The flag of the 6th North Carolina State Troops is currently on display in the North Carolina Museum of History's Civil War exhibit. The flag of the Cedar Fork Rifles is also in the collections Museum but the flag itself is in terrible condition and is severly deteriorated.
The
History of the Cedar Fork Rifles
The Capture the Flag
By August, the members of the Cedar Fork Church had done what so many churches across the South had done. They drafted resolutions reflecting their views on the war.
"Whereas - in view of the present unhappy condition of our country, we as members of the Church of Christ, bewail our manifold transgressions, and bow in humble humiliation to the Great I Am, and Therefore, as a Church of Christ, we must not forget the assembling of ourselves together in humble prayer before God. If we desire our happiness, the happiness of our friends and relations, and the peace, and independence, of our country, Therefore be it resolved:
That we will by divine sanction meet with this church as often as convenient for the purpose of praying for the prosperity of Zion, the safety of our friends and relations in battle and in the peace, and independence of our country.
Resolved secondly:Almighty God to protect our absent brethren, members of this church, now or hereafter engaged in the field of battle."
The neighbors back home were unsure about the cause of the war but were determined to support their boys in the army.
By the fall of 1861, the ladies of the Cedar Fork Sewing Society were still hard at work making winter overcoats for their men in the Virginia camps.
In the fall of 1863, the Confederate unit, Kitcheloe's battalion of partisan rangers were active in the area where the 6th had their winter quarters in 1861 to 1862 and had stored most of their winter gear in a house in this area. This guerilla unit was 150 strong and became a nuisance to Federal units in the area. An attempt to destroy this Rebel unit, which attacked pickets and harrased foraging parties, was launched spearheaded by Colonel Higgins and the men of the 73rd Ohio Infantry. Unfortunatly, the house which held the baggage was the headquarters for Kitcheloe and was the target of the large Union raid and almost immediately the residence was captured. In Capt. York's trunk held the blue banner which had been given to them at the birth of the unit in Morrisville.
The 6th NC regimental battleflag, was captured by Pvt. Joseph Kimball of the Compnay B, 2nd West Virginia Cavalry, USA, at Sailors Creek, Virginia, on 6 April 1865 and received a Medal of Honor for his actions.
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Continue to Chapter 7: The Sound of Battle No More
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