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WILMINGTON Ever hear of an American flag with the blue field in the middle of one side, rather than at the corner? James Wakefield, 1142 Banning blvd., has one dating from the Civil War, when Union soldiers often carried flags on their person when going into battle. The banner has a field of 26 stars surrounded on three sides by stripes. Although no such flag was ever authorized by the government as an official United States emblem, Wakefield’s flag has a memorable history. It was made during the early part of the war by one of his ancestors for William F. Wakefield, his great uncle who served with the North in Co. D of the 10th Kentucky Volunteers. William carried the emblem wherever he went with the outfit, which included the invasion of Tennessee in 1862. * His aunt wrote to him:

“I was proud to read in your letter of the old flag floating over the capitol of Tennessee and of the Union forces having possession of the state.” William was wounded and died shortly before the end of the war. The flag he carried has a few faded blood stains on the white stripes. Following the soldier’s death, the emblem was passed on to others in the family and finally was handed dowr. to Wakefield. Today he keeps the relic in a shoe box along with other trinkets and letters of the period.

The main causes of farm fires include lightning, defective chimneys, sparks on roofs, stoves and furnaces, hot ashes, spontaneous ignition of hay, misuse of electricity, matches and smoking.

FAMILY HEIRLOOM —James Wakefield, 1142 Banning blyd., holds up a home made battle flag carried by his great uncle during the Civil War.