1862 January 13 Richmond Arsenal

The Misses Cary
Clifton House

Without affectation, I
have been too much engaged
for the past two weeks
to give my attention to the
"Lance flags". I do not
wish flags much, but pennons.
The object of these is
ornament and to frighten
the horses of the enemy.
Two colors are sufficient
I send a miserable
sample of flag furnished
by a rascally contractor in
North Carolina. The pennons
should be longer and
the swallow tail deeper

[page 2]
Be pleased to exercise your
tasks as to design I will
call some day during the
week to get your sample
and then I can furnish
the material
With much respect

Jennie and Hettie Cary and their cousin Constance Cary were Confederate belles known as the Cary Invincibles. They sewed the first Confederate battleflags which they presented to Confederate Generals Johnston, Beauregard and Van Dorn.

Briscoe G Baldwin
1st Lt Arty
Comdg
Business-like

MSS 1174