Civil War Quilts: Baltimore Belles & Rebels #7: Apollo's Lyre For Elizabeth Lindsay Lomax

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Baltimore Belles & Rebels #7: Apollo's Lyre For Elizabeth Lindsay Lomax

Baltimore Belles & Rebels #7 Apollo's Lyre For Elizabeth Lindsay Lomax by Becky Collis

Elizabeth Virginia Lindsay Lomax (1796-1867) began her Civil War in Washington City but spent time in Baltimore, a city teetering between Union and Confederate loyalties. A Virginia-born widow in her sixties, she'd married a Virginia Army officer who'd died twenty years earlier leaving her to raise their large family. In 1861 she had six grown children and a granddaughter.

1860 Census with five daughters living at home

Published in 1943

Elizabeth's journal, published as Leaves From an Old Washington Diary, 1854-1863, reveals a rather delightful home before the war, full of pretty women in their 20s, many beaus and many boys, like J.E.B. Stuart and Fitzhugh Lee, friends of son Lindsay .

Lunsford Lindsay Lomax (1835-1913) flanked by Confederate friends Fitz Lee & JEB Stuart. Lindsay and Fitz survived the war; JEB did not.

Once war began Elizabeth's Virginia loyalties inspired her to choose the Confederacy.

"April 16, 1861 From Washington City: Rained all night. Reported again last evening that Virginia has seceded, but it is not believed. Events crowd so fast that I cannot relate them in my diary.

April 18 Virginia has seceded!! Heaven help us.

April 19 Visitors all day long. Many people are leaving the city. Great excitement and unrest."

"April 21 This has been a frightfully exciting day. Riots here and in Baltimore, many persons shot, also a heartrending day for [son] Lindsay [who] told me that he had sent in his resignation; Colonel [James E “JEB”] Magruder has also sent in his resignation from the army and will go to Virginia tomorrow where Lindsay will join him…"

A Post-Civil War "Oath"

We see its legacy in our "Pledge of Allegiance."

Living in federal Washington Elizabeth was required to take the "oath," pledging Union loyalty. She refused. Her pension, her job as a copy clerk and carefree days were gone. She and the girls rented out the house and moved to Baltimore.

"September 12, Baltimore. I spent most of the day quilting. Occupation is absolutely necessary to keep one sane in these troubled times, but sewing materials, like everything else, have doubled in price --- due to the war."

#7 Apollo's Lyre by Denniele Bohannon

She taught music lessons trying to keep ahead of wartime inflation. Her Baltimore diary includes several references to quiltmaking. She quilted alone for the most part (we'd guess at her frame) and described quilting rather than piecing or other patchwork.

Fashion Facilitated Smuggling

The Lomax daughters’ Confederate sentiments (and probably some smuggling, etc.) attracted the attention of Baltimore’s Union occupiers. Daughter Virginia Sarah Lomax (1830-1915) and two of her sisters were ordered to leave the city and warned that their return would be punished with treatment as spies. After Lincoln's murder in mid-April, 1865 Virginia ignored the order and found herself imprisoned with suspected conspirator Mary Surratt and other women in Washington's Old Capitol Prison.

Mary Surratt was hung as a co-conspirator in the plot

to kill the President and other government officials.

Indignant at Yankee attitudes after the April, 1865 assassination, Virginia Sarah Lomax published a book full of typical Confederate astonishment that the enemy was lacking in chivalry and manners and prison food was miserable.