by Theresa Schieffer
Correspondent

Carlinville – A piece of Macoupin County history from the Civil War is back where it belongs after an absence of 150 years, thanks to the efforts of patriotic citizens.

The national flag of the 122nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry has been restored and framed and is on display at the Macoupin County Courthouse, according to John Alexander, chairman of the Macoupin County Civil War Round Table, which spearheaded the restoration project.

"Macoupin provided over 2,000 soldiers to many of the state's regiments raised from 1861 to 1864," he said. "The 122nd, however, was special in that most of the men in nine of its 10 companies came from Macoupin County. For that reason, it was commonly known as 'The Macoupin Regiment.' They organized in September of 1862 and fought through the balance of the war."

A dedication ceremony for the restored flag is planned for 11 a.m. today at the courthouse. Participants include Alexander; Larry Johnson, executive director of the Illinois National Guard & Militia Historical Society, whose mission includes providing support for such flag-restoration projects; and Mike Mathis, Macoupin County circuit clerk.

The date of the ceremony coincides "with the 150th anniversary of one of the regiment's shining moments: a victory over Confederate forces under the notorious Nathan Bedford Forrest at the battle of Parker's Crossroads, Tenn., on Dec. 31, 1862," Alexander said.

The $34,000 price tag to have the flag restored by the state of New York's textile conservator, Sarah Stevens, was paid through fundraisers, private donations and contributions from local units of government collected over a two-year period, according to Alexander. After spending about 17 months in New York, the flag arrived in Macoupin County Dec. 14.

"I think that in time, as the people of the county discover the flag, they will stand in awe of it like those of us did who removed it from a shipping crate and mounted it on a wall, where it can be studied, admired and appreciated for years to come," Alexander said. "I've always been intrigued with the stories this flag could tell. I have even given a talk on that subject. I feel good that it's back home in Macoupin County."

The flag restoration is a testament to the "extraordinary patriotism" of the "great citizens" of Macoupin County, Johnson said.

"Bringing that flag home is such an important thing for the community," he said. "These treasures, these flags, saw battle and were carried by heroes so many years ago. This flag is a reminder of those great soldiers who left family behind and went into harm's way."

Immediately prior to being restored, the national flag of the 122nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry was in storage at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, along with other Civil War flags, according to Alexander.

"The flag was in, say, average condition for one that saw such hard duty," he said, adding that the actual restoration process took a few months to complete.

Originally, it was the 122nd's regimental flag that was selected for restoration. However, "an honest mistake at Camp Lincoln" led to the national colors being restored instead, Alexander said.

"I compare it to this hypothetical situation: Say that you had not seen your twin brothers or sisters for 40 years and were told one would visit you tomorrow," he said. "Instead, the other one showed up. Like us, you might be surprised, but not upset."

The regimental flag remains in storage at Camp Lincoln, Alexander said, adding that there are no plans at this time to have it restored.