Evening star., 1934-05-15
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
Far be 1t from one whose home Is
in the cradle of the Confederacy to
start a controversy, but I must con-
fess to utter surprise when reading in
The Star on May 6 an article credit
ing the late Maj. Orren Randolph
Smith Of North Carolina with design
ing the first Confederate flag. And,
I am sure that my surprise will not be
questioned after relating the cause
for It,
About two years ago, when cutting
my journalistic teeth" on the Alabama
Journal at Montgomery, my kind-eyed
editor sent me breathlessly out to
"cover" the Nicola Marschall exhibit
of portraits at the Museum of Fine
Arts, an event of deep historical in
terest However. realizing that my
knowledge of this artist and his con-
tributions was almost as vague and
scant as my knowledge of the ever
discussed imitation now Is. increased
my blood pressure and ruined care
fully msnicured nails by searching
through countless files in the De-
partment of Archives to secure the
necessary information. But 1t was
we'll worth it, since this disclosed him
to be an exceptionally colorful and
vivid perSonality-a man of eXpe-
rience, culture, refinement and talent
and the designer of both uniform
and flag of the Confederacy.
From an old scrapbook, the Inherit
ed possession of Mrs. George Marks,
I read accounts of the designing OF
the STARS and Bars at the request
of Mrs. Napoleon Lockett, wife of q
beloved general, who secured Mar
schall's services for this. Other clip
pings recorded Mrs. Lockett submit
ting the three designs for the consid-
Grafton of several prominent men. and
OF the acceptance of the one that be-
came the first flag of the Confederacy.
From innumerable clippings from
many sources learned that this flag
was placed on the staff above the
capitol at Montgomery on March 4,
1861, by Miss Letitia Tyler of Virginia
granddaughter of John Tyler, EXPIRES
ident of the United States. This
information so stimulated my interest
that I continued browsing among old
newspaper clippings; clippings yel-
lowed with the passing of years, and
enjoyed an interesting article by
Marschall stating that the uniforms
of the Austrian sharpshooters i'm
pressed him so much while on a visit
to Verona in 1857 that it furnished
him with the design for the gray
uniform Of the Confederacy.
Still another article informed me
that Nicola Marschall, like so many
artists. had to look to his laurels in
the stern task of securing an educa-
full and funds inaccessible, so obta ined
permission from his government to
leave his Prussian homeland while
still In his teens to come to America
and continue professionally with his
art and music, and to escape COM
pulsory military service. Another
vividly described his voyage on a slow
sailing vessel battling with a storm
at sea, and Of the picture drawn Of
every member Of the crew. learned
that he landed at New Orleans dur
ing a most picturesque period-the
memora BILE days of '49 when the tide
of immigration flowed toward the
gold fields of California. From the
same clipping I read Of him turning
a deaf ear to a kinsman's persisten,
plea to join him on trip to Cali
fornia, but "hitch-hiked" to Mobile
instead, where he obtained q position
in q bakery. It was interesting tc
read that ne earned his bed and