The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1917-09-20
FLAG CHRISTENED
"OLD GLORY" IN 1862

FLAG CHRISTENED
"OLD GLORY" IN 1867
Sea Captain Coined the Popular
Phrase During the War Between
the States. -
"Old Glory" the popular name fol
the American flag, was first applied
to the national emblena in Nashville,
Tenn, on February 25, 1862, by a
Salem (Mass.) sea captain, William
Driver, according to Robert s. Ran
tout, in volume 81 of "Historieal Col
lcctions," now preserved in the Es-
Sex Institute. Popular belief has had
il heretofore that "0ld Glory" was
first so named y one of the original
thirteen states. Contemporary proof,
says Mr.. Randoul in his historical
works, give evidence that this pdpu-
lar name was not used until the Civil
War, and then in Nashville
Some authorities, including the
American Encyclopedia, gives the
naming as early as 1881, when Cap
t4in Driver was about to san from
Salem for Southern Pacific ports.
According to these, a number OF
young friends of tho seafaring man
camn to his small vessel the day Of
sailing. saluted him and presented
him with an American fla GLE raised
the beautiful emblem to the peak of
the mast, and as the Stars and
Stripes were flung to the breeze Cap
tain Driver is said to have raised his
cap and christened the flag "Old
Glory" The naming is best told in
the Salem, (Mass.,) News, and the
history Of the expression is given as
follows:
"Cantain Driver was born in Salem,
Marlh II, 1903. The flag which be-
camo historic while in his possession
was presented to him on the sailing
of the brig Charles Doggett, which
he commanded from Salem in 1881,
and this was the FLAG he flew when
he effected, during that voyage, the
rescue Of the colony of the mutineers
If the British ship Bounty and their
descendants at Tahiti and reqtored
them to their homes on Pitcairn Island
The civil WAN found Captain Driver
4 retirod ship master living in Nash
Vile,
"Despite his absence from his
northern home. he was still q Union
man in sentiments. openly and
staunehly espouslng the Union cause,
sven at the outbreak of hostilitles.
Even in his own family his loyal SEN
timents did not awaken sympathy.
Although he never feared for his own
safety. nevertheless he
tremblod for his priced ensign! for
All the city knew his predictions,
and the great flag, which he cher
ishod rs one of the mementos OF his
seafaring DAYS, had flown from his
windows on. every public occasion
durino his residence in the Tennessee
city. The history of the prized col
oe,s was a matter of nublic knowl-
adgc and everv Confederate Nash
ville felt that it beh"oved him per
sonally to get possession Of the flag
as prize of war. The Driver house
and grounds were searched.
"No flag was Forthcoming. Know
ing that he could not keep his priced
bunting by force from falling into
tho hands of his enemies. the crafty
and resourceful mariner had recourse
% st~atagems Stewardship in his
time included hardness with the
needle This dexterity hnlned him
through the emergency With deft-
ness that would have done credit
- fire president Of a sewing circle
IN New ENGLAND, he opened up the
1uilt on his bed folded his flag
smoothly inside, with one or two 9th
~ relics and 'artfullv sewed up the
eoverlet and quilted it again
February 2F 1862 the Federal
,roops entered Nashville The Stars
md Stripes resumed their place ov-
" the state eapitol. When Captain
Driver saw this he FASTENED home and
rihping open the bed quilt took his
sd flag ont of its snug resting
place ard besoueht of the Federal
permission to raise the
historic ENSIGN with his own hands.
y nlace If the colors which had BEEN
olaced there. These CHANGED to, be
hn regimental colors of the Sixth
ohio. a small but beautiful FLAG. He
vas givea an escort to bring. the flag
in safety to the caDitol. A corporaps
ruard swNs sent to his house and the
lanner, said to have contained ITO
vards Of buntin0. was taken from it's
,iding Mace, THROUGH the streets to
he headquarters. The old man him
elf raised it and then. with tears
n his eyes. said tn the officers;
"OLD GLORY is UP"
"Tberel Those Texas Rangers
lave been huntino for that those six
without finding it. and thew
ynew / had it. have always said
L could sec it float over that capi-
toI AGAIN should have lived long
,nouoh. Now. Old Glorv is un there,
rentlemer. am ready to die This
vas the christening of old Glory So
Far as Is known. Robert s. Rantoul
says: No one seems to have come
claiming TO havh applied the
designation. old GLORY to the United
States flag before 1892. It is a fair
assumption thst the nhrase was his. "
The sad endin0 of the history of
his particular cold GLORY. is rAlat-
II bv Mr.. Rantorl who saws that at
he close of the Civil war. when the
Sixth Ohio regiment was on its wav
nome, an army mule nosed out the
fla0. which was stored in wagon,
and ate almost all of Lexington