Hardee Pattern Battle Flag of the 9th Kentucky (formerly 5th KY) Volunteer Infantry and Martially Marked M1851 Colt Navy Revolver – Col. John W. Caldwell – The flag and revolver, both of which we obtained directly from a descendant of Col Caldwell, have resided in the family since the death of Col. Caldwell in 1903. The flag, an extremely rare Hardee pattern Confederate flag, is constructed of hand sewn cotton, with a blue field and white circular disc in the center; there is a heavy, folded cotton canvas hoist. On the blue field is this painted regimental designation:

“9^th

Formerly the

5^th KY”

Also painted on the blue field are battle honors; above the center disc is:

“SHILOH”

Below the disc is painted:

“VICKSBURG            BATON-ROUGE”

Renown flag expert, the late Howard Madaus, had examined the flag in 1989 and compiled an analytical sheet that is included in this posting. According to family lore, the flag was never surrendered; at the end of the war, it was taken home by Col. Caldwell, the 9^th Kentucky’s last commander. Caldwell also took his New York address, M1851 Colt Navy home, as well; the revolver has all matching numbers, including the wedge – (67096 – manufactured in 1857 under U.S. Army contract); it is martially marked with the “US” above the Colt designation on the frame, as well as evidencing a US Government cartouche on the grip and inspector’s letters on some of the metallic elements; the pistol remains in overall good condition with some traces of case hardening and an overall “plum gray” finish; the cylinder indexes, and there remains some substantial cylinder scene.  Carved in the grip and stamped in some of the metallic elements of the revolver are the initials “JB” – we believe that these are the initials of Col. Caldwell’s brother-in-law, Joseph Barclay. Barclay, at the onset of the war was in Chicago, performing with Col. Elmer Ellsworth’s drill team; Barclay immediately returned to his home in Russellville, Kentucky and became a Confederate Major. This rare flag has retained strong condition, exhibiting some relatively minor stress pulls and resultant holes; it has been archivally framed. The flag is the only known surviving Hardee pattern battle flag of any of the “Orphan Brigade” regiments. The flag has been discussed in Geoff Walden’s “Battle Flags of the Orphan Brigade” published in 1990.

Accompanying the flag and pistol is a framed group of Caldwell related ephemera including his Confederate commission to his colonelcy, a postwar image, his postwar attorney business card and a card advocating his election to Congress; there is also a small oil painting of Caldwell’s Russellville, Kentucky home, housed in an interesting folk art frame.

Measurements: Flag – 33.25” (Hoist); 54” (Fly); 1.75” (Canvas hoist)

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CALDWELL, John William, a Representative from Kentucky; born in Russellville, Logan County, Ky., January 15, 1837; attended the common schools and Bethel College; moved with his uncle to Texas in 1850, where he worked on a farm; engaged as a clerk and as a surveyor; returned to Kentucky and studied law in the Louisville University; was admitted to the bar in 1858 and commenced practice in Russellville, Ky.; volunteered as a private in the Confederate Army in 1861 and was immediately elected captain of the “Logan Grays”; promoted to major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel of the Ninth Regiment, Kentucky Infantry; resumed the practice of law in Russellville in 1865; elected judge of the Logan County Court in 1866 and reelected in 1870; elected as a Democrat to the Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, and Forty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1877-March 3, 1883); declined to be a candidate for reelection; president of the Logan County Bank; died in Russellville, Ky., July 4, 1903; interment in Maple Grove Cemetery.

John William Caldwell (January 15, 1837 – July 4, 1903) was a U.S. representative from Kentucky.

Early life and family

John W. Caldwell was born in Russellville, Kentucky, on January 15, 1837. He was the son of Austin and Louisa (Harrison) Caldwell. Austin Caldwell died in 1843, leaving John Caldwell as his only living child. With the duties of caring for his father’s estate, Caldwell was only able to attend the common schools of Logan and Christian Counties until age fourteen. In 1850, he moved with his uncle, Dr. Robert Peyton Harrison, to Texas, where he worked on a farm, as a clerk, and as a surveyor.

