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Flag - Nashville Rock City Guards
The flag of the "Rock City Guards", formed in 1860 to protect the area of Nashville, the guards used the cities Market House as it's armory and drilled in Edgefield (now East Nashville). In April of 1861 they held a meeting and released a statement:

"Resolved; that as citizens of the South identified with the Confederate States by all the ties of blood, affection, institutions, and interest, the Rock City Guards do oppose and will oppose to the last extremity, any and all such aggressions upon the rights of the South, whether made upon the soil of Tennessee or elsewhere."

The Rock City Guards quickly grew to 300 men divided into A, B and C companies. A company comprised of men who could leave the city at once and were described as the groups "Minute Men", while the remaining B & C company men would require a day or two to get affairs in order.

Mrs. M. A. Kitch, Misses Fannie E. Claiborne, Laura V. Claiborne, Cattie Cain, and Imogen Cain presented the Rock City Guards with a hand made flag declaring:

"Our own green land is about to be invaded by a horde of vandal bayonets, and you have nobly responded to the call for strong arms and brave hearts to repel the coming storm. You go forth to welcome the insolent foe, and believe me, our warmest sympathies and our unceasing prayers will go with you to the field of conflict, and our voices of supplication will mingle with the thunder of your guns and appeal to Heaven on your behalf ... Our country demands your aid to free her from the insults and oppression of a tyrannic Government, and we see you go forth in response to that call with proud consciousness that every impulse of your hearts will inspire you to prefer an honorable death to ignoble submission to the oppressor. We place in your hand this flag that its folds may wave over you in the dark hour of conflict and recall to your minds the recollection that your mothers, your sisters and your children are praying at your firesides for your triumph and your safe return."

When war finally broke out the Rock City Guards became part of the 1st Tennessee Infantry Regiment of Volunteers. Companies A, B & C were joined by other area militias up to Company K from Giles County.

An original Rock City Guards flag now resides in the Tennessee State Museum, donated by descendants of the Ohio soldier who captured it.

Notable members of the Rock City Guards include both the son, George, and nephew, Willliam, of Captain William Driver. Captain Driver was a Massachusetts born sailor who became a Captain in 1824 at the age of 21, an event marked by the gift of a flag from his mother which he named Old Glory. After his last voyage Captain Driver returned to find his wife sick, and after her death he relocated to Nashville, where his brother was in business. Captain Driver was a loyal Unionist and hid Old Glory. His family shared secessionist sympathies, and his own son and nephew both joined the southern cause. When Nashville fell to federal soldiers Captain Driver brought out his flag and had it hoisted above the abandoned capitol. Northern newspapers immortalized Captain Driver and Old Glory. George Driver died of wounds from battle, his cousin William recovered from wounds suffered in battle and died in 1912. Captain Driver died in 1886, and was buried in Nashville. 3ft X 5ft

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