"How many flags would each Confederate regiment carry? " Topic

Having just finished my first 300 Confederate infantry, how many flags would each Confederate regiment carry during Lee's Maryland Campaign?

These are regiments I am trying to depict:

Walker's Division
Brig. Gen. John G. Walker

Walker's Brigade
3rd Arkansas: Capt. John W. Reedy
27th North Carolina: Col. J. R. Cooke
46th North Carolina: Col. E. D. Hall
48th North Carolina: Col. R. C. Hill
30th Virginia

Ransom's Brigade – Brig. Gen. Robert Ransom, Jr
24th North Carolina: Lt. Col. John L. Harris
25th North Carolina: Col. H. M Rutledge
35th North Carolina: Col. M. W. Ransom
49th North Carolina: Lt. Col. Lee M. McAfee

Hood's Division – Brig. Gen. John B. Hood

Hood''s Brigade – Col. William T. Wofford
18th Georgia: Lt. Col. S. Z. Ruff
Hampton (South Carolina) Legion: Lt. Col. M. W. Gary
1st Texas: Lt. Col. P. A. Work
4th Texas: Lt. Col. B. F. Carter
5th Texas: Capt. L N.M. Turner

Law''s Brigade – Col. Evander M. Law
4th Alabama: Lt. Col. O K. McLemore
2nd Mississippi: Col. J. M. Stone
11th Mississippi: Col. P. F. Liddell
6th North Carolina: Maj. Robert F. Webb

Assistance will be much appreciated!!

Raglan

1 per regiment.

1 battle flag per regiment was standard, but some units did also carry a state flag early in the war, up to 1862.

Texas regts. are one example, but it was rare.

The 1st Texas state flag was captured in the cornfield at Sharpsburg.

Thank you gentlemen, that makes things easier.

Raglan

m'Lord it all depended on the regiment and year. Some units carried state flags right through – and a great many others didn't. Add to this independent unit flags as well and it becomes complicated as there is not enough surviving material for us to have an absolute idea. And what about the small regimental flags that were on both ends of the regimental line to aid in keeping a line, to add to the mix?

In fact Confederate units carried a great number of different various looking flags compared to the federal forces.

Troiani's famous Lone Star painting shows Texas regiment at Antietam with the Lone Star and a Battle Flag. The North Carolina state flag was similar to Texas – White Star but on red bar, and white over blue stripes.

Given your period choice I would suggest around up to 30% of your regiments with State and Battle, the rest just Battle flags made up of a few early rest the one we all now know……

If you want you can add independent flag in that mix as well…

I will dig around a bit deeper, but not tonight…….

1st Texas Flag

More Flags of Texas

Alabama Regt Flags of the Civil War

Hampton's Legion

Bonnie Blue and others

Mississippi Flags

Since I am slowly progressing through the years of the war, I started in the west in 1861, where they flew many unique flags, and then progressed to the early pattern "stars and bars" national flag. I just created new command stands as I went along. As I move into 1862 I'll have to start to add stands with the iconic ANV battle flag.

It's a bit easier for the Union, although where some of the state flags were more unique (and it would show up in 10mm) I try to make sure to have the right ones handy.

Here is a post from my blog of some of our Confederate flags that have been restored. The pictures should give you an idea of what our regiments carried. One of the restored flags is a company flag that was presumably carried throughout the war.

link

Click on the pictures to get larger images.

Jim

As others have said, one per regiment would likely have been the norm by the time of Sharpsburg. There were exceptions. At least one North Carolina regiment apparently carried both its state flag and its ANV battle flag at Antietam.

It should also be remembered that not every unit may have had an ANV battle flag.

FWIW, when Lee assumed command of what became the Army of Northern Virginia, he put out an order that the only flag to be carried upon the battlefield would be the battle flag itself, the St Andrew's cross version.

Now, there were some instances of regiments keeping State flags, but they were VERY MUCH the exception, and not the rule. So, by July/August of 1862, those state flags would be a minority within the ranks.

Also, each infantry unit carried two flank markers whenever in formation. Many of these ended up as miniature versions of the battle flag, most square with the occasional one cut like a swallow tail. Others were small square flags with the unit name/number on them, etc. But they WERE used, were present and something I just wanted to toss out for your consideration.

V/R

Here is what I can find in my flag notes concerning the flags of Walker's and Hood's Divisions at the Battle of Sharpsburg.

The flags for Walker's Division are among the more poorly documented of any of the Confederate units at Sharpsburg. All the North Carolina regiments had been transferred to the Army of Northern Virginia from the Department of North Carolina in late May or early June 1862. At that time they most likely were carrying either a First National or a North Carolina State flag. Presumably they were subsequently issued either an ANV 2nd or 3rd Bunting Battleflag, but there are no exiting flags to prove this one way or the other.

The 30th Virginia had been in the southeast Virginia area for some time and may already have been issued an ANV Battleflag or was still carrying either a First National or a Virginia State flag. Again, there is no evidence either way.

The 3rd Arkansas, however, is known to have used a First National flag at least until December of 1862.

Law's Brigade is somewhat better documented. The 11th Mississippi is known to have been issued a new flag on the 6th of November 1861. This is believed to have been an ANV Silk Issue flag inscribed with the unit designation ELEVENTH MISSISSIPPI and the battle honour MANASSAS.

At much the same time on 10 November 1861 the Governor of Mississippi acknowledged receiving a flag from the 2nd Mississippi. It is presumed that the 2nd Mississippi sent their earlier flag to their home state upon the receipt of a new flag. Almost certainly this new flag was also an ANV Silk Issue flag. Given the circumstances of the issuance of these two flags is is very likely that the other two regiments in the brigade were given similar colours.

The 6th North Carolina is known to have been presented a unique state flag that might also have been present at Sharpsburg.

link

The Sharpsburg flags of Hood's Brigade are much better understood. Both the 1st Texas, the 18th Georgia and Hampton's Legion had been provided with an ANV Cotton Issue flag in early 1862. The 1st Texas additionally carried a Texas State flag. Hampton's Legion also had a distinctive SC flag, although it may not have been usually taken into battle. Presented to the Legion by President Jefferson Davis in July of 1861, this silk flag, approximately 6 feet square, had an obverse solferino, or reddish purple, field with a silver embroidered palmetto tree and crescent. On the reverse blue field the unit designation was set inside a wreath.

The image linked below illustrates both the Cotton Issue flags and the 1st Texas State flag.

texas-brigade.org/frmain1tex.htm

In early 1862 the 4th and 5th Texas were both provided with regimental flags made by Louise and Fannie Wigfall, the daughters of the first commander of the Texas brigade. The 4th Texas continued to carry their "Wigfall flag" until after the Maryland campaign.

link

The 5th Texas, however, contrived to instead use only a state flag privately purchased by their officers. Their "Wigfall Flag" was conveniently "misappropriated by persons unknown", leaving the state flag as the sole regimental colour borne by the 5th Texas until after Sharpsburg. This state flag was a First National with a single star in the canton.

link

Thank you Ryan Toews, TKindred, Bill N, Col Campbell and CATenWolde for the additional info. I have just added to my notes info. presented. This is why TMP is such a great place, thank you Gents!

Nice detail gentlemen, thanks.

Now, if only I could get hold of Rick O'Brien to place an order : (

Raglan

BTW there is a book out there Flags of Civil War North Carolina by Glenn Dedmondt. Unfortuntately I haven't seen it so don't know what if anything might be relevant to you, or how accurate it is.

Forgot to add this link. It's an excellent primer on CS flags in all departments.

confederate-flags.org

In fact Confederate units carried a great number of different various looking flags compared to the federal forces.

Yes, and it really adds interest to the CSA, especially for those who have a fondness for flags.

Cheers,

Nice one Tim, that looks like a useful website.

Raglan

If 1 figure represents several men, then 1 flag-bearer figure represents all the flags. KISS.

Lots apparently….