At age nineteen, Caldwell returned to Kentucky. He studied law with William Morton, a well-known lawyer in his family. In 1856, he matriculated to the University of Louisville School of Law, completing a junior year course of study with honors. He graduated from the university in 1857, was admitted to the bar in 1858, and commenced practice in Russellville, Kentucky.

Caldwell married Sallie J. Barclay, and the couple had one son and two daughters.

Civil War service

Although he opposed secession, Caldwell volunteered as a private in the Confederate States Army in 1861. He was immediately elected captain of the “Logan Grays”, a Confederate company being recruited in Logan County. When Confederate forces under Simon Bolivar Buckner entered Kentucky, Caldwell led the Grays to Bowling Green, where they became Company A of the 9th Kentucky Infantry under John C. Breckinridge. After Albert Sidney Johnson‘s retreat from Bowling Green, Caldwell commanded the 9th Kentucky until relieved by Colonel Thomas H. Hunt on his return from New Orleans, Louisiana.

At the Battle of Shiloh, Caldwell received several wounds, including a badly broken left arm.^[3] Sixty-five percent of his company was killed or wounded in the battle. Following the battle, he was promoted to major, and when the 9th Kentucky was reorganized six weeks later, he was elected its lieutenant colonel. Thomas H. Hunt resigned his commission in 1863, and Caldwell was promoted to colonel and given command. He sometimes also commanded the Orphan Brigade.

Caldwell again broke his left arm at the Battle of Chickamauga.^[3] Because of this, the Board of Army Surgeons offered him a medical retirement, but he declined, rejoining his regiment in Dalton, Georgia, two weeks later. At the end of the war, he surrendered his forces at Washington, Georgia, and was paroled as a prisoner of war on May 6, 1865.

Political career

Caldwell resumed the practice of law in Russellville. He was elected judge of the Logan County Court in August 1866 and reelected in 1870, serving eight years. Two years after his retirement from the bench, he was elected as a Democrat to represent the Third District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He served in the Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, and Forty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883). He was known as an advocate of home rule, tariff reform, hard money, and conservatism in public expenditures. Due to ill health, he declined to be a candidate for reelection although he faced no Republican opposition for the seat.

Later life and death

After his time in Congress, Caldwell did not return to his legal practice, but became president of the Logan County Bank. He died in Russellville on July 4, 1903, and was interred in Maple Grove Cemetery.

John W. Caldwell – U.S. Congressman. Educated at Bethel College, he moved to Texas in 1850, worked on a farm, and also engaged as a clerk and as a land surveyor. Returning to Kentucky in 1856, he studied law at Louisville University, was admitted to the bar in 1858 and commenced the practice of law in Russellville, Kentucky. Although opposing Kentucky’s seccession at the advent of the Civil War, he rose to Colonel in command of the 9th Kentucky Infantry, Confederate Army. After the war, he resumed the practice of law and was elected judge of the Logan County Court, serving (1866-85). In 1877, he was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, and Forty-seventh Congresses, serving until 1883. Declining to be a candidate for reelection due to illness, he served as president of the Logan County Bank until his death.

John William Caldwell Veteran  Memorial

Birth

15 Jan 1837

Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky, USA

Death

4 Jul 1903 (aged 66)

Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky, USA

Burial

Maple Grove Cemetery

Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky

Joseph Crews Barclay

Birth

16 Jul 1838

Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky, USA

Death

19 May 1924 (aged 85)

Carlinville, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA

Burial

Maple Grove Cemetery

Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky

Joseph was the son of Hugh Barclay and his wife Ann Lavina Hall, who lived near Russellville, Kentucky on their large farm. Joseph went to Chicago when a young man where he joined Ellsworth’s Zouaves, but at the outbreak of the Civil War he returned to Kentucky and served as a drill master with the rank of Major. He married twice, first to Annie Dulaney, July 8, 1862, on her father’s farm, Cloud Spring near Bowling Green. Annie died at the age of 22 on June 10, 1865. Joseph married Mary Ronald on October 5, 1871, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Data Sheet Created by Howard Madaus in 1989: