Hetty Cary

Hetty Carr Cary (May 15, 1836 – September 27, 1892) was the wife of Confederate General John Pegram and, later, of pioneer physiologist H. Newell Martin.

"[5] Hetty and her sister Jennie smuggled drugs and clothing across the Potomac through the Union blockade for Confederate troops.

Constance Cary wrote:[7] During the autumn of '61, to my cousins, Hetty and Jennie, and to me was entrusted the making of the first three battle flags of the Confederacy.

The banners were made from red silk for the fields and blue silk for the crosses.The resulting flag, commonly called the Southern Cross, served as the principal battle flag of the cavalry, infantry, and artillery units in the Army of Northern Virginia from November 1861 until the surrender at Appomattox Court House in April 1865.

Near that same time, Hetty's mother, Mrs. Wilson Miles Cary of Baltimore, obtained a pass to go to Richmond to visit her two daughters.

Due to her mother's visit, John urged Hetty not to delay their marriage any longer, and wedding preparations quickly began.

The elite of Confederate society, including President Jefferson Davis and his wife Varina, attended the wedding in the historic St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

On February 6, only 18 days after their wedding, John was killed by a Minié ball leading a charge at the Battle of Hatcher's Run.

He wrote the following sympathetic letter to Hetty: I cannot find words to express my deep sympathy in your affliction, my sorrow at your loss.

John Pegram
William Pegram
Henry Newell Martin