"Alabama Regiments at Gettysburg: which flag(s)?" Topic

As the title suggests: Which flag or flags were Alabama regiments likely to carry at Gettysburg? Just the battle flag, or would they carry a state flag too?

wilcox. brigade
3 regiments in archers brigade
these regiments all carried a standard "southern cross".

There are some sources that imply that both State flags and 'local made unit muster' flags were used mainly as camp flags rather than battle flags.

If you get a copy of the book, "The Damned Red Flags of the Rebellion" by Richard Rollins you will have loads of info. The book is _just_ about Reb flags at Gettysburg. The book contains color photos of Reb captured flags and other details of flags NOT photographed. There are quite a few Alabama flags pictured. The book is very well documented. For the Alabama flags shown they are all the standard Reb battle flags with white borders.

Even if you weren't looking for info on just Alabama flags it is an excellent book to have.

Don

actionfront.blogspot.com

"Who ever saw a dead cavalryman?"

Don is absolutely right, it is THE book on Confederate flags at Gettysburg. Brilliant!

Mollinary

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'll try to get a copy of the Rollins book, it sounds great.

There were 17 Alabama regiments present at Gettysburg. According to my notes they carried the following colours:

Law's Brigade

4th Ala – 3rd Bunting battleflag; no unit designation; battle honors:
Upper quadrant – MANASSAS
Hoist quadrant – SEVEN PINES
Fly quadrant – GAINES FARM
Lower quadrant – MALVERN HILL

15th Ala – unmarked 3rd Bunting battleflag

44th Ala Ala – unmarked 3rd Bunting battleflag

47th Ala Ala – unmarked 2nd Bunting battleflag

48th Ala Ala – unmarked 2nd Bunting battleflag

O'Neals' Brigade

3rd Ala – 3rd Bunting battleflag; unit designation 3 ALA on either side of the centre star; battle honours:
Upper quadrant – SEVEN PINES. MECHANICSVILLE.
Hoist quadrant – COLD HARBOR. MALVERN HILL.
Fly quadrant – BOONSBORO. SHARPSBURG.
Lower quadrant – FREDERICKSBURG.

5th Ala – 2nd Bunting battleflag; no unit designation; battle honour SEVEN PINES! on a white patch in the upper quadrant.

6th Ala – 3rd Bunting battleflag; unit designation 6 ALA on either side of the centre star; battle honours:
Upper quadrant – SEVEN PINES. COLD HARBOR.
Hoist quadrant – MALVERN HILL. BOONSBORO.
Fly quadrant – SHARPSBURG. FREDERICKSBURG.

12th Ala – 3rd Bunting battleflag; unit designation 12 ALA on either side of the centre star; battle honours:
Upper quadrant – SEVEN PINES. MECHANICSVILLE.
Hoist quadrant – COLD HARBOR. MALVERN HILL.
Fly quadrant – BOONSBORO. SHARPSBURG.
Lower quadrant – FREDERICKSBURG.

26th Ala – 3rd Bunting battleflag; unit designation 26 ALA on either side of the centre star; battle honours:
Upper quadrant – WILLIAMSBURG. SEVEN PINES.
Hoist quadrant – MECHANICSVILLE. COLD HARBOR
Fly quadrant – MALVERN HILL. BOONSBORO.
Lower quadrant – SHARPSBURG. FREDERICKSBURG.

Wilcox's Brigade
8th Ala, 9th Ala, 10th Ala, 11th Ala, 14th Ala – all unmarked 3rd Bunting battleflags.

Archer's Brigade

5th Ala Batt – 3rd Bunting battleflag; unit designation 5 ALA above and below the centre star; battle honours:
Upper quadrant – MECHANICSVILLE. COLD HARBOR. FRAZIER'S FARM.
Hoist quadrant -. CEDAR RUN. MANASSAS.
Fly quadrant – OX HILL. HARPER'S FERRY.
Lower quadrant – FREDERICKSBURG. CHANCELLORSVILLE.

13th Ala – 3rd Bunting battleflag; unit designation 13 ALA above and below the centre star; battle honours:
Upper quadrant – SEVEN PINES. MECHANICSVILLE.
Hoist quadrant – COLD HARBOR. MALVERN HILL.
Fly quadrant – SOUTH MONTAIN. SHARPSBURG. (note misspelling of Mountain)
Lower quadrant – CHANCELLORSVILLE.

Thank you Ryan, that is the exact information I was looking for. Much obliged.