Preserving and Sharing Rhode Island History
The Varnum Memorial Armory Museum has acquired two gorgeous early 1900s display cases with their original wavy glass panes intact. We’ve cleaned up one and created a new display of U.S. Civil War objects previously hidden away. Many thanks Nanci Thompson and Briarbrook Auctions!
Every so often we still find incredible bits of U.S. history tucked away in a corner at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum. This framed note with a tiny bit of fabric is the latest. After transcribing the note and some Googling, we discovered that it is a remnant from the first British Revolutionary War flag taken from the English by American colonists. The note reads:
The included is a piece of the flag carried in the Federal procession of 1778*. Mrs. Louisa Casey from her brother, John NY 5th Regt. 1836 (?)… A remnant of the first standard taken from the English in the American Revolution. For Mrs. Louisa Casey’s museum of antiquities. Taken from the Phila —
On the back it reads:
Presented by Miss Ora Foster formerly of East Greenwich now of Anthony, RI. Miss Louise A Casey lived in the Casey House which formerly stood at the corner of Main & Division St. (East Greenwich). Later moved to Spencer Ave. (Warwick).
* The Federal Processions occurred in 1788. They were very large municipal celebrations of the ratification of the United States Constitution that took place in Philadelphia and New York City.
The USS Maine (sent to Cuba “to protect US interests” during the Cuban revolt against Spain) mysteriously exploded on the evening of February 15, 1898. Navy divers were sent to investigate and determined that the cause was a mine. “Remember the Maine” became the rallying cry that helped get the US into a war with Spain. This one-pounder shell at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum was recovered from the USS Maine by those divers. It was for 1 of 4 Hotchkiss rapid-fire guns that were on her decks. The 1990s tag explains how we acquired it back at the turn of the century.
Here’s a unique exhibit at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum: Japanese spy photos of US Navy ships taken before the attack on Pearl Harbor. One of the pictures is of the USS Arizona, which was sunk during the sneak attack on December 7th, 1941. The ship lies submerged in the harbor today and is the final resting place for 1,102 American Sailors and Marines out of the 1,177 killed on board the USS Arizona that fateful day.
This photograph at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum shows Private Cyrus H. Brackett. Born in Acton, Maine, 20-year-old Cyrus Brackett enlisted in the First New England Cavalry as a resident of Dover, NH on October 12th 1861. He was mustered into Co. K on October 24th. Comprised of one battalion of New Hampshire men and two battalions of Rhode Islanders, the regiment was re-designated the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry in early 1862. In one of their first combat actions of the American Civil War, the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry heroically fought and captured the Confederate-held town of Front Royal, Virginia, which marked the upper reaches of the strategic Shenandoah Valley. Not satisfied with the town’s capture, the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry continued after the Rebels.
Though the retreating foe sent back their compliments in the form of shot and shell, our riders dashed fearlessly on and came upon their hastily formed line of infantry, beyond the farthest bridge, on the Winchester road, and here made one of the most bold, thrilling, magnificent charges on record. They smote the enemy like a tornado and broke their line. Here heroically fell most of the men we this day lost. Here slept in death the bravest of soldiers by the side of fallen horses and dying enemies. The memorable spot was in the vicinity of General Banks losses just one week before; thus refluent are the bloody waves of war. Never fell truer, braver men.
Private Cyrus H. Brackett was one of those brave men that fell to his death while making that fateful charge on May 30, 1862.
