08-04-2025
Fort Sumter surrender flag to be auctioned in Upstate
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – The makeshift flag soldiers at Fort Sumter used to signal their surrender to the Confederate army, kick-starting the American Civil War will be sold this month at an auction house in Greenville.
Richmond Auctions, a Greenville-based auction house specializing in firearms and rare antiques, announced on Tuesday an upcoming auction which will include multiple American artifacts, including the surrender flag from Fort Sumter and the 'big stick' President Theodore Roosevelt carried.
'We are thrilled to present some very historically significant items at our Premier Firearms Auction on April 25th,' said Jordan Richmond, owner and founder of Richmond Auctions. 'The inclusion of these items provides an unparalleled opportunity for collectors and history enthusiasts alike to own pieces that shaped our nation's past. These artifacts represent pivotal moments in American history, and we are honored to make them available to the public.'
On April 12, 1861, confederate forces began firing on Fort Sumter, and continued to fire for more than 30 hours. A 28-and-a-half inch 'flag' made from a sheet was raised above the fort to signal the surrender of the troops inside. Bids for the flag are already open, and as of Tuesday morning the top bid was $150.
Also up for auction is President Theodore Roosevelt's 'Big Stick' cane. The walking stick served as a symbol of the president's oft-quoted approach to foreign policy: 'Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.'
According to Richmond Auctions the cane was crafted specifically for Roosevelt while he was governor of New York. It measures 37 inches long with a Briarwood staff capped with an elk or antelope horn handle. A knob on the end of the stick bears Roosevelt's name.
Bids for the stick are already open and the top bid as of Tuesday morning was $475.
The auction will also feature a walking stick used by acclaimed American explorer Daniel Boone. The cane comes directly from the Boone Family collection, and was once on display in the Boone Museum in Iowa. It features a bone handle atop a Briarwood cane.
The top bid for the cane was $600 on Tuesday morning.
In addition to the walking canes and surrender flag, Richmond Auctions said the spring auction will include more than 400 firearms and 400 lots of antique outdoor advertising and collectibles.
Richmond Auctions spring auction is scheduled for April 25 – 26. You can find more information here.
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