Hayes Lowe
Flags at the fall in Ala.
Thu Apr 12 12:48:33 2001


I think that you draw a different conclusion on the Clanton Brigade flag than I do. I have always taken the conclusion to be that the flag that was returned (that of the Hayneville Guards) was not the same flag identified at the time of capture as that of Clanton's Brigade. The descriptions don't match.

The flag history of the 7th Ala. Cav. also is in conflict with the 7th joining Buford's Brigade. One company of the 7th carried the brigade flag for Rucker's Brigade. "Captain Storrs' company continued to carry the flag until the end of the war. The last flag bearer was F. C. Gregory of Montgomery. The flag was preserved after the war by Captain Storrs who donated it to the Alabama Department of Archives and History on July 8, 1907." Now, why would the 7th have continued to carry the brigade flag of Rucker's Brigade if it was assigned to Buford's Brigade? Was Rucker's Brigade disbanded? That might explain it.

At any rate, if the flag was indeed that of a regiment of Buford's Brigade, it must have belonged to the 4th Cav., as the flag carried by the 7th is accounted for and at the ADAH.