This Civil War company was named after Daniel R. Mitchell, lawyer and one of the four founders of Rome. The Rome Courier of Tuesday morning, Feb. 18, 1862, commented as follows:
"On Monday, the 10th Inst., Capt. Z. B. Hargrove's company, the 'Mitchell Guards,' assembled in the City Hall for the purpose of receiving a beautiful flag from the hands of Miss Florence T. Mitchell, before departing from their homes for the tended field, and perhaps the field of blood. This is a fine, full company of vigorous looking men, that will make their mark some day. This makes the twelfth company that are now in the field from this county. Capt. Kerr's company will leave in a few days; also Capt. Haney's. These two companies will make fourteen companies from Floyd, and about 150 recruits. The war spirit is up, and old Floyd is 'spreading herself.' "

The following was the address of Miss Mitchell on presenting the flag:
"Capt. Hargrove and Gentlemen of the Mitchell Guards: My father, in honor of whom your company of citizen soldiers has been named, has delegated me to present you this flag. He instructs me to tender to you his thanks, and assure you of his high regard for your partiality in the selection of a name for your company.
"My friends, your country is invaded by the foulest and most ruthless enemy known in the history of the civilized world; their impudent pretensions, their unspeakable barbarity, their vandal and revengeful spirit, in the accomplishment of their thieving and plundering objects have called you to the battlefield in defense of your country, your honor, your fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, wives and children, your altars, and even your lives.
"Upon that battlefield you will doubtless carry this flag. When I look upon your bright volunteer faces, your stout hearts and strong arms, I feel that it is unnecessary to say that this flag will never be trailed in the dust before such a wicked, vandal foe while one of you is living. I read from every bright countenance now before me the united shout upon the bloody field, that may be just before you, 'Give me liberty or give me death!' Go, my friends, at the call of your country with hearts and arms nerved at the justice of our cause, and may the God of Battles go with you."

On the receipt of the flag. Captain Hargrove replied:
"Miss Florence Mitchell: In the name and behalf of the company which I have the honor to command, I accept at your fair hands this beautiful banner; I accept it, not only as a token of your regard for our company, but also the love and devotion which you have for the holy cause which we have espoused. In accepting this banner, permit me to say that not only I, but each and every member of our company, will ever love and cherish it, and with our lives will ever defend its sacred folds. In the course of events this flag may be borne on a field of blood and carnage. If this should be the case, and troubles thrown about us from which there is no escape, we will remember this scene and this day, and ere its sacred folds are polluted by the foul touch of our enemy it shall be bathed in the bravest and best blood of our company. I love this banner because you have presented it to us. I love it for its beauty-I love it in remembrance of the glorious deeds and victories won under it at Oak Hill, Belmont, Leesburg, Bethel and Manassas Plains.
"But, more than all, I love it because it is the ensign of a nation struggling to perpetuate the liberties bequeathed to us by our fathers. Permit me again to thank you and to say that so long as there is one of us able to wield a sword or spring a trigger it shall never 'trail in the dust.'
"Permit me to say to you, my brave companions in arms, notwithstanding the dark clouds of gloom which seem to hang around us, though we may in the providence of God have to pass through dark and bitter waters, ere we achieve our liberty, we are as sure of ultimate success as the justice of our cause, and with God as arbiter of nations-if we but do our duty. A cause like ours can never be surrendered! No, never! We are fighting for all that is worth living for-our country, our liberty, our altars, and our honor. We will all stand or fall together. A people united and determined to be free, as we are, can never be conquered.
"Our reverses at Roanoke and Donelson have kindled the fires of liberty afresh from the Potomac to the Rio Grande, which is burning with a blaze of glory from center to circumference. The tocsin of war is now sounding throughout the length and breadth of our land, and thousands of the chivalrous sons of the Sunny South are flocking to their country's standard and swearing eternal allegiance to the Stars and Bars. In this terrible struggle many of the bravest and best of us may die, but this is necessary that liberty may live. In this we say, the will of God be done. To you, my brave companions in arms, let me say when the hour of trial comes (as come it will) remember Leonidas and his 300 Spartans.
"And now to you, Lieutenant Hanson, I commit this flag. It is unnecessary for me to say to you, guard and defend it as you would your honor. Resolve to fall a freeman rather than live a slave."

On receiving the flag, Lieutenant Hanson replied:
"I receive it to defend it, and the cause it represents; rather will I die than either shall be dishonored in my hands."


Muster Roll of the Mitchell Guards.

Officers
Z. B. Hargrove, Captain.
L. T. Mitchell, First Lieutenant
A. C. Camp, Second Lieutenant
W. B. Hanson, Third Lieutenant
A. M. Carter, Orderly Sergeant
W. J. Shockley, Second Sergeant
T. J. Hanson, Third Sergeant
L. M. Cobb, Fourth Sergeant
B. J. McGinnis, Fifth Sergeant
J. Tropp, First Corporal.
R. M. White, Second Corporal.
C. B. Adkins, Third Corporal.
W. T. Burns, Fourth Corporal.
J. Haley, Fifth Corporal.


Privates

Source: A History of Rome & Floyd County, 1540~1922, Volume I, By George MacGruder Battey, Jr., The Webb and Vary Company, Atlanta, Georgia, 1922

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