of the Confederacy. At least there will be interest for curious viewers up here. Just as long as the flags are safe and in very good care, I won't bother with worrying about where they are at.
Good question!
Zac,
Years ago I examined the flag that was in the library and it appeared to be real and in similiar condition as other flags I have seen in the south. The story behind the flag is vague but it came from Gen. E. Washburne who was close friends with U.S. Grant. The possibilities of it being real are very good.
HOWEVER! I examine the flag this past summer and it looks as if it had been repaired using zig-zag stitching. Either that or it has been replaced with a poorly constructed replacement. That is about as far as I will go until I can get to the bottom of the mystery.
Will