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The following e-mail was sent out on the Virginia Courier on October 26, 2008 by Division Cmdr. John Sawyer in an attempt to pass on vital information about the auction of the 10th VA battleflag. A matter I consider of great importance is the auction of the 10th VA battle flag which is scheduled for auction in Ohio on December 3. I feel that it is vitally important that we make every attempt from the camp level to the national level to secure this flag and bring it home to Virginia. Ed Billhimer, President of the Elkton Historical Society and Past Commander of the Col. D.H. Lee Martz Camp #10, was recently interviewed by a local Valley radio station concerning the possible purchase and bidding on the flag in December. Listed below is a link to that interview (keep in mind that the actual interview is about half way through the sound clip): http://shenandoahvalley.com/home/images/stories/audio/20081024-SVR-Oct24-Oct31.mp3 Please pass this information on to camp members and consider making a donation or sponsoring a fund-raising event to help the Col D.H. Lee Martz Camp #10 and the Elkton Historical Society, Inc. raise the funds necessary to bring this beloved battle flag back home to the Shenandoah Valley where it belongs. We have less than 2 months to spread the word to as many people as possible. John Sawyer,
Commander -------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
The Elkton Historical Society and Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp #10 is asking the community to help bring an important piece of Rockingham County's history and heritage back home where it belongs. On December 3, 2008 Cowan's Auctions of Cincinatti, Ohio is offering the famed 10th Virginia Volunteer Infantry battleflag to the highest bidder. This important flag is being sold as part of a lot which also includes CDVs of the Miller brothers of Conrads Store (now Elkton) and other yet to be cataloged items from the family. The Miller brothers served with distinction in the Confederate army during The War Between the States. S.P.H. Miller was with the Elk Run Greys Militia and later the 7th Virginia Cavalry. Hiram Harrison Miller and Sgt. Joseph George Harnsberger "J.G.H." Miller both served in Company I, 10th Virginia Volunteer Infantry. During General Lee's surrender at Appomattox, VA our Confederate soldiers were ordered to "stack their arms a nd surrender their flags". Sgt. J.G.H. Miller, after seeing scores of his men die and suffer under the regimental flag throughout the war, didn't have the heart to surrender his beloved flag so he carefully folded it and hid it under his uniform jacket. Sgt. Miller returned to his home at Conrads Store and tried to piece his life back together as best he could. The 10th Virginia battleflag remained in the family for over 110 years before an unsuspecting ancestor sold the flag, along with the other family heirlooms, to a fellow who paid her less than $100 for the lot. Now, 143 years after the end of The War Between the States, the beloved 10th Virginia Infantry battleflag is being sold in the open market. If not acquired now it could end up in California or even England, never to return to the Valley where it belongs. Visit www.geocities.com/zedwhit1/10thvainf.html to see an image of the flag. A preauction estimate of the sale price places the value of the flag and accompanying items at $175,000 to $220,000. It is urgent that the community and the Commonwealth of Virginia help financially in the efforts to bring these historically important items home. Those wishing to contribute "any amount" to this worthy cause can send a check to: Elkton Historical Society, Inc. In the event that the purchase of the flag is not successfully purchased contributions will be refunded upon request or may be redirected to the historical society's planned purchase of the old Conrads Store building, Elkton's namesake during the war. Ed "Casey" Billhimer,
President Note: The flag was not sold at the auction so there is still hope that it may return to Virginia. |
