Investigative Journalism

Flying with the Stars and Stripes for a time

close approximation of flag flying at the mizzen

What are those strange-looking flags flying on your ship?

From The New-York Times March 25, 1861:

ARMY AFFAIRS.; THE “CONFEDERATED” FLAG IN NEW-YORK.

Two strange flags, flying, the one from the foretopmast-head, and the other at the mizzen-peak of a vessel lying at one of the North River piers, on Saturday, attracted public attention. A nearer inspection disclosed the fact that they were displayed from on board the steamer Alabama, of SAMUEL L. MITCHELL’S Savannah line, it being her day of sailing from this port. To fully understand the object of the unusual display, and at the same time to verify the character of the signals, a reporter of the TIMES hunted up Capt. SCHENCK for information. The Captain, who appeared to be quite jolly; stated that the flag at the fore stood for the Southern Confederacy, and that at the mizzen for the State of Georgia. The Confederated flag consists of three wide longitudinal stripes of red, white and red, the white in the middle, with a blue field, occupying the upper corner, and covering the upper and middle stripes. The field contains seven stars, representing the seven States supposed to have seceded from the Union. The new flag of Georgia is of blue bunting, having in the centre an arch supported by three pillars; across the top are the words — “The Constitution,” and on the pillars, “Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation,” with a person in revolutionary uniform holding the end of the scroll in his right hand. The Cotton-plant occupies a space in the lower corner. Capt. SCHENCK began in the morning by displaying merely the Confederated flag, forward, and the Stars and Stripes at the mizzen, but being laughed at by some Union men on the dock, he hauled the latter down and hoisted the Georgia banner in its place. He carried there [three?] flags out of the harbor, the ship’s private signal flying at the main. The bulk of her cargo consisted of hay.

You can read the rest of the story at The New York Times Archive.The article includes a long list of U.S. Army resignations and promotions. I recognized A. P. Hill as a resignee. Edwin Vose Sumner was promoted to General to take the place of the dismissed David E. Twiggs.

Captain Schenck seems like he was hedging his bets until he got razzed and decided to put up the Georgia flag. The description of that flag is very similar to the image on the current Flag of Georgia. The flag the captain was flying had a cotton plant and the Revolutionary soldier was holding a scroll instead of the current sword.

I don’t understand the agrarian South needing to “import” hay from the North. Maybe cotton is just way too profitable.

General Sumner: 'Bull Head' promoted to Twiggs' position

New York Harbor: painting by George Herbert McCord