The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-06-03
DESIGNED STARS AND BARS"
Credit is Awarded to Late Major 0rren
Randolph Smith of No. Carolina.

NdHuOlpH Smlln OF NO. OdIoliHd.
Richmond, Va, June 3.-The credit for
having designed the first flag OF the con-
! federate states-the "Stars and Bars
is awarded to the late Major Orren Ran
dolph Smith, OF Louisburg, North Caro-
, lima, by the United Confederate Vet
erans' committee, appointed to investi-
gate the matter. The report of the COM
mittee was submitted to the reunion
here yesterday by General G. Irvine
Walker. Of Summerville, S. G., chair
man. Other members of the committee
who signed the report were Major-Gen-
ieral Thomas Green, Pine Bluff, Ark, and
ajor- General John r. Hickman, Nash
4 Vile, Tenn.
The subject has been one of coEtrover-
Icy for many years and the investigation
land conclusion of the committee, which
was assisted in gathering evidence by
committees of the Daughters OF the Con-
federacy, Sons of Confederated Southern
Memorial association, are considered of
much historic interest. The veterans re-
port states that most exhaustive ex-
lamination OF the whole matter was made
| The findings are given in part as follows:
| William Porcher Miles, for the COM
mittee on flag and seal of the confeder-
acy, made report to the provisional con-
gress of the confederate states, at Mont
gcmery, Ala, March 4, 1851, and with
this report was submitted the selected
design for the flag. Mr. Miles reported
! that something was conceded by the
committee TO what seemed a strong de-
10 IA, NJ ,rf nf hal
old stars and stripes The design sub
mitted by the committee and subse-
quently 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 thir-
teen stripes.
''The Miles report brought out that
the southern people earnestly loved the
old union; that they seeded therefrom
with deep regret when forced to do so
tn maintain their rights as free peo-
pie and that this attachment was so
strong that the congressional committee
was obliged to recommend flag close
" resembling old Glory"
There were two claimants for the hon
or of having designed the stars and bars,
the veterans committee states, and evil |
dence in support of their claims was
presented by and on behalf of each. The
claimants were Major Orren Randolph /
Smith. fnow deceased of Louisburg. n.
c., whose claim was presented by his
daughter, Miss Jessica r. Smith, and
Nicola Marshall, an artist, who in 1861
lived in Marion. Ala, and is now a res
ident of Louisville, Ky. Mr.. Marschalfs
claim was filed by his wife and supple
mented by Mrs. Chappell Cory OF Biz
mingham, Ala. The testimony submit
ted was considered from three view
points: First, that of contemporansous,
or local opinion of the facts; second, that
OF the direct evidence of persons, other
than the claimants, as TO the. designing
and submission OF the design to the
flag committee of the confederate CON
gress. and third. that of statements made
by the claimants.
Reviewing the testimony, the report
continues. the committee finds;
That it was the belief, in 1851, OF
persons residing in the immediate vicini-
ty OF the residence of the claimants, that
each of said claimants he'd submitted
the chosen design.
That the lady who made Major !
Smiths model and four other persons, {
saw her making il. testified that the ,
flag was Major Smiths design, that Il j
sas sent TO the confederate authorities ,
At Montgomery and that il was the same
A. the stars and bars flag adopted by
he confederate congress. Claimants OF
Mr. Marshall stated they did not deny
hat Major Smith sent a model TO Mont \
yomery There is no evidence whatever
submitted 60 show that any person tes-
ifying except MFR. Marshall. himself,
,ver saw his model. or Of their own 2
.nowledce knew that such was made. or G
hat il was handed to the confederate I
congressional committee.
your committee j. not. from the evi.
lence before Il. convinced that Mr.. Mars ["
hall ever submitted a design tor the u
lar. The evidence does show that Ma
~ smith did submit a design Your =
ommittee i convinced that Major smith 9
ia submit design. A. the design ?
which the congressional committee sub
nitted with ts report. which VAS adopt {
4. ile etidence most clearly shows 10
r. the same a. Major smiths design. Z
- reasonable 30 conclude tlst Major
ninth submitted the design Of the stare
M bars Gag u the confederate staies.
Your eommntee would Therefore - \
oit. sftsr most careful consideration
Nd thorough investigation. that the hon !,
p 81 having desigusd the first Gag Of :
10 confederate states. known ~ Tire
star and Bare = due and should " 4
uarded " the nitra C0ufedsrHte Vet
rnns 20 the isfe Major orrrn Randolph
with. ~ lleui.tlurr \. a..
The committee trnnstufts Nth ths - !.
aff . trnrarrirst ~ 81 tho etadaurr and
n 1919 - a. 4.stsss.s tesu -