Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-03
FLAG AWARD IS MADE TO
MAJOR 0RR|N R. SMITH
North Carolinian Who Recently Died
Declared 10 Have Designed
- Stars and Bars.
DAUGHTER WINS HER FIGHT
For Years Miss Jcssica Smith Has
Contested for This Recognition for
Her Father-Committcc Makes
Exhaustive Study.

Her Father-Committcc Makes
Exhaustive Study.
To the late Major Orren Randolph
Smith. OF LouisburS. y. c.. was ycstcr-
day awarded the credit; for having de-
signed the first nag OF the Confederate
States OF Amer!ca-the stars and
Bars" Tho report Of the committee.
composed of members OF MI allied Con-
federate organizations. was submitted
by General c. Irvine Walker. of sum
mcrville, :. c, chairman. other mcm-
bers who signed tho report are Major
General Thomas Green, Pine Bluff,
Ark, and Ma jor- General John y. lick
man, of Nashville, Tenn.
The chief counter claimant for the
honor was Nicola MarSchall. an artist
who, in 1861. lived in Marion Ala.
and who is now resident OF Louis
VILE. Ky.
The subject has been one OF con-
troversy for many years. and the i'm
vestiCation and conclusions OF the com
nlttee. which was assisted In gather
ing evidence ny committees Of the
Daughters OF the Confedcracy. Sons OF
Confederate Veterans and the Confed-
Grated southern Memorial Associations
are considered of much historic in
terest Tho Veterans report states that
most exhaustive examination of the
whole matter was made
EXHAUSTED ANIMATION
HAS BEEN C0NDTC CITED
The findings arc given in part as
follows:
William Porchor Miles. for the COM
mittee on flag and seal OF the Con-
federacy, made report to the Fro
NiSional Congress Of the Confederate
States. AT Montcomery. Ma. March
!, 1861, and with this report was sub
mitted the selected design for the flag
Mr. Miles reported that something was
conceded by the committee to what
seemed strong desire to retain at
least suggestion of the old star and
Stripes The design submitted by the
committee and subsequently approved
by the congress was practically the
same as the Stars and Stripes. except
that the bars. red. white and red. were
substituted For the thirteen stripes.
The Miles report brought out that
the southern people earnestly loved
the old Union, that they seeded there
from with deep regret when forced 10
do so to maintain their rights MS Il
free people. and that this attachment
was so strong that the conversational
committee was Obliged To recommend
flag closely resembling old Glory"
TWO CLAIMANTS FOIt HONOR
or DESIGNING FLAG
There were two claimants FOR the
honor NJ having designed the stars
and Bars, tho veterans committee
states. and evidence in support of their
claims was presented by ana on behalf
OF each. The claimants We're Major
Orren Randolph smith mow deceased).
OF IouishUrc, y. c. whose claim was
presented by his daughter. Miss les
sica Il. Smith, and Nicola Marscau,
an artist who in 1851 lived In Marion,
Ala, and is now resident 81 louis
Nv
filed by his wife and supplemented hy
Mrs. ChappeN Cory. Of Birmimrham.
Ma. The testimony submitted was con-
sidered from three Viewpoints First.
that of contemporancous or local orin-
ion OF the facts; second that OF the
direct evidenc" az persons other than
the claimants, rs 10 the designing and
submission of the design To the flag
committe Of the Confederate Congress-
and third, that Of statements made
personally by tho claimants
Reviewing the testimony. the report
continues, tho committee nnds:
That IL was the belief i'm 1861. Of
persons residing in the immediate vi
cintty OF the residence Of the claim
ants, that each OF said claimants had
submitted the chosen design.
TESTIMONY FROM
:, Lying WITNESSES
That the la.ly Who made Major
Smiths model, and. four Other persons
who saw her making it. tcstified that
the flag was Major Smiths design, that
1t was sent to the Confederate au-
thorities at Montgomery. ana that IT
was the same as tho Stars and Bars
nag ado7ed ny the Confederate Con-
gress. Claimants Of Mr. Marschall
stated they did not DENY that Major
Smith sent a model To MONTGOMERY.
There is no evidence whatever submit
ted 10 show that auV ncrSOn tcStifyinr