Captain William Driver was a Salem, Massachusetts, shipmaster. In 1831, as he was leaving on one of his many voyages aboard the brig Charles Doggett, he was honored by his friends with the presentation of a huge American Flag containing 24 stars. When he saw the flag being unfurled, he exclaimed "Old Glory!" And thus the flag was named.

Six years later, the Captain retired from the sea and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, bringing the flag with him. The Nashvillians were proud to have him as a resident, and the citizens were well aware of the flag, which he had brought to the city. However, when Tennessee seceded from the Union, the Rebels attempted to destroy "Old Glory" but were unable to locate it.

Few Americans today have experienced a situation, which requires the patriotism of the individual to be hidden. However, during the Civil War, neighbors in the so-called "boarder states," because they were between the North and South, often had differing loyalties. In some families, a son was in the Confederate Army and another was in the Union Army. In general, West Tennessee was Confederate country and East Tennessee was Union, but geographical pockets of the opposite persuasion in both ends of the state were present. Some families holding loyalties to one side or the other were often well advised not to let their sentiments show.

This was the situation of Captain Driver. When the Union forces occupied Nashville on February 25, 1862, an American flag replaced the Confederate ensign. The new flag was somewhat small, and Captain Driver was asked if "Old Glory" might be available to fly over the Capitol. The old sea dog was happy to comply. It is said he had hidden the flag within the folds of a bedcover; another report is that it was buried. In any case, the flag was produced and made its appearance. Captain Driver, then 60 years of age, climbed to a tower to place his flag in its proper place. The Sixth Ohio Regiment was impressed with the determination of the Captain and honored him by adopting the nickname "Old Glory."

Captain Driver died in 1886 and is buried in the Old City Cemetery in Nashville. Congress honored him when it authorized the flying of the American flag at his grave 24 hours a day. The original flag is in a case in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Bobby J. Demott is a member of Cherokee Lodge No. 728, Knoxville, Tennessee, and a 33° member of the Knoxville S.R. Bodies. Now retired, he spent over 33 years on the faculty of the University of Tennessee where he taught and conducted research on dairy products. He is a frequent contributor to the Scottish Rite Journal.