When They Raised the Flag at Ansonville
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A small container with log and swag placed to commemorate an important event in Ansonville's history; an event that shows just how controversial secession from the union was prior to the civil war.
When you watch movies like "Gone With The Wind", they make it look like every southerner was happy to leave the United States and join the Confederacy. The opposite was closer to the truth, especially in North Carolina, which was the second to the last of the 11 confederate states to leave the U.S. Secession was VERY controversial among the people of North Carolina. An incident described by General W.A. Smith in The North Carolina Booklet of History, Volume 16, entited "The Raising and Taking Down Of The Flag At Ansonville in February 1861" illustrates this fact.
On February 2, 1861, four Ansonville men fashioned a new flag of secession, "These young men of the village were very desirous of North Carolina to follow the other seceded states, and so, on the evening of February 1st, prepared a flag.....Having no bunting, they made the flag of calico, with two large stars at the head marked SC and Miss, abbreviations for South Carolina and Mississippi, the first two states to sever their relations with Washington. From these stars led alternating stripes of red, white and blue; and in the lower corner at the tail end was another star of like proportions half turned down and marked NC, representing North Carolina, faint and drooping, hanging her head in dishonor, disgrace and shame. In large letters at the top of the flag was the word 'Secession'."
The flag was hung in the rafters of an unfinished store overnight, and "early on the morning of Feb 2nd, was seen by many villagers hanging in the breeze. Almost unanimous was the sentiment of opposition. Indignation prevailed and talk of cutting it down freely indulged, the makers not daring to disclose themselves." Overnight, the flag was cut down and destroyed.
On February 3rd, people of the town who were for secession, on seeing that their flag had been vandalized "made a larger flag, similar in design, with like stars and same motto. This flag was unfurled in the afternoon in the same place." This flag was seemingly as controversial as the first. "A few walked underneath its folds with hats off, others and far the greater number, would not walk underneath the flag or even allow its shadow to fall on them."
As news of the events in Ansonville reached the surrounding communities, people who were both for and against secession came into town to see it. "Many, very many, who approved of the destruction of the first flag spoke of taking this one down and tearing it to pieces." However "about ten young men, armed with guns, told the crowd that they would fight for this flag, that it was a free country, and that it should not be torn down."
"The flag was guarded that night, and every night until the sentiment against it had cooled down.....No further attempts were made against the flag.....When the Anson Guards, which was the first company of the state to offer its services (after North Carolina finally seceded and joined the civil war) left for the front, this flag was committed and sent with them to be presented to Governor Ellis" the Governor of North Carolina at the time. "Searches among the state archives has failed to recover this flag."
For years, the store where the flag was raised was avoided by some who lived in Ansonville. "Indignant and in disgust, they drove to Wadesboro, some ten miles distant, to do their shopping."
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