by Megan Broome
CNI News Service
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Bob Matis, owner of Civil War Corner Antiques in Dillard, owns a United States flag used in the Civil War in the Battle of Cold Harbor on June 3, 1864. It is displayed in his shop along with a display. The flag has 34 stars and two stripes are missing after being torn off in battle. MEGAN BROOME/The Clayton Tribune
The shops in Dillard are filled with many unique antiques and collectables that tourists flock to patronize.
Civil War Corner Antiques owned by Bob Matis displays a unique piece of Civil War history, a United States flag used in the Battle of Cold Harbor on June 3, 1864. The battle was fought near Mechanicsville, Va.
The flag has 34 stars and was taken into battle by the 8th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment, Matis explained.
“The two bottom stripes are missing because they were torn off in battle,” Matis said.
After the battle, the flag was given to Major John R. Cooper by the men in his regiment to honor him and thank him for his service. Cooper was an adjutant and supervised the execution of administration policies.
“It was just like a thank-you in a sense,” Matis added.
Matis said that Cooper put names of each soldier on the backs of their uniforms so if they died in battle they would be known.
This unit “was basically used for defense purposes,” Matis said.
Out of the 1,200 men who served in the regiment and fought in battle June 3, 1864, 507 were lost in just 20 minutes, according to information provided by Matis.
A total of 6,500 men were lost by other regiments.
The flag was handed down within Cooper’s family. Matis said he bought it from one of those family members at a show in West Palm Beach, Fla., about 11 years ago.
The man who sold it said it was passed down to him from his great aunt, whose grandfather was Cooper.
Matis said documentation was provided proving the flag is authentic and handed down through generations.
He said his collection has grown by purchasing items from shows, the internet, private collectors and estate sales. He said authenticity can be confirmed by obtaining documentation or reading and studying history.
Matis said he displayed the flag at his shop in Dillard July 4 because he wanted visitors of the area to be able to see it while they were antique shopping, rather than having to visit a history museum.
“I’m doing this really to share it with people,” Matis said. “I want people to see it.”
The flag is framed and hanging on the wall surrounded by a display of Civil War memorabilia and information.
Matis said the goal of the display is to catch the eyes of antique mall visitors and educate them about the importance of appreciating the flag.
“That’s really what I want to do is get people to appreciate our flag,” Matis said.
It has been displayed at various museums in the country in the 11 years Matis has had it, such as the historical society in Franklin, N.C.
Matis describes himself as a “passionate enthusiast” of history and has been collecting Civil War items for about 30 years. “I am a history buff.”
He said that his love of history began when he took a trip to the Gettysburg battlefield when he was younger.
Matis said the flag and many of the Civil War items in the display are not for sale.
He said some of the collection is for sale and some will be kept to pass down to his children.
Matis said he hopes the display educates the younger generation about the history and importance of the flag.
“I think we all should have a part here to help one another and preserve our history,” he said.