[VAcourier] Help Save the 10th Virginia Infantry Flag and Bring it Home to Virginia

[Virginia Division SCV Communication List]

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
Virginia Division SCV

 

    -------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
    From: <historyed at msn.com>
    To: <historyed at comcast.net>
    Subject: 10th Virginia Infantry Flag
    Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:10:27 +0000
    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
    <http://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.*
    *                        P.O. Box 1*
    *                        Elkton, VA 22827*

    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*
    *Elkton Historical Society, Inc.*
    *Past Commander, Col. D.H.Lee Martz Camp 10 SCV*
    *Harrisonburg, Virginia*
    *(540) 289-9866      (540) 578-3046        historyed at msn.com
    <mailto:historyed at msn.com>*
    ** 
    * *
     

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