Wedding Shawl turned Battle Flag
Many southern women felt as strongly about the idea of war as did the men.
The ideology of the time about the “Woman’s Sphere,” or domesticity, would have
inhibited them from being physically on the battlefields. Although some women
entered the battles and the soldiers' encampments, most women remained in the
home realm and tried to offer their support that was considered more acceptable.
However, early in the War, Southern women organized their troops, sometimes
called the "Thimble Brigades." Mrs. Dickison was in a group called the Soldiers'
Friends Association of Orange Lake.
When everyday items became scarce, spinning looms emerged, and
homemade clothing became fashionable again. The women of these societies
knitted socks and made uniforms for the troops. By the looks of most uniforms,
some women had minimal sewing skills. The Confederate soldiers' uniform gave
them the derogatory nickname of "ragged rebel" or "Butternuts" by the betterdressed Union soldiers.
However, Jane Ling may have had better skills and taught those to her
daughters and granddaughters. Assuming she learned sewing skills from her
grandfather, Georgetown’s Taylor, and that she likely managed the sewing in
Ling’s coach-making business, she would have been valuable in the women’s
sewing groups.
One famous accomplishment of the Ladies of Orange Lake was making the
Marion Light Artillery regiment's flag. Mrs. Dickison's crimson shawl, a part of
her wedding attire, was used for the flag. The staff holding the flag had a silver
spearhead with the "Southern Cross" engraved in it made from a silver comb Mrs.
Dickison wore on her wedding night. The rings attaching the staff and the ferrule
were made from jewelry given by the ladies of Orange Lake, Marion County.
The regimental flags were given great reverence during and after the Civil
War. The letters written by soldiers and newspaper articles indicate the great
significance of these flags and their role as moral boosters. From these sources, we
can see that not only did soldiers place value on the flags, but women had these
flags presented in such a way that the troops felt they were carrying a part of their
mothers, sisters, and wives into the war with them. What's more, the flags
represented the local region of the state the soldiers were defending, so soldiers
would be willing to sacrifice their lives defending their flag or protecting it from
enemy capture.
Flags also had a practical aspect, serving as visual communication on the
noisy battlefields. Therefore, soldiers were always trained to have the flag in sight
and follow the flag. Another important reason for the flag was that after a battle,
every man would need to recognize his flag and have a rallying point.
Other valuable uses of the flags were to identify groups of men as friends or
foes and allow commanders to know what movements needed to be taken by their
various units during the battle. Besides the practical and symbolic meaning of the
flag, one of the most important uses was to signal to the winning side that a
retreating unit had determined there was no hope for them in the battle, and they
were willing to defer to the other side. A visual communication would have been
given with the white flag of surrender. Something that happened often on both
sides but would have been a shameful admission of defeat.
An aspect to consider about the flag carrier's job, also known as the color
guard, would be these men were courageous. They would follow behind the
regimental officers while unarmed and under fire. Flags were so conspicuous in
battle that they were often used as targets. Most importantly, these soldiers could
never break and run in retreat, or the entire regiment might follow. Of course, the
mortality rate of these soldiers was high.
"The entire regiment would feel shame if the flag was captured and carried
away by the enemy. Conversely, capturing the battle flag of an opponent was
considered a great triumph and was a cherished trophy." (Importance of the flag)
Chapter II of Dickison and his Men contains the full version of the making,
presenting, and recovering of the Marion Light Artillery regimental flag. Mrs.
Dickison includes the letters of correspondence to and from all concerned with the
history of the Marion Light Artillery Flag.
In the 19th Century, letter writing was more of an art form than merely a
form of communication. Not only was there strict writing etiquette in its form, but
the content was most important, and so was the proper placement of that content.
The language and style conveyed one’s intellectual capabilities by using elaborate
metaphors and flowery thoughts and feelings. Strict guidelines were used from the
date to the signature, and following certain conventions was essential. One can
still find a step-by-step guide on letter writing on the internet. Some of us maybe
remember this topic from our English and Business classes in the 1970’s. Letter
writing is a dying art and something the emailing and texting public does not have
time for anymore. Although the correspondence is interesting, I will greatly
shorten the letters.
