{"id":1116,"date":"2014-05-15T08:31:46","date_gmt":"2014-05-15T12:31:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/?p=1116"},"modified":"2014-05-10T08:43:00","modified_gmt":"2014-05-10T12:43:00","slug":"flag-talk-150-years-ago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/flag-talk-150-years-ago\/","title":{"rendered":"Flag talk 150 years ago"},"content":{"rendered":"

In May 1864, 150 years ago, President Lincoln was still immersed in the Civil War. Although the key victories of Gettysburg and Vicksburg had passed, a full year of the conflict still lay ahead. That month was also a time of flags for the Great Emancipator.<\/p>\n

\"Green<\/a>
Green Clay Smith<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In mid-May, supporters of the president gathered to promote his election for a second term. One of them was Green Clay Smith, who served as a congressman from Kentucky, led troops as a major general, became governor of Montana and was ordained a Baptist minister.<\/p>\n

A newspaper reported in May 1864 that some people \u201cmight think it strange that he, a Kentuckian, should [speak for the Union], but he was speaking from love of country\u2026.His heart came out with all the feeling of affection and kindness that was possible for many an humble soul now oppressed [in the South] in whose breasts is but one sentiment, that of love for country, and one desire, that the old flag come again and rescue them from Southern Tyranny.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Young<\/a>
Young soldier with flag<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That same month, a Union soldier named Thomas Wolfe Jr. wrote to his father in England about life in the service. \u201cI am now going right into battle,\u201d he said, \u201cand I pray God that he will be with me and guide me and if it is his will that I should die, I feel that I shall go to the bright world above where there is peace forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom, who had left England, sailed to Canada and crossed the U.S. border to join the Army, also shared with his dad these lyrics: \u201cHurrah Boys Hurrah\/Down with the traitor\/Up with the stars\/for we will rally\/\u2018round the flag boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cFather, I love this old flag. I would fight to uphold it till the last drop of blood in me was shed. I have\u2026seen the wounded and dying\u2026.And when agony and pain have discouraged them, if they can but see that starry banner once more, it brings their spirits up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Libby<\/a>
Libby Prison<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shortly after writing his dad, Tom was captured and placed in Libby Prison in Richmond. His father pled with Lincoln to find a way to free his POW child who loved Old Glory.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf our boy cannot be exchanged,\u201d Wolfe Sr. wrote, \u201cif we could hear that he was well cared for and was still alive it would do us good and calm a dear mother\u2019s troubled mind.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In May 1864, 150 years ago, President Lincoln was still immersed in the Civil War. Although the key victories of Gettysburg and Vicksburg had passed, a full year of the conflict still lay ahead. That month was also a time of flags for the Great Emancipator. In mid-May, supporters of the president gathered to promote… continue<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[43,151,19],"class_list":["post-1116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-history-lessons","tag-civil-war","tag-old-glory","tag-patriotism"],"yoast_head":"\nFlag talk 150 years ago - Gettysburg Flag Works Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/flag-talk-150-years-ago\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Flag talk 150 years ago - Gettysburg Flag Works Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In May 1864, 150 years ago, President Lincoln was still immersed in the Civil War. 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