Georgia's flag. [from the Augusta, Ga., Herald, February, 1901.]
Replaced stars and Stripes before Sumter was fired on.A flag which forms a part of the decoration of the office of R. E. Allen will be an object of interest to every visitor and every citizen of Augusta. The flag is a plain white one, with a red star in the center, emblematic of Georgia, which, at the time the banner was first unfurled to the breezes, was an independent State, having by act of legislature broken the bonds uniting her to the United States government, and not having at that time become an integral part of the Confederate States of America. The flag is no other than the one which was run up on the flagstaff at the arsenal when that post was captured by the State militia, and the stars and stripes were pulled down from the place of honor. The flag was the first one placed by an independent government in the South, and takes precedence over the claims made by other States and cities. Those were stirring times. South Carolina had seceded in December, Mississippi and Alabama had followed, and on January 19, 1861, the legislature of Georgia, in session at Milledgeville, severed its connection with the Union, and it became a sovereign and independent State. On the 21st the official hand and seal of Governor Joe Brown war fixed to the proclamation, and on the 22nd the Chief Executive reached Augusta. There was a hurrying to and fro of the military officers of the city and a gathering of the forces. Waynesboro was also communicated with, and up from Burke came two companies to take part in the [237] first victory against the Federal troops, which, however, was without conflict, and the first flag was not born with a baptism of blood. On the 23rd Governor Brown made a formal demand on Captain Arnold Elzey, of the 2nd United States Artillery, in command of the arsenal, that the post be turned over to him. In his demand he stated that Georgia was no longer a part of the general government, and, while she desired to be on good terms with the United States, the arsenal was needed by this State, and an armed force of an alien nation would not be tolerated within her borders. After communication with Washington Captain Elzey held a parley and agreed to evacuate, his troops being allowed to march out with the honors of war and to leave the State without molestation. This was agreed to, and on January 24, 1861, nearly three months before the guns were trained on Fort Sumter, the surrender of the arsenal was made, and a new flag supplanted the one of the republic. [From the New Orleans Picayune, September 20, 1903.]
