March 11, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
A large crowd assembled on Friday evening, in 17th street, opposite the old Market, headed by SMITH’S band. They pulled down stars and stripes” and run up in place of it the secession flag to the music of the Marseilles Hymn. Speeches were made and great enthusiasm manifested. On the same evening a large and beautiful Southern rights flag was hoisted in the streets of Petersburg. It is adorned with seven large blue stars, leaving a blank in the centre for Virginia, which, it is expected, will soon take her place in the Southern Confederacy.