The Iowa Historian is a monthly publication of the State Historical Society of Iowa. If you would like to subscribe, please send us a blank e-mail.
Battle Flag Ball Honors Iowa’s Military History
The atrium of the State Historical Museum was transformed into an elegant Civil War setting February 17 when the State Historical Society hosted the Battle Flag Ball as a preview and fundraiser for its newest exhibit, Civil War Survivors: Battle Flags Tell Stories from the Front.
 |
|
The event was highlighted by the presentation of the colors by a joint honor guard comprised of Iowa National Guard soldiers and Civil War re-enactors in period uniforms. Governor Tom Vilsack delivered the keynote address honoring Iowa’s service and sacrifice in wars overseas and at home.
“This regimental flag is unique, for it has emblazoned on its silk the hand lettered words of the Iowa state motto: ‘Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain,’” Visack said, motioning to the flag of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry. “No other Iowa flag is known to be so decorated. Its deterioration occurred in over a century of hanging on its staff, unattended, and ravaged by natural processes. To have preserved the remnants of this treasure is in itself a marvelous feat.”
A formal dinner provided by Café Baratta’s was served before guests were invited to view the new exhibit in the Second Floor Gallery. The exhibit includes seven extraordinary recently conserved Civil War battle flags and an up close look at how they are conserved. Since conservation of the flags was assigned to the State Historical Society of Iowa in 1999, the organization has conserved or stabilized 168 flags at a cost of $4,800 and 240 hours per flag.
Ruth Jeffries, 92, attended the event and was recognized as a 21st-century link to a 19th-century war. Jeffries is the granddaughter of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient and Civil War Corporal Voltaire Twombly. Twombly is known for taking up the colors after three members of the color guard fell to enemy fire at Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 15, 1862. Twombly was knocked down by a spent ball himself, but despite this, immediately arose and continued to carry the colors until the end of the engagement.
Major support for the event was provided by Guidon Performance Solutions, which helps service industry and public sector leaders build an aligned, engaged and high-performing culture that leverages the power of LeanSigma in their business and information technology processes.
A day full of Civil War history celebrated the public opening of Civil War Survivors: Battle Flags Tell Stories from the Front, drawing an estimated 700 people to the Historical Building. Re-enactors helped bring the period to life as they interacted with the public, taught period singing and dancing and even showed what medical service might have been like.
Other activities that will run the length of the exhibit include a Battle Flag Conservation Lab tour at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18 and April 15 and Civil War research information available in the Historical Library & Archives.
Civil War Survivors: Battle Flags Tell Stories from the Front will be on exhibit through April 16. Museum hours are Monday-Saturday, 9:00-4:30 and Sunday 12:00-4:30. Call (515) 281-5111 for information.
