Alan J. Pitts
Re: Color-Bearers & Guard
Wed Jun 6 11:25:29 2001


I have a list of staff officers for each Alabama infantry regiment. The military law of Feb. 17, 1864 included a provision that regimental commanders appoint ensigns, officers with the rank of 1st lieutenant to serve as color bearers. I wasn't able to find who was appointed ensign of the 39th Alabama, but have all the others. Of course this only covers the late war period, so you'd need to review the official records to find mention of non-commissioned color bearers prior to 1864. Sometimes the regimental commander noted that the man he had nominated as ensign had carried the flag for a period of time. I've not seen any Confederate service records that designated a non-commissioned man as color-bearer, although such positions certainly existed.

Also, no ensigns were appointed for cavalry or artillery units.