Restored Civil War Flag Finds Home at Southern Museum

A rare Army of Tennessee regimental flag, complete with bullet holes and blood stains, will go on permanent display at the in downtown Kennesaw beginning July 24.

According to a release from the city, the flag was donated by Don Davis, Rhonda Davis Nesmith and Pete Davis. It had been in the Davis family for 145 years after being brought home by Private John Davis of the 65th Georgia Infantry Regiment, who served as the unit color bearer. Private Davis is the great-great grandfather of the current Davis generation.

The flag was carried by its unit throughout the entire Atlanta campaign, including the Battle of Franklin, TN on November 30, 1864, an engagement in which one quarter of the 27,000-man army was killed or wounded in three hours. The flag avoided being surrendered at the end of the war because Private Davis rolled it up and tucked it into his boot to save it from capture or destruction, the release said.

The flag underwent a thorough conservation process at Textile Preservation in West Virginia in preparation for permanent display. For more information or to make a donation, contact Melinda Senn at 770-427-2117.