The cords were mixed depending upon the branch of service. Infantry was blue & white. Artillery was,IIRC,red and gold, but may also have been red and white. I'll open up the regs later.
The cords were silk. Their purpose was to be cross-braided around the flag after it was furled about the pole. They kept it from unfurling when being carried without the black waterproof case.
The finial is whatever device is mounted atop the pole. Federal regiments usually had a gold-plated eagle atop the pole that held the national colors, and a gold-plated spear point of some shape atop the one with the regimental colors.
On some units, both US & CS, you could occasionally find the finial cast in solid silver, or silver-plated. This wasn't a popular choice, however, as it tended to tarnish rather quickly into a black shade and demanded constant polishing to keep it's sheen. This is also why, after the Mexican War, the US military changed it's flags from silver stars in the canton to gold. The silver paint used tended to also tarnish to the point the stars would disappear pinted a in the blue canton, and they were almost impossible to clean without damaging them.
Confederate units also tended to follow US regulations regarding poles, finials and cords. though, as with federal units, exceptions could always be found if you looked hard enough. 
Oh,and on both sides, poles were USUALLY painted a liquid olive color, same as artillery limbers,etc. However some were stained and coated with boiled linseed oil for a glossy dark wood finish.
bases them up.
