SOLD

Rare Petersburg Citizen’s Confederate Flag Created and Flown During the Siege of Petersburg – This rarely encountered, Confederate third national flag, measuring as follows: frame size – 18.5” x 12”; flag size – 17.75” x 11”, was originally hand painted on what appears to be a coarse linen. Although the mid-19^th lead-based paint has caused some areas of deterioration on the flag, it remains primarily intact and has been archivally mounted and framed to prevent any further condition issues from arising. This flag was obtained when a now deceased Civil War collector and one-time dealer, was stationed at Ft. Lee (just outside of the City of Petersburg) in 1973. The flag was sold to this dealer, at an estate sale conducted at a house at 511 W. Washington St., in Petersburg. This house, then in somewhat rough condition, and now completely restored, was built in 1867, shortly after the end of the Civil War,  by Confederate Veteran, William C. Lumsden. Lumsden had served in the 9^th Va. Infantry, throughout most of the war, The 9^th Va. fought in many conflicts, from Seven Pines to Gettysburg and, after serving in North Carolina, participated in the Battle of Drewry’s Bluff; later the unit was involved in the Petersburg siege, action north of the James River, as well as the Appomattox Campaign. Lumsden was captured during the onset of the Siege of Petersburg, during the famed “Battle of Old Men and Young Boys”, when, on June 9, 1864, a handful of Petersburg citizens and local soldiers, held off the seemingly overwhelming numbers of Union Commander August Kautz’s men, preventing their incursion into Petersburg, thereby initiating nine long months of siege. Lumsden was sent, with other Confederate prisoners, to the infamous Elmira Prison, in Elmira, NY. He was exchanged in October of 1864 and returned to Petersburg to continue his military duties with Major William Henry Hood’s Battalion of Va. Reserves.

This 3^rd National flag is the second flag we have had that originated from the apparent trove of flags and relics that had been stored in the Lumsden house attic, since the 19^th century. The first flag we obtained from the Lumsden house, was an Army of Northern Virginia, St. Andrews’ cross, battle flag, larger in size than this flag, but painted on rough linen, just like this flag (we have included a picture of this flag in this posting). When the ANV flag was purchased, in 1973, the buyer was told, by the descendants of the Lumsden family, who were conducting a sale to remove everything from the house, that the flag had been made by William Lumsden’s wife, Annie Suter Lumsden, during the Siege of Petersburg, and that Mrs. Lumsden had displayed the flag from the house that the Lumdsens then occupied, in Petersburg, in support of the Confederate troops. Lumsden would, after the war, become a successful businessman, working with a fellow ex-Confederate solider, William Tappey, to form Tappey, Lumsden & Company, in Petersburg; this company fabricated machinery for the textile industry. Lumsden, who died in 1886, is buried in the famed Blandford Cemetery Confederate Soldier’s section, in Petersburg, Va. Today, the house he built, just after the cessation of hostilities, in 1867, is completely restored.

On the paper backing of the frame, housing the 3^rd National flag we are offering here, is an old, typed description of the origins and history of the flag, that comports with the background of the ANV flag that also came from the Lumsden house’s attic, as well as an old, black and white photograph of the Lumsden house, in Petersburg.

The following is a complete transcription of the typed description that remains crudely taped to the back of the frame of the 3^rd National flag:

“This is the story I have on the flags, from the person I purchased them from Mr. Allen Bennett of Jackson, Mississippi whom I believe to be perfectly honest and reliable.

 A FEW WORDS TO SET THE STAGE

  It was just not expected, Petersburg and its population of citizens and a few soldiers, came under siege on the night of 15 June 1864. Summer had just begun, and the encircled people little thought that a summer, fall, winter and the beginnings of spring would come and go before the siege would be lifted that distant April second, 1865. Nor did they envision the ravages of war that were to furrow their land and their spirit as the encircling union troops moved slowly across their lifelines, the railroads which supplied their cause. Ever increasing numbers of Confederate troops entered late into the desperate defense, drawing more and more on diminishing supplies. The defense was holding, but defense was not the way to win the war, and spirits buoyed by the recent Union disaster at Cold Harbor sagged as chances of any more victories diminished.

   The people of Petersburg did what they could; the women often tending the sick and wounded housed in the warehouse near the river. Quiet determination marked the women’s faces, giving courage to the men who held the Yankees at bay. The women made and wore strips of red and white cloth sewn into symbols of the miniature symbols of the confederate flag. And from the windows or tied to the front fences of their homes, they flew numerous Confederate flags and one must now wonder about their feelings — praying for the miracle that never happened.

   One of the people who lived through the siege of Petersburg was a saver. Their attic, opened for the first time in a hundred years, was just put up for sale. It yielded some of the finest human interest relics ever seen. Among these items were a few (14) tattered CONFEDERATE FLAGS displayed as described in the little story above. These are the ones I have been selling. It is reasonable to assume these are all that will be available in the future. In addition to the flags a few odds and ends were found in the attic – a wooden canteen, and several other artifacts which the finder and owner of the flags retained. This is the story I have on the flags. In conclusion the home in which the flags were found still stands and I understand found photographed in one of the civil war books.