FLAG PRESENTATION
Although Mrs. Dickison begins Chapter II by including a field officer's
poem he wrote about the flag while he is in camp and missing home, it seems more
appropriate to insert the presentation of the flag to the men first. (The poem is
included in the notes but not in the main story.)
By 1862 in April, when the flag was presented to the Marion Light Artillery,
J. J. Dickison was still the company's first Lieutenant. By May 29, he had been
released from service from the Marion Light Artillery, but by August, he had
formed Co. H. of the 2nd Calvery. Ironically, J.J. and his troops never fought under
the flag, and their regiment's flag of his new unit is not mentioned.
The women of Orange Lake were influenced by societal norms and the
prevailing gender roles, so they had Dr. James B. Owen present the finished flag to
Captain John M. Martin on their behalf at Camp Langford on April 10. Dr. Owens
may have been exempt from service but would become one of Florida's first
representatives to the Confederate Congress in Montgomery, Alabama.
Here is part of Dr. Owen's written presentation and the written response from
Captain Martin.
"At the request and on behalf of the ladies of the Orange Lake
Soldiers' Friends' Association, it would have afforded me great
pleasure to address you in person but, as circumstances do not permit
this, I must resort to the less satisfactory mode of communicating
what I have to say in writing.
I, therefore, propose, as their honored instrument, not to impose a
lengthy address upon your patience but, in the fewest words by which
I can accomplish the agreeable task, give expression to the deepseated and lively sentiments and feelings they so earnestly cherish
toward you."
His letter continues, however, the promise of "fewest words" is not evident. He
wrote a long, incomprehensible, eloquent paragraph for which the twentiethcentury mind has no time. Also, an expert would be needed to decipher. In short,
he is honored to do the honors of presenting the flag to the men, and he supports
the War between the States, comparing their fight for freedom and the Confederate
soldiers to the American War of 1776 and those heroes. He also sends the men off
to War with the love and kisses of all the Women of Orange Lake.
Captain Martin's reply for his men from Camp Langford to the Hon. James B.
Owens.
Dear Sir:
"It is the honored privilege of the members of the Marion Light
Artillery to receive, through you, the handsome and appropriate flag
presented to them by the ladies of the Orange Lake Soldiers' Friends'
Association.
When the hour was darkest and the heavens seemed to hang with
indifference to freedom's cause, inducing the soldier to contemplate
with anxiety the future and with heavy hearts turned to those for
whose safety and welfare he had unsheathed his sword; its crimson
folds were unfurled, displaying the motto :
' God and our Rights.'
...Nor can they fail to be cherished by us with the deepest gratitude,
those fair and noble daughters of the South who have honored us with
so distinguished compliment.
.......my pleasant duty, on behalf of the company I have the
honor..........while we may be separated from the cheerful fireside and
denied the comforts of peaceful and happy homes, they have proven,
by this demonstration, their confidence, and entrusted to our care and
safekeeping a flag which we will ever cherish, ever be proud of and
trust in God, will ever defend.
It is true her feeble constitution and her refined feelings deprive her a
place in the scene of action. Still, upon every field is she represented
by her handiwork or some ......devotion to her country, thereby urging
the brave........, giving courage to the timid, and reminding the truth
that their smiles and blessings will ever rest upon them. It is not only
our fortune to have these incentives to action, but we remember the
rich material of this banner is from the wardrobe of that noble lady,
who, like one of Carthage, would rather, consign herself to the flames
than see it ignobly(shamefully) defended. Nor can we forget that the '
Southern Cross,' its gilded spear, and its bindings to the polished staff,
are from the caskets(jewelry boxes) of the fair ones who have made
this offering upon their country's altar, ….We will ever guard this
beautiful flag as a cherished gift, see that no harm befalls it, and, when
led to meet the foe, ' God and our Rights ' shall be our battle cry.
Allow me to express the high regard and esteem .........your most
respectful and Obedient servant,
John M. Martin”
With all due respect, there are enough words there to understand the Ladies
were so honored to be able to make the flag, and the troops were so very grateful
for the gift. What is evident is the reference everyone had for the flags and the
complete conviction of their right and necessity to fight.
