Alan,
Your post makes good sense but, the letters of presentation and acceptance
seem to pose a contradition to the dates and time of rank for Rucker.
Miss Leedy's letter dated Aug. 20, 1864 addressed to Col. Rucker states as follows;
"The Accompanying flag is presented to the officers and men of the 6th Brigade,
Forrest's Cavalry".
Rucker replies on the same date;
"In behalf of the officers and men of MY Brigade, I tender you my sincere thanks
for the beautiful Battle Flag just received." Rucker signs the letter as
"Colonel Comd'g Brigade".
The inscriptions on the flag are without doubt war-time. Rucker's command problems
seem to have no reflection on the time of presentation and the intent of the donors.
Rucker apparently gave the flag to what was or would become his escort company.
The flag would certainly be within the bounds of being considered Rucker's HQ flag
as any escort company would certainly be in the vicinity of the person being escorted.
The rest of Rucker's Brigade carried the Mobile made flags of which a good dozen still
survive (probably more). WD#458 attributed to the 7th Ala. Cav is one of those flags.
Barring any firm