Forsyth County Historical Association
Forsyth County, North Carolina
|
The FCHA would like to invite you to share any family Court Records, Deeds, Wills, etc
that you may have. For more information on how you can donate your records, just
send an email to FCHA .
|
SEPTEMBER 14, 1930 – WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
First Forsyth County Flag
Book Tells History of standard carried in 1861
An interesting bit of history surrounding the making of the first Forsyth county flag to be carried
by the Boys in Gray in the Civil War is contained in a volume published by the North Carolina
Women of the Confederacy and written by Mrs. John Huske Anderson, historian of the NC
Confederacy. A copy of the volume has been presented to the Winston-Salem Public Library
and is available to members.
Here is the excerpt about the flag:
“The first flag of Forsyth county was made for company 1, Captain A.H. Belo. It was made by
Misses Bettie and Laura Lemly, Nellie Belo, Carry and Mary Fries. It was made of red, white
and blue silk, and was embroidered in all large letters, with [? ], the white side, with the words,
“Liberty or Death”. After the war, Colonel Belo settled in Texas which accounts for the fact that
after his death his widow presented the flag to the Texas Room in the Confederate Museum at
Richmond, Va.”
“The second flag was made for the company commanded by Captain Rufus Wharton. It was
carried in several battles; was concealed on the person of its Captain at the fall of Plymouth,
and was brought home when he was exchanged. It was presented to the Wachovia historical
society of Winston-Salem several years ago by Mrs. Blythe of Philadelphia.”
“Both of these flags were presented to the companies of the Forsyth Rifles by Miss Bettie Lemly
(later Mrs. Blacknail Brooks of Salem), being carried by Miss Laura Lemly (who never married)
and Mary Fries [married Rufus Lenoir Patterson]. The ceremony took place at the corner of
Main and Bank Streets, the young ladies standing on the steps leading to the entrance of what
is now known as the Belo home, then a private residence belonging to Captain Belo’s father.
Miss Sarah E. Shaffner remembers passing just at the time for the presentation of the first flag,
and being touched and thrilled by the sight of Miss Lemly making the presentation speech to
Captain Belo and his company.”
Submitted by Betsy L. Hendrix
First Forsyth County Flag