Message #230181

[Ashley Washington]

Fort Sumter Flag

Image Courtesy Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

After the surrender and evacuation of the fort, the flag that flew over Fort Sumter was soon held up as a sacred patriotic relic.

During the battle, the flagpole was toppled by shellfire but was heroically remounted on a makeshift stand. Major Anderson kept the flag when he left the fort and it was soon widely reproduced for publication.

Updated April 12, 2011