The REAL Confederate Flag

[blogslug]

https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_515980

Description

By late 1864 the war was coming to an end. In December Gen. William T. Sherman completed his destructive march to the sea. Richmond, the Confederate capital, fell early in April, and on April 9, Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Over the course of the war, some 623,000 Northern and Southern soldiers died.

This towel was used as a flag of truce by Confederate troops during Gen. Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on April 9, 1865. It was preserved by Gen. George A. Custer, who was present at the surrender.

Bequest of Elizabeth B. Custer, 1936

[brush]

1. Very interesting. Sort of ironic that Custer was the one who saved it.

[lastlib]

2. He should've kept it handy--could've used it maybe....

...though I doubt the native Americans would have been aware of its meaning if he had.

[wnylib]

3. They would have known. Little Big Horn was not

their first encounter with the American Army. In fact, some Native fighters had used the truce flag themselves in other encounters, but it was usually not honored by the American military.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. Thank you for posting this

[Raine]

5. Interesting ... Thanks nt