Question of the Week: What’s your favorite artifact at the American Civil War Museum?
CSS Shenandoah surrendered 160 years ago this week. It’s flag is in the collection of the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, Virginia. In that spirit, what is your favorite artifact in that museum’s collection?
Not quite an artifact, but linked to one: the bugle calls audio!
Haven’t been back there for years- parking has become a mess because of the new amphitheater just behind it
It’s hard to choose. They are such a great institution with a fantastic collection. It’d probably be their collection of Lee artifacts, which is unrivaled. But the “No Union With Slavery” flag gives that collection a run for its money.
Without a doubt my favorite artifact is this: Flag of the 25th Virginia Infantry, Co. H, “Hardy Blues”. Presented to the unit by the Ladies of Moorefield, Virginia. The flag was torn from its staff by Sgt. Philip William Pugh and concealed [wrapped around his body] to avoid captured at Rich Mountain, [West] Virginia, July 1861. He concealed it even after being taken prisoner (details in file). His sister, Sallie E. Pugh, admonished him upon enlistment, “Don’t let the Yankees get our flag. We put our best stitches in it. Be sure to bring it back!”
My 2x great-granduncle, William R. Bosley was there that day as part of the “Blues”. He survived the war and was buried in Ellis, KS in an unmarked grave in 1922. In 2024, I ordered a grave marker for him and helped dedicate it, taking an exact replica of the flag with me which we flew for the occasion.