Re-Enactment Group Funds Conservation of Flag at the N.C. Museum of History
Source: N.C. Department of Cultural Resources News 5/15/2013
RALEIGH — When the 6th Regiment North Carolina State Troops fought at the Battle of Sailor’s Creek in Virginia, a Union soldier captured its flag on April 6, 1865–just days before Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox.
Although the Confederate flag was returned to North Carolina in 1905, it has remained in storage at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh because of its fragile condition. More than 100 years later, the 6th Regiment’s banner has been conserved with help from the Cedar Forks Rifles Preservation Society, a re-enactment group also known as 6th Regiment North Carolina State Troops, Company I. The group raised $6,500 to fund the specialized textile treatment required to clean, protect and stabilize the historic banner.
“The museum owes a debt of gratitude to the Cedar Forks Rifles Preservation Society for donating the funds needed to conserve this important artifact,” said Jackson Marshall, Associate Director at the N.C. Museum of History. “Without the support of individual citizens and private organizations, few, if any, of the museum’s Civil War flags would be preserved for future generations to see and appreciate.”
On April 6, the Cedar Forks Rifles Preservation Society unveiled the newly conserved banner during a dedication ceremony at the Museum of History. More than 100 people from across North Carolina attended the ceremony.
“We volunteer because our ancestors volunteered 150 years ago, and we want to honor them,” remarked 1st Lt. Rick Walton of the 6th Regiment North Carolina State Troops re-enactment group. “Conserving flags, maintaining Confederate cemeteries, visiting schools, as well as participating in living history presentations and re-enactments are all ways we honor our ancestors.”
The 6th Regiment flag is missing a star in the top right corner, but the area was not repaired during conservation because it is part of the history of the flag.
“The star was probably cut out by a Union soldier who wanted it as a souvenir,” Marshall noted.
The 6th Regiment North Carolina State Troops was called “the bloody 6th” because it fought in many major battles throughout the Civil War. Formed across central North Carolina by Charles Frederick Fisher, the regiment mustered into service in May 1861. Two months later, it had the distinction of being the only North Carolina regiment to be engaged at the first great battle of the Civil War in Manassas, Va., also known as the First Battle of Bull Run. Col. Fisher was killed in the battle, and today Fort Fisher bears his name.
After nearly four years of fighting and many losses, the 6th Regiment engaged in its last battle at Sailor’s Creek, where the Confederate Army lost more than 7,700 men.
The 6th Regiment’s flag will be featured in 2015 in the exhibit North Carolina and the Civil War: 1864-1865. The exhibit is presented as part of the N.C. Civil War Sesquicentennial. The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources is presenting programs in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in North Carolina. For a calendar of events, go to the Civil War website
When the 6th Regiment North Carolina State Troops fought at the Battle of Sailor’s Creek in Virginia, a Union soldier captured its flag on April 6, 1865 — just days before Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox.
Although the Confederate flag was returned to North Carolina in 1905, it has remained in storage at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh because of its fragile condition. More than 100 years later, the 6th Regiment’s banner has been conserved with help from the Cedar Forks Rifles Preservation Society, a re-enactment group also known as 6th Regiment North Carolina State Troops, Company I. The group raised $6,500 to fund the specialized textile treatment required to clean, protect and stabilize the historic banner.
“The museum owes a debt of gratitude to the Cedar Forks Rifles Preservation Society for donating the funds needed to conserve this important artifact,” said Jackson Marshall, Associate Director at the N.C. Museum of History. “Without the support of individual citizens and private organizations, few, if any, of the museum’s Civil War flags would be preserved for future generations to see and appreciate.”
On April 6, the Cedar Forks Rifles Preservation Society unveiled the newly conserved banner during a dedication ceremony at the Museum of History. More than 100 people from across North Carolina attended the ceremony.
“We volunteer because our ancestors volunteered 150 years ago, and we want to honor them,” remarked 1st Lt. Rick Walton of the 6th Regiment North Carolina State Troops re-enactment group. “Conserving flags, maintaining Confederate cemeteries, visiting schools, as well as participating in living history presentations and re-enactments are all ways we honor our ancestors.”
The 6th Regiment flag is missing a star in the top right corner, but the area was not repaired during conservation because it is part of the history of the flag.
“The star was probably cut out by a Union soldier who wanted it as a souvenir,” Marshall noted.
The 6th Regiment North Carolina State Troops was called “the bloody 6th” because it fought in many major battles throughout the Civil War. Formed across central North Carolina by Charles Frederick Fisher, the regiment mustered into service in May 1861. Two months later, it had the distinction of being the only North Carolina regiment to be engaged at the first great battle of the Civil War in Manassas, Va., also known as the First Battle of Bull Run. Col. Fisher was killed in the battle, and today Fort Fisher bears his name.
After nearly four years of fighting and many losses, the 6th Regiment engaged in its last battle at Sailor’s Creek, where the Confederate Army lost more than 7,700 men.
The 6th Regiment’s flag will be featured in 2015 in the exhibit North Carolina and the Civil War: 1864-1865. The exhibit is presented as part of the N.C. Civil War Sesquicentennial. The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources is presenting programs in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in North Carolina. For a calendar of events, visit NCCulture.com and search on “Civil War.”
For more information about the Museum of History, call (919) 807-7900 or visit ncmuseumofhistory.org. For details about the re-enactment group, go to www.6NCST.org.
The N.C. Museum of History is a unit of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. For more information on North Carolina arts, history and culture, visit Cultural Resources online.
