The Rappahannock Old Guard
The Black Flag
More than 1,000 Rappahannock County men fought for the Confederacy. Many were mustered into service here in Washington.
The Rappahannock Old Guard (Co. B, 6th Virginia Cavalry), which carried an unusual dark battle flag, played an important role in the final action of the Battle of Front Royal on May 23, 1862. As the Federals under Union Col. John R. Kenly retreated up the Winchester Turnpike (present-day U.S. Route 522), Confederate Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson shouted at Col. Thomas S. Flournoy, "They have 2 piece of artillery; go and take them." Flournoy led a fast pursuit.
As Flournoy closed in north of Cedarville, Kenly ordered his gunners to stop and fire, but they continued to retreat. Union Capt. George Smith reported that "a wild shout was heard, and rebel cavalry came dashing into our line, cutting right and left, showing no quarter, displaying a black flag"—a traditional sign that no prisoners would be taken.
Confederate Capt. Daniel A. Grimsley's Co. B led the dash, flying its dark flag. Flournoy reported that "Co. B was first upon the enemy & charged most gallantly thru their line, breaking them & throwing them into confusion." Grimsley's company lost 9 killed and 21 wounded; 21 musket balls struck flag bearer Dallas Brown. More than 900 Federals, including Kenly, surrendered.
When it became known that Co. B's dark banner had been misinterpreted as a black flag, it was retired, having been carried into battle only once. The Museum of the Confederacy has the original flag.
Erected by Virginia
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Vexillology, and the Virginia Civil War Trails series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is May 23, 1862.
Location. 38° 42.858′ N, 78° 8.83′ W. Marker is near Washington, Virginia, in Rappahannock County. It is at the intersection of Library Road (County Road 683) and Old Mill Road (County Road 683), on the left when traveling east on Library Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3 Library Rd, Washington VA 22747, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other
Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 10, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 654 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 10, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
