I stated in my letter for the flag that it could have been taken somewhere else like Vicksburg or Arkansas Post, where Burbridge commanded brigades.

But what I kept coming back to was the family lore of it being taken from Morgan. Burbridge commanded all Federal forces in KY in 1864. So he was in the right place at the right time when Morgan did his raid from SW Virginia that ended at Cynthiana. The family lore did not state that the flag came from Vicksburg or Arkansas Post - both of which would have been big enough deals for me to tout that I got a flag from either of them and handed it and that story down to my family and by them to my descendants. Heck, Burbridge got praised quite highly by Gen. McClermand for his conduct at Arkansas Post and if it was me that lead that brigade and got a flag while doing so in that action I would be proud as Hell of that accomplishment and told my kids as much.

But the story stated "captured from Morgan," and in doing the research (using the OR, Morgan's bio by James Ramage and the new bio on Burbridge by Bryan Bush) I pinned down the only place and only time that these two men were on the same field together - Cynthiana.

Would it be even better if we had a written letter from Burbridge stating where the flag was from and how it was captured? You bet - and we flag historians would all benefit from that. But I followed the clues, went back to the family lore and assumed that Burbridge did not lie to his family and went with the Cynthiana capture as the most likely.

Regarding my error on the hoist sleeve for the Morgan flag and in the interest of full disclosure - I did not see it in ideal conditions. I do trade shows pretty much every weekend and made arrangements to meet with the Burbridge descendant in Lansing, MI after the show that I did there earlier this year. He came early during the show and while I was dealing with a lot of customers and clients. So we tried to see the flag as best we could over my tables but I never got to see it all the way open as it would have blocked my tables from the customers. So I did not get to really examine the flag in any depth other than to note the light cloth, the bullet holes and the star arrangements. So I missed the sleeve part. In looking at my file for this flag this morning I noted that I have not even downloaded from the Julia's web site their write up for it so I don't even know what that really entailed. As you know, pole sleeves were not just for rope hoist attachments (usually found only on very large naval and storm and garrison flags, all of which are bigger than this flag) but also to fit over the flag staff of a unit flag. The Charleston Depot flags have pole sleeves as do some of the Mobile Depot flags.

In looking over the report I wrote for this flag I do not note any details other than the red fringe and the bullet holes. This was because I was not able to really examine the flag in any detail and in any good time length. The flag was with me for 20 minutes or less tops.

With regards to your flag, if you find conclusive proof by period description from letters, diaries, newspapers, etc. that it was taken at the barricades on December 16, 1864, we all will rejoice with you and sing your praises for finding the story of this flag. Believe it or not Ben, that is all that any of us have ever asked for here while discussing the flag - full, irrefutable evidence that this flag was taken with Rucker. You, with the flags that you have and have had over the years, should fully expect nothing less than irrefutable evidence.

Greg Biggs