   I am enclosing one of the photographs I had copies made and short story of the original owner of the home as follows:

  A Pvt .W. C. Lumsden, 9^th Va. Inf. and wife lived at the home which was located at 511 -Washington St. – ( and still is ) Petersburg, Va. Pvt. Lumsden at least during the siege was a Prisoner of War at Yankee prison at Elmira, N.Y. His wife being a very patriotic rebel lady had and displayed these flags and they were found in the attic of this home recently. “

This is indeed a very rare and highly unusual Confederate flag, never intended for direct military use, but rather used as a display of ardent support and patriotism, during the longest siege in U.S. military history. The flag is a great size for display, completely stabilized and framed, ready for hanging. As mentioned, remaining affixed to the back of the frame is an old, typed summary of the details of the history and ultimate sale of the flag.  Accompanying the flag is a compendium of research about Lumsden, his wartime service, his wife and supportive letters detailing the original purchase and trail of possession that we had when we owned the Lumsden ANV flag, which are supportive of the provenance of this flag, as well.

William C. Lumsden

9th VA Infantry

9th Regiment, Virginia Infantry

OVERVIEW:

9th Infantry Regiment completed its organization at Portsmouth, Virginia, in July, 1861. Its members were from Portsmouth and the counties of Roanoke, Chesterfield, Isle of Wight, Nansemond, Lunenburg, Dinwiddie, and Norfolk. The regiment served in the Department of Norfolk and in June, 1862, totalled 435 men. During the war it was attached to General Armistead’s, Barton’s, and Steuart’s Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It fought in many conflicts from Seven Pines to Gettysburg and after serving in North Carolina participated in the Battle of Drewry’s Bluff. Later the unit was involved in the Petersburg siege north of the James River and the Appomattox Campaign. It lost 9 killed, 34 wounded, and 23 missing of the 150 at Malvern Hill, and of the 318 engaged at Gettysburg more than half were disabled. The unit reported 47 casualties at Drewry’s Bluff, and many captured at Five Forks and Sayler’s Creek, and surrendered 2 officers and 37 men on April 9, 1865. Its field officers were Colonels David J. Godwin, James J. Phillips, and Francis H. Smith; Lieutenant Colonels James S. Gilliam, John T.L. Preston, and William J. Richardson; and Majors Stapleton Crutchfield, Makr B. Hardin, and John C. Owens.

The 9th Virginia Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia.

The 9th Virginia completed its organization at Portsmouth, Virginia, in July, 1861. Its members were from Portsmouth and the counties of Roanoke, Chesterfield, Isle of Wight, Nansemond, Lunenburg, Dinwiddie, and Norfolk.

The regiment served in the Department of Norfolk and in June, 1862, totalled 435 men. During the war it was attached to General Armistead’s, Barton’s, and Steuart’s Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia.

It fought in many conflicts from Seven Pines to Gettysburg and after serving in North Carolina participated in the Battle of Drewry’s Bluff. Later the unit was involved in the Petersburg siege north of the James River and the Appomattox Campaign.

It lost 9 killed, 34 wounded, and 23 missing of the 150 at Malvern Hill, and of the 318 engaged at Gettysburg more than half were disabled. The unit reported 47 casualties at Drewry’s Bluff, and many captured at Five Forks and Sayler’s Creek, and surrendered 2 officers and 37 men on April 9, 1865.

Its field officers were Colonels David J. Godwin, James J. Phillips, and Francis H. Smith; Lieutenant Colonels James S. Gilliam, John T. L. Preston, and William J. Richardson; and Majors Stapleton Crutchfield, Mark B. Hardin, and John C. Owens.

William C. Lumsden

Family Members

Spouse

Annie Suter Lumsden

1829–1894 (m. 1844)

Children

Fannie Rowlett Lumsden West

1853–1907

William C. Lumsden

9th VA Infantry

9th Virginia Infantry

The 9th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia.

The 9th Virginia completed its organization at Portsmouth, Virginia, in July, 1861. Its members were from Portsmouth and the counties of Roanoke, Chesterfield, Isle of Wight, Nansemond, Lunenburg, Dinwiddie, and Norfolk.

The regiment served in the Department of Norfolk and in June, 1862, totalled 435 men. During the war it was attached to General Armistead’s, Barton’s, and Steuart’s Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia.

It fought in many conflicts from Seven Pines to Gettysburg and after serving in North Carolina participated in the Battle of Drewry’s Bluff. Later the unit was involved in the Petersburg siege north of the James River and the Appomattox Campaign.

It lost 9 killed, 34 wounded, and 23 missing of the 150 at Malvern Hill, and of the 318 engaged at Gettysburg more than half were disabled. The unit reported 47 casualties at Drewry’s Bluff, and many captured at Five Forks and Sayler’s Creek, and surrendered 2 officers and 37 men on April 9, 1865.

Its field officers were Colonels David J. Godwin, James J. Phillips, and Francis H. Smith; Lieutenant Colonels James S. Gilliam, John T.L. Preston, and William J. Richardson; and Majors Stapleton Crutchfield, Makr B. Hardin, and John C. Owens.

William C. Lumsden Private of the Confederate Army