From The Rome Courier, Sept 10, 1861

Flag Presentation at Silver Creek

				August 14, 1861
The fourteenth day of August assembled many patriotic hearts on Silver Creek, to 
witness the presentation of a Confederate Flag, by the Ladies of Silver Creek and 
vicinity, to the Fireside Defenders. Col. Woods was invited to the chair, and Mrs. Dr. 
Reese selected, in behalf of the ladies, to present the flag to the Fireside Defenders, 
which she did with honor to herself, and rendered proud the hearts she represented.

Wesley Jones, though a youth in age, received the banner, in behalf of the company, 
with a manliness that would have honored one of age and experience.

At the hour appointed, the chairman arose, and after a few short remarks, introduced to 
the audience Mrs. Dr. Reese, bearing in her hand our beloved Confederate Flag; and 
with  that warmth of patriotism common to woman, addressed the company as follows:

Soldiers of the Fireside Defenders:
	In behalf of the ladies of Silver Creek and vicinity, I am before you to ask your 
acceptance of this flag. You are all aware that every nation on earth has its ensign. This, 
my brave friends is the ensign of the "Southern Confederate States of America."

	It is needless for me to retrospect the history of this nation; to tell you why the 
"Flag of the Union" no longer floats over our land of  "sunshine and flowers;" or why the 
clashing of musketry and the booming of cannon, is heard in our border states. Suffice it 
to say, our cause is a just, a righteous and a godly one; and in presenting these colors
to you, you have a testimony of the spirit which governs the women of the South. Be 
assured we distain as much as yourselves the idea of becoming slaves to the 
oppressors of our land; and, should it become necessary, there is not a free woman in 
the Southern Confederacy who will not dispute the ground inch by inch, and who will not 
die in the cause of liberty and justice? To you, as the first agents, in the hands of an all 
wise Father, we consign these colors. Never! Never! My friends, permit it to "trail in the 
dust." Never lower this flag in servile submission to the ruthless invaders of our homes, 
our liberties and our most sacred rights! Never furl these ample folds until Liberty shall 
be perched upon this banner!

	There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations. He it is who will 
give might to your arms in the deadly strife. The battle is not to the strong in numbers 
alone; it is to the just, the right and the true. Oh! do not permit our enemies to forge chains 
to bind in degredation our posterity; but, with "Hearts within and God o'erheard," press 
onward! High and higher wave these colors; and may that God, in whom we trust, permit 
every soldier of the "Fireside Defenders" to return under the protection of his banner!

	Our prayers to God shall rise incessantly in your behalf, and we entreat you to 
yield your hearts and lives unto His charge; and, if it be your doom, as it has been of 
many near and dear to us, to meet death upon the battlefield, in a nation's heart shall be 
written your epitaph. History shall prolong, and posterity shall bless the valiant arms and 
noble spirits who fought, bled and died, to purchase liberty and freedom!

	"Oh! Flag of the South! still thy way
Undimmed thro' ages untold,
	O'er earth's proud realms thy stars
	      display,
	Like morning's radiant cloud's unroll'd
	Oh! Flag of the South! still peerless 
	      shine,
	O'er earth's remotest bounds expand,
	Till every heart and and entwine
	To sweep oppresion from our glorious
	     land ."

	Mr. Jones then received the banner in behalf of the company and said:
	Respected Madam:
	 Allow me in behalf of the company to return to you, and through you, to the 
ladies of this community, the sincere and heart-felt graditude, of the members of this 
company, for their regard  and appreciation of this company, and the cause in which 
they have engaged, which you so nobly and beautifully manifested on this occasion, by 
presenting us with this beautiful banner - the flag of our country, the flag of the 
Confederate States of America, the flag of the eleven immortal States, which have 
thrown off the yoke of tyranny, and whose bright stars glitter upon its folds, sending forth 
their refulgent rays with all the beauty of noon day's sun. This is indeed the freeman's 
flag, under which equal rights and equal priveliges are meeted out to each and every 
one. Wherever that banner has been unfurled to the breeze, upon the field of conflict, 
victory has been its trophy. It is this banner that now proudly floats over the walls of 
Sumpter. It was this flag that was crowned with victory at Bethel, and it ws this beautiful 
emblem that was victoriously carried by the brave army of our soldiers over the plains 
of Manassas, on the 21st day of July. This flag was in the grasp of  the gallant, the noble, 
the immortal Bartow, when he fell in that great struggle, and I assure you, if we shall ever 
have the opportunity of unfurling  to the breeze its ample folds in the face of the enemy, I 
pledge you, it shall be preserved as pure and inviolate, as it now comes from your fair 
hands. Before it shall be dishonored, before it shall be found trailing in the dust, the last 
man that now composes this company shall be found cold in death upon the field of 
strife; the last man who survives shall make this beautiful banner his winding sheet. Let 
me beg of you ladies to continue to encourage our soldiery, for, I assure you, if woman 
shall frown upon the efforts now being made to obtain our rights and independence, the 
stoutest heart would fail, and the stoutest arm would become completely unnerved! But 
so long as woman smiles, and God permits, we will bid defiance to the hypocritical old 
Governmant, that hails as its chief, the name of that ignorant and diabolical old 
hypocrite, Abraham Lincoln.

	Although we may be far away in the tented field, surrounded by the difficulties 
and dangers, when we shall gaze upon this beautiful banner, our hearts will be animated 
with new vigor, and our arms strengthened with redoubled strength. When we behold 
these glowing colors, we shall ever remember, with feelings of the highest regard and 
esteem, the fair donors.

	A committee of three, as follows, was then appointed to request the publication 
of the proceedings of the meeting and the speeches in the Rome papers.

			J. W. P. Ware
			S. B. Chambers
			Larkin Barnett.