Confederate History Month
As the magnolia and wisteria began to blossom in April 1861, so the cockades were blossoming on gentlemen's hats and ladies' bonnets. Not to mention the cockades blooming on shoulders and lapels!
April is Confederate History Month in many Southern states, so here's a fun overview of some original cockades and incidents involving people who wore them.
Can't Wear A Badge in Raleigh?
The Wilmington State Journal noted on April 11, 1861 the following incident:
"Another Outrage.— Mr. W. A. Sturdivant, one of our Wake county farmers, had plucked from his hat a Southern cockade by Wiley Sauls of this City, who forthwith proceeded to tear it up, upon which Mr. Sturdivant fired upon Sauls with a pistol but missed him.
"A scuffle then ensued in which a knife was used at the risk of Saul’s life. The parties were separated, however, but one of the parties interfering got slightly cut. The Banner says "Mr. Sturdivant got scratched somewhat severely." This is a mistake. We have seen Mr. Sturdivant and he is not marked at all or in anywise injured. Are Southern men not to be allowed to wear even a badge in Raleigh?"
Chasing Cockade-Wearers
As always, Baltimore was a melting pot of views, and the pot had a way of boiling over when cockades appeared. There are multiple occasions recorded where the sight of a cockade sparked a riot.
Harper's Weekly reported one of those occasions:
"A telegram dated Baltimore, April 14, says: The Union feeling in this city has been unmistakably displayed since Friday. Men with cockades and secession emblems have been chased by crowds, and protected by the police."
The Old Dominion Doesn't Need Help
Perhaps Virginians were more genteel than their counterparts in Baltimore and Raleigh. Or maybe Virginia ladies were just too lovely to pick on!
At any rate, Sallie Brock recalls In Richmond During the War:
"Although very nearly every woman wore a “secession badge” and a braid or rosette of palmetto on her hat, and heaped upon the young soldiers grateful and flattering attentions, she would grow indignant and strangely resentful of any remark conveying the idea that Virginia had originated the quarrel which moved the entire South, or that she needed help from other States to relieve her from the difficulty. They permitted no reflection on the Old Dominion."
Some commentaries on Virginia cockades included humorous observations such as the following in the Semi-Weekly Mississippian:
"Cockades were numerous on the streets yesterday. They are blazing out in every part of the city, are rapidly on the increase and come out in some cases “under difficulties.” We saw a few immense rosettes of blue baize, as big as small sized cabbages, fluttering around... Petersburg Express 1st."
Homemade Cockades
As the war rolled on through four more years, the initial patriotic fervor would dim a little. But the cockades didn't disappear entirely and many a patriotic lady continued to make these lovely badges. Fannie Beers recalled in Memories:
"Hats and bonnets of all sorts and sizes were made of straw or palmetto, and trimmed with the same. Most of them bore cockades of bright red and white (the "red, white, and red"), fashioned of strips knitted to resemble ribbons. Some used emblems denoting the State or city of the wearer, others a small Confederate battle-flag."
Made By Mother
Cockade merchants abounded during the war and their advertisements were often seen in the newspapers. But many of the cockades worn by ladies and gentlemen continued to be made by patriotic women themselves.
This tender little token is one of those. In a scrapbook believed to belong to North Carolinian Mary Elizabeth Young, a lovely red velvet cockade is pressed. Along with the preserved badge is Mary's note: "Secession Cockade C.S.A., M.E.Y. Made by my Mother and worn by me."
If Not For My Family...
This final quote showcases the patriotic fervor that even children displayed. Can't you imagine this sturdy little boy, manfully assuring his family that he would stay home to protect them during the war?
"The last manifestation of the military furore appeared in our streets the other day, in the shape of a band of about fifty children from four to eight years of age, arrayed in full military costume, and marching laud passibus aequis to the sound of a drum. Companions of these doubtless were the two little fellows seen by a gentleman standing on a corner of the street, lost in admiration of a cockade worn by one, who was calmly remarking, as the observer passed, 'If it was not for my family, I would go help South Carolina.'"
Secession Cockades for Your State!
If you're wondering what secession cockades were worn in your southern state, I have a page on my website for each state's cockade history. You can check them out here (scroll down to the Civil War section) - and yes, I have cockades in my shop for each state too!
Spring has sprung, The grass has riz
And I know where the cockades iz!
Ha ha! I’ve been burning the midnight oil to get a bunch of fun orders done lately! So if you haven’t heard from me, it’s because I’ve been busy sewing.
Hey, do me and your friends a favor - if you like my Cockade Columns, share this with them. Let’s spread the love of cockades!
