Confederate Flag of Welcome. With the Confederate occupation of Hickman and Columbus in the late summer of 1861, Paducahans were thrilled and flew a large Confederate flag to welcome Southern Army thought on way. As General Grant's Union forces, backed by gunboats, moved to occupy Paducah on Sept. 6, it was feared flag would be seized. See over. (Reverse) Rescue of Flag - Mrs. Emily Jarrett, whose husband and sons were fighting for the CSA, rushed to save the banner. Under Union gunboat fire, she had a small slave boy climb the pole, retrieve the flag, and drop it to her. Union troops searched her home but failed to find flag's hiding place. Some thirty years later, the faded cloth was laid to rest with its loyal rescuer. Over.