There Really is an “Old Glory”

Did you know there really is an American flag named "Old Glory"? A homemade flag made by his mother and her friends was given to a ship's captain named William Driver in 1824 as a birthday present. It was given to him right before he started his navy career as a ship’s captain.  Captain Driver used that flag on his ship until he retired in 1837.  He moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he displayed the flag he named “Old Glory” outside of his home.  

When Tennessee left the Union during the Civil War many Southerners remembered Captain Driver’s flag.  Driver worried that the flag would be taken after two attempts were made to confiscate it. Captain Driver asked his daughter and other relatives to hide the American flag inside a quilt. His daughter must have done a good job hiding it because the flag was missed during many raids on the captain's house searching for the flag.  In 1862, Union troops led by the Sixth Ohio entered the city. When the Captain saw the Union soldiers he ran to the man in charge, General William “Bull” Nelson carrying the quilt.  He asked Nelson to fly the flag on the statehouse flagpole.  Which General Nelson did.  The soldiers of the Sixth Ohio were so moved they added “Old Glory” as their motto.

Tennessee would be taken by the Confederates again and the flag would be hidden again.  And in 1864 when Tennessee was once again liberated by the Union, “Old Glory” could be seen proudly flying.

Captain William Driver died March 3, 1886.  The flag was passed down to family members and was eventually given to the Smithsonian Institute where it is now displayed under glass.   I know because I have seen it there.

Other than a flag, what symbols represent America?  Email me or let me know during class.