Captain William Driver and his cherished “Old Glory” flag hold a significant place in American history, particularly due to its concealment during the Civil War in Nashville. The flag’s story, which lent its name to all future American flags, intertwines personal devotion with national loyalty. Its hiding place and reappearance highlight an act of patriotism.
The Origins of “Old Glory” and the Civil War Threat
Captain William Driver, a native of Salem, Massachusetts, received the flag that would become known as “Old Glory” in 1824. It was a gift from his mother and a group of young women to celebrate his appointment as a master mariner at the age of 21. Driver, delighted with the banner, reportedly exclaimed, “I name her ‘Old Glory!'”. This flag accompanied him on numerous voyages.
Driver retired from seafaring in 1837 and settled in Nashville, Tennessee, bringing his flag with him. In Nashville, he proudly displayed “Old Glory” from his home on patriotic holidays. As tensions mounted and Tennessee seceded from the Union in 1861, Driver, a staunch Unionist, found himself in a Confederate-controlled city. His public display of the Union flag became a defiant act, making “Old Glory” a target for Confederate sympathizers seeking to destroy it.
The Hidden Flag: Driver’s Ingenious Act
Facing threats from Confederate forces determined to seize or destroy his flag, Captain Driver devised a method of concealment. He, along with women in a neighboring household, sewed “Old Glory” into a quilt. This large flag, measuring approximately 17 by 10 feet, was hidden within the coverlet.
The quilt was then kept in Driver’s home in Nashville by his daughter, Mary Jane Driver Roland. Driver had already turned away men sent by Tennessee’s governor, famously stating, “If you want my flag you’ll have to take it over my dead body.” The flag remained hidden within the quilt from Confederate searches for nearly a year.
The Flag’s Rediscovery and Lasting Legacy
In February 1862, Union forces, having captured Forts Henry and Donelson, advanced and occupied Nashville, making it the first Confederate state capital to fall. When Union troops entered Nashville on February 25, 1862, Captain Driver retrieved his hidden flag. He approached Brigadier General William Nelson, the Union commander, bringing the quilt with him.
With a pocket knife, Driver dramatically ripped open the seams of the coverlet, revealing “Old Glory” to the Union soldiers. Despite being around 60 years old, Driver personally assisted in raising his large flag over the Tennessee State Capitol building, replacing the smaller ensign that had been hoisted. The sight of “Old Glory” flying once again over Nashville was met with cheers and inspired patriotism among Union soldiers and citizens.
After the Civil War, “Old Glory” remained a cherished heirloom within the Driver family. In 1873, Captain Driver gave the flag to his daughter, Mary Jane Driver Roland, instructing her to cherish it. Roland later presented the flag as a gift to President Warren G. Harding in 1922, who delivered it to the Smithsonian Institution. Today, this historic banner is a primary artifact at the National Museum of American History, symbolizing American patriotism and resilience.