William Driver and Old Glory
There was a shipmaster named Captain William Driver, who resided in Salem, Massachussetts in the 1800’s. When he was leaving on one of his many voyages aboard the brig Charles Doggett, he was gifted a flag from his mother and some of her sewing companions. The flag had 24 stars. As he opened it, he exclaimed “Old Glory!” This was the phrase that still rings clear today, when describing our Red, White, and Blue.
When the captain eventually retired to Nashville, he took the flag with him. He was active in politics there. He was a strong Unionist and refused to surrender the flag when asked by Rebels. When the Civil War broke out and Tennessee seceded, Rebels wanted to find and destroy Captain Driver’s “Old Glory.” Unfortunately, it couldn’t be found.
When the captain eventually retired to Nashville, he took the flag with him. He was active in politics there. He was a strong Unionist and refused to surrender the flag when asked by Rebels. When the Civil War broke out and Tennessee seceded, Rebels wanted to find and destroy Captain Driver’s “Old Glory.” Unfortunately, it couldn’t be found.
Many years later, when the Union won the war, the Captain was asked in regards to the whereabouts of his “Old Glory.” He began ripping at the seams of his bedquilt, and they found the flag safely stowed between the pieces of fabric.
Captain Driver then went to the state Capitol with the flag where soldiers saluted and adopted the nickname as their own, passing down the nickname and the story of Captain Driver all the way to today’s generation.
This is a photo of the original Old Glory. The flag was donated to the Smithsonian museum by Driver's daughter Mary Jane in 1922.