Four more years of the War, that flag led the Marion Light Artillery into
battles, but towards the end of the War, when the Confederacy was aware of their
defeat, it seemed that battle flags were being gathered up and put away for
safekeeping.
Many articles have been published that describe the Marion Light Artillery
wedding-shawl-turned-regiment flag and the necessary custody taken by the brave
Lt. A.J. Neal. Apparently, some misleading information exists about when, where,
and why the flag was saved. Therefore, this looks like a job for the "myth busters."
Most of the articles agree that when Sherman's army approached Zebulon, Georgia,
in April 1864, a battle ensued, and this soldier decided to hide the Marion Light
Artillery flag. My research to correct some of the conflicting information led me to
a lot of information on this soldier.
To begin with, his initials stand for Andrew Jackson, of course. He was a
well-educated lawyer who gave up his career to join the Marion Light Artillery. He
enlisted at the beginning of the formation of this unit, and he fought along with J.J.
at Fernandina. More research needs to be done to explore his life and connection to
the regimental flag. However, using a shortened account of Mrs. Dickison's
version, the flag was safe at Neal's home throughout Sherman's last march. This
version was written in 1881 by Mrs. Dickison after the flag had been returned by
John Neal, Lt. A.J. Neal's father.
In the flowery Southern Literary Tradition, Mrs. Dickison does a bit of rambling to
describe a soldier who hides the flag for safekeeping during the battle in Zebulon,
Georgia, but then gives it to his family when he is home on leave, I am guessing.
"That chivalrous gentleman and gallant soldier, Lieutenant A. J. Neal,
though beset with danger on every side, with a masterful will to
overcome every obstacle, by untiring vigilance and the inspiration of a
lofty patriotism, conveyed this cherished standard. The dauntless
corps(his military branch), he so nobly illustrated, to his home in
Georgia, where, in the safe custody of his loved mother and sisters, it
remained during those dark, perilous days of "Sherman's March to the
Sea," (Some articles confused this as the battle when he hid the flag,
possible she meant throughout Sherman march)........."these noble,
true hearted Georgians, ........lovingly guarded this proud memorial of
a gallant people during the dark, dark days that followed the surrender
of our brave unconquered defenders, who only yielded to
overwhelming numbers"...........(lamenting about the loss of the war,
then mentions the part of the flag that was left and had been
hidden)..........Though only a silken banner, there was a silent
eloquence around its crimson folds that made it seem to them a "thing
of life".....(She then thanks the family profusely and imparts to them
their shared experience of losing loved ones).
"Dear mother and sisters! Every heart that has bled like thine and
mine can enfold you in a sympathetic embrace. That flag told you the
sad, sad story, that so many hopeless, anguished hearts had learned, of
the young and brave-hearted, who had buckled on their armor and
gone forth from peaceful, happy homes with a mother's, wife's and
sister's kiss warm upon their dear lips, strong in the resolve to drive
back the ruthless invaders.... Its crimson tints told of the life-drops
that were freely poured out in defense of all that was dear to man."
As to why Lt. A.J. Neal decided to hide the flag, at this time, without further
research and relying on a published account, Lt. A.J. Neal noted that the flag was
at the rear of the unit. The flags were usually at the front of the units, but because
they were in the rear, they could easily be captured from behind by approaching
enemy units. The article states he gathered the flag and sent the retired flag to his
father and family in Zebulon, Georgia, 50 miles south of Atlanta. The family
separated the shawl, staff, and spear final and hid each in different locations. Later,
when the Union soldiers invaded Neal's home, the staff was hidden in the garden,
and the flag was under one of their daughter's overskirts. The latter were
discovered and taken, but the flag remained hidden.
Continuing with Mrs. Dickison's story,
"All honor to the gentle mother and sisters and venerable father of the
heroic A. J. Neal, who fell a noble martyr to freedom's cause while
gallantly repulsing the Federals near Atlanta in 1864. This historic
flag was returned by the father of our lamented friend, Lieutenant
Neal, to Colonel John M. Martin, the gallant officer who led the
brilliant charge made by the Marion Light Artillery at the battle of
Richmond, Ky.
By request of the ladies of the Soldiers' Friends.'
Association of Orange Lake, it has been confided to the care of the
writer of this humble tribute to the heroes who fell gallantly fighting
in vindication of right and saw that flag waving over them with their
last look in life."
"In proper time, it will be placed among the archives of the State. It is
now partially furled near the cherished portraits of our beloved Lee
and Stonewall Jackson. Our own dear soldier boy, who fell on the
battlefield, looks upon it with eyes that seem to me to speak the
thoughts that never die in a hero's soul; Our flag still waves over the
home of the brave."
Here is a partial letter John M. Martin wrote to Mrs. Dickison when they
lived at Bugg Springs, which she called Dickison Park, on Dec. l0, 1881, when
they were writing Dickison and his Men. He includes, with his letter, the letter that
Lt. A.J. Neal's father, John Neal, wrote to Martin explaining why the Neal family
had the flag in their possession.
It would have been sufficient for Martin to say, here is a letter, madame, I
think you will find exciting, and you may want to add to your book, but he
elaborates and recounts the presentation of the flag. Due to the length and the
redundancy, I did not include his commentary, only parts of the letter from John
Neal.
"Accompanying this, I send you a letter from
the venerable and heroic Mr. John Neal, now of Atlanta, Ga., which
will explain his connection with the flag and the cause of his having it
in his possession."
John Neal's,Atlanta, GA., October 11, 1881, Colonel John M; Marlin,
Ocala, Fla.
Dear Sir:
By today's express I forward you the flag· and staff of the Marion
Florida Light Artillery, placed in my care at Zebulon, Ga., July 1864,
by my son, Lieutenant A.J. Neal, ...for safekeeping; stating that, by
order of the general command, none but flags of large bodies of troops
would be retained. This request was faithfully fulfilled by myself,
wife and two daughters, the only members of my family then at
home.I deeply regret the shameful manner in which the beautiful
spear that ornamented the staff was lost. The value of the spear is
beyond price in dollars and cents, when we remember that it was
gotten up by the contributions of Florida's noble sons and daughters,
especially the latter, who so generously contributed mantle and
jewels, as will appear by an appropriate and beautifully written article,
after the battle of Richmond, Ky., 1863, a copy of which I enclose.
(not included here)
...."The loss of the spear occurred in April 1865.
A large body of the Federal army passed through Zebulon. There
being only three old men besides myself left in the town, we were
entirely unprotected.
Mrs. Neal had prepared two large pockets, in which she concealed our
daughters' jewelry and the spear.
After the main body had passed, there came suddenly through our
garden four men, armed and wearing Federal uniforms. Mrs. Neal fled
with the jewels but was pursued by the ruffian thieves, overtaken, and
robbed of everything, including the spear. They then searched my
person and took a small sum of money. About this time, another body
of troops in passing saw the excitement, came in, and said to the
thieves that such conduct was contrary to orders, threatening to report
them. The scamps then returned through the garden, mounted their
horses, and left. God forbid like trials! (sic)
P.S. The flag was saved by Miss Ella Neal, now Mrs. John Kelly.
My son, A. J. Neal, was killed two and one-half miles west of Atlanta,
August 10, 1864. His brother, Jas. H. Neal, colonel of the Tenth
Georgia Regiment, was killed near Kingston, N. C., March 8, 1865. I
have since had their remains reinterred in my family graveyard,
'Oaklawn Cemetery,' Atlanta, and have had a marble tombstone
erected over their graves in the form of an arch, with suitable inscriptions, showing the date of their birth, military position, and when
killed. Their memory we will cherish while life lasts.
I most respectfully invite you and command you to visit their graves if
ever convenient.
Yours truly,
John Neal
Often, tattered flags took on a deeper significance and told a story of the
regiment much like in a scrapbook form. Initially, its maker had thought out the
flag's design well, with symbolic meaning and the regiment's name stitched on it.
Later, names of battles fought would be stitched in. Sometimes, a tattered part
represented a near bullet that missed or hit one of their comrades.
At the end of the Civil War, state governments put considerable effort into
collecting battle flags, and those collections were looked upon with great reverence
in the late 19th century. Flag collections have generally been forgotten in modern
times, but they do still exist. The Marion Light Artillery flag is kept in the
Confederate Museum in Richmond, Va., symbolizing Southern women's
dedication to their war heroes.