Historian: Confederate battle flag ‘not designed to fly over public building’
FORT FISHER, NC (WWAY) — With all the discussions happening around the country about the Confederate flag, WWAY spoke with visitors and historians at Fort Fisher, one of key battle ground sites of the Civil War.
Fort Fisher is known as the last strong hold for Confederate forces during the Civil War. After its fall, the Union was able to take control of the area. This is the history lesson visitors get when they visit the Fort Fisher Civil War Museum. Historians say the flag representing the Confederate states is different from the one soldiers marched into battle with. That battle flag has become the center of controversy at the state capitol in Columbia, South Carolina.
Keith Hardison, director of State Historic Sites, says there are some misconceptions about the Confederate flag’s history.
“This flag never flew over a public building,” Hardison said pointing to the battle flag. “It was not designed to fly over a public building. It was designed to be flown over regiments in the field.”
Hardison says they want to make sure people understand the history behind this now controversial symbol.
“It’s like everything in history we need to understand it, not what we thought happened, not what we wanted to happen but what did happen,” said Hardison.
Last night, Wilmington residents and visitors also weighed in on the Civil War memorials downtown. Most agreed monuments help teach about the area’s history, and they should be kept.
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