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  CONFEDERATE BIBLE FLAG OF SGT. JOSEPH L. GRANTHAM OF THE 16TH VA INFANTRY, MAILED TO HIS FUTURE WIFE, MISS LYDIA A. GRANTHAM, OF MIDDLEWAY, VIRGINIA (ANNEXED TO WEST VIRGINIA IN 1863)

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 9.5" x 15.5"
Flag Size (H x L): 4" x 10"
Description....:
CONFEDERATE BIBLE FLAG OF SGT. JOSEPH L. GRANTHAM OF THE 16TH VA INFANTRY, MAILED TO HIS FUTURE WIFE, MISS LYDIA A. GRANTHAM, OF MIDDLEWAY, VIRGINIA (ANNEXED TO WEST VIRGINIA IN 1863):

Confederate 1st national format (Stars & Bars) Bible flag, made of silk and entirely hand-sewn. Bible flags are tiny flags made for a soldier by a loved one, to be presented as a token of pride and affection when he went away for war. They received this name because they were typically carried in a Bible, both because this was the safest place that a soldier might keep a flat, treasured object it and because it also served as a bookmark.

Bible flags were most often made of ladies' dress silk or dress ribbon. A woman might use new fabric, of course, but if the maker was a girlfriend of fiancee, as opposed to a mother or sister, then she might use fabric clipped from her own dress a way to further personalize the flag. The colors of a 1st national pattern flag included a blue canton and white stars, set in the upper hoist end corner, and a field of three bars, red-white-red. Due to the lack of red silk in the average household, and the likelihood of some pink silk among a woman's effects, pink was often substituted. That was probably the case here, though the top and bottom bars have practically faded the ivory white of the one in-between.

Bible flags are found in all shapes and sizes, and with every star configuration imaginable, but most are small enough to fit in a small Bible, such as a soldier might carry on his person. There was no standard size, however, and sometimes they were larger. Many were small enough to fit in a Civil War cover (a small 19th century envelope used for correspondence in that period) and were mailed to a loved one in the field.

Note the elongated proportions of this particular flag, which is larger than many in its overall scale. Its 13 stars were traced with a blue quilting pencil, but only the center star was finished with embroidery. This and the surrounding wreath of 10 stars represent the 11 states that officially seceded from the Union, plus there are two stars outside the pattern, in the corners, toward the fly end. These represent Missouri and Kentucky, each of which had populations that voted in favor of secession, but failed to achieve it because their respective state legislatures did not ratify the decision. Kentucky and Missouri ended up as Border States, each with split governments, one Union and one Confederate.

The star that was finished--at least in part--was executed in a peculiar fashion. Note how the five triangular arms were embroidered, but the pentagon-shaped center was left open. It's unclear if another color was intended for the center or if the absence of silk floss simply reflects a design choice. In any event, it seems that the maker quit working on the star field, perhaps so that the flag could be given to a soldier who had to depart sooner than he anticipated. The preparations for the prolonged absence of a man in a 19th century household assuredly led to some degree of unexpected work, increased burdens, and/or general disarray.

Along the center white bar is a penciled address that reads: "Miss Lydia A. Grantham, Middleway, Jefferson Co., VA". This flag was glued to a piece of paper, which was apparently mailed to Miss Grantham. One might speculate that it was sent back to her after the soldier who owned it was killed. Further research may reveal answers behind its making and subsequent post.

Records show that Lydia A Watson of Middleway, Virginia, age 32, married Joseph L Grantham, age 18.

Joseph enlisted in May of 1861 into Co F, 16th Va Infantry, A.N.V. He was at Antietam, after which he was listed as sick and a month later, in November, he was listed as A.W.O.L, presumably to get married to Miss Lydia. He returned to his unit and was promoted to Corporal on July 1st, 1863 at Gettysburg. He was promoted again in Dec of 1864 to Srgt and was captured in April of 1865 and confined at City Point, Va.

The town of Middleway was originally established in Jefferson, County, Virginia as "Smithfield" on January 15, 1786, on land owned by John Smith II and William Smith. A post office was established there in 1806, but since there were two towns in Virginia called Smithfield, another name was needed to avoid confusion. Because Smithfield had become a center of commerce between several other towns, its post office became known as "Middleway." The town's history became even more convoluted when Jefferson County was annexed to West Virginia, when it separated from Virginia and became a Free State in 1863. Because the flag is addressed to Virginia, one might suggest that it was made and subsequently mailed in the opening half of the war, before this division took place.

Mounting: The paint-decorated and gilded, rippled profile molding dates to the period between 1830 and 1860. It is an exceptional example with original surface. This is a sandwich mount between 100% cotton and U.V. protective acrylic. The background fabric has been washed to reduce excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose.

Condition: The red (or more likely pink) bars have faded almost to white. There is moderate to significant water staining, accompanied by minor fabric loss throughout, and an area of moderate loss at the end of the top bar.
Collector Level: Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 13
Earliest Date of Origin: 1861
Latest Date of Origin: 1862
State/Affiliation: The Confederacy
War Association: 1861-1865 Civil War
Price: SOLD
 

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