Symbolic of the family rifts that formed during the Civil War, this celebrated Alabama company flag was designed by Abraham Lincoln's Confederate half-sisters-in-law. (Photo Courtesy of the Alabama Department of Archives and History.) Among the thousands of artifacts at the Alabama Department of Archives and History are eighty-nine Civil War-period flags. Most of these are regimental colors, produced in Mobile, Charleston, Richmond, and Augusta during the last three years of the war. Alabama is fortunate, however, that a significant number of the eighty-eight flags are company flags presented to units early in the war.
These flags were often made of dress silk or from silk dresses by ladies who were associated with or related to the men of the individual companies. Usually, local artists, like Nicola Marschall of Marion and Samuel Tepper of Camden, were hired to design and paint the patriotic images that adorned each flag. Francis Corra of Montgomery painted several silk banners and, as early as November 17, 1860, Jackson O. Belknap of Mobile advertised that he could "supply every description of flag." These flags, each unique in design, not only served as military banners but are Civil War-period works of art as well. Though cherished by the men, these one-of-a-kind silk flags, combined with the colorful uniforms worn by the individual companies, caused confusion on the field. Additionally, the flags were usually too large, and the silk did not hold up well in service. When a company received regimental colors, the flags were usually placed with the baggage and relegated to formal occasions. Some, like the flags of the Wilcox True Blues and the Perote Guards, were "captured" from the baggage after the units surrendered. Others were sent home for safekeeping. One of the more interesting company flags to survive is that of the Magnolia Cadets of Selma.
The flag was made in Selma by Miss Elodie Todd and Martha Todd White, the half-sisters of Mary Todd Lincoln. Elodie Todd later married the captain of the Magnolia Cadets, N. H. R. Dawson of Selma. The flag apparently was sewn by the ladies, who may have also done the reverse of the flag, which bears an appliqued Christian cross and eight stars. The obverse of the flag is painted and is inscribed with "Magnolia Cadets, 1861," surrounded by a wreath of magnolia leaves. The painting is signed "W. H. Arnold, Selma, Ala." William H. Arnold, a flag painter from Charleston, likely met Dawson while he was working in that town during the 1860 Democratic Convention or through his numerous family connections there.
On behalf of the ladies of Selma, James Averytt presented the flag to Second Lieutenant S. Newton McCraw of the Magnolia Cadets at Watts' Hall in Selma on April 24, 1861. The company soon departed for Dalton, Georgia, where it was to be formed with other companies into a regiment. On April 28, as the company entered Atlanta, the flag staff was broken accidentally, but Captain Dawson assured Elodie in a letter that the flag was "uninjured":
On behalf of the ladies of Selma, James Averytt presented the flag to Second Lieutenant S. Newton McCraw of the Magnolia Cadets at Watts' Hall in Selma on April 24, 1861. The company soon departed for Dalton, Georgia, where it was to be formed with other companies into a regiment. On April 28, as the company entered Atlanta, the flag staff was broken accidentally, but Captain Dawson assured Elodie in a letter that the flag was "uninjured":
N H. R. Dawson, captain of the Magnolia Cadets, wrote a letter to future wife Elodie Todd, assuring her that the flag she and her sister had sewn for the company was unharmed when its staff was broken accidentally during its transport to Atlanta. (Photo courtesy of the Alabama Department of Archives and History.)
When the flag drew attention later that evening, Dawson remarked to the crowd that the flag was created by two ladies who were "related to the hostess of the White House .... The announcement was hailed in the long and loud cheering." On May 4, 1861, the Daily Sun of Columbus, Georgia, declared, "The Magnolia Cadets [and] Capt. N.H. R. Dawson, from Selma, Ala. passed through Atlanta a few days ago, on their way to Virginia, carrying a beautiful flag, which was made and presented to them by a sister of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln." In the spring of 1861, the flag of the Magnolia Cadets was doubtless Alabama's most famous company flag. At Dalton, the Magnolia Cadets were designated Co. C, 4th Alabama Infantry, and sent with their regiment to Virginia.
They used the flag for the last time during a dress parade at Harpers Ferry in June 1861. When the 4th Alabama was brigaded under Bernard Bee, all of the company flags were turned over to company officials, with the exception of that of the Marion Light Infantry, which resembled the Confederate national flag and was briefly used as the regimental colors until more standard battle flags were issued late in 1861.
Following his resignation on April 21, 1862, Captain Dawson returned to Alabama and apparently brought the flag home at that time. Over forty years later, on June 24, 1903, his son, Henry, of Minter, Alabama, donated the flag to the Alabama Department of Archives and History. A newspaper article dated June 6, 1903, reported the flag was in the "most excellent condition of preservation."
Today the flag remains in remarkably good condition, though it is extremely fragile. Along with the other flags, it is stored safely and awaiting much-needed conservation treatment. So far fourteen flags in the department's collection have received conservation treatment and are ready to be displayed.
This feature was previously published in Issue 83, Winter 2007.
About the Author
Robert Bradley, Chief Curator, Alabama Department of Archives and History, is an expert on Alabama's Civil War flags.
They used the flag for the last time during a dress parade at Harpers Ferry in June 1861. When the 4th Alabama was brigaded under Bernard Bee, all of the company flags were turned over to company officials, with the exception of that of the Marion Light Infantry, which resembled the Confederate national flag and was briefly used as the regimental colors until more standard battle flags were issued late in 1861.
Following his resignation on April 21, 1862, Captain Dawson returned to Alabama and apparently brought the flag home at that time. Over forty years later, on June 24, 1903, his son, Henry, of Minter, Alabama, donated the flag to the Alabama Department of Archives and History. A newspaper article dated June 6, 1903, reported the flag was in the "most excellent condition of preservation."
Today the flag remains in remarkably good condition, though it is extremely fragile. Along with the other flags, it is stored safely and awaiting much-needed conservation treatment. So far fourteen flags in the department's collection have received conservation treatment and are ready to be displayed.
This feature was previously published in Issue 83, Winter 2007.
About the Author
Robert Bradley, Chief Curator, Alabama Department of Archives and History, is an expert on Alabama's Civil War flags.
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