The Battery Flag and What Became of It / 1st Co Richmond Howitzers

Every Confederate unit treasured its flag, and many soldiers went to remarkable lengths to keep their colors out of enemy hands. One of the most memorable stories comes from the 1st Company of the Richmond Howitzers, where a soldier named John W. Todd kept the battery’s flag safe by wearing it under his uniform.

The Richmond Howitzers

The Richmond Howitzers were organized in 1859, after John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, by George Wythe Randolph, a grandson of Thomas Jefferson who later served as Confederate Secretary of War. The unit grew into a battalion of artillery batteries made up largely of young men from Richmond’s leading families, many of them students and professionals.

Over four years, the Howitzers served with the Army of Northern Virginia in nearly all of its major campaigns, from the early fighting of 1861 through Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and the long siege of Petersburg.

A Flag Worn Close to the Heart

Artillery batteries had less use for a flag in battle than infantry regiments did. Cannoneers needed their hands for their guns, and a battery’s position was obvious enough without a banner. But the flag still meant a great deal to the men.

In his account, Mr. Todd explained how he kept the battery flag safe. He cut two holes in it, put his arms through them and wore the flag beneath his uniform like a vest. That way it stayed with the battery and could not be lost or captured, no matter what happened in the field.

Saving the Colors

Stories like this were common as the war came to an end. When the Army of Northern Virginia surrendered at Appomattox in April 1865, many soldiers could not bear to hand over their flags. Some hid them, some cut them into pieces and shared them among the men, and some wore them under their clothes, just as Todd had done. Many of these flags were passed down through families and later given to museums.

Learn more about how Confederate soldiers protected their colors in our post No Man Can Take Those Colors and Live, and see our Confederate flag collection.

Source: A True Confederate: The Battery Flag and What Became of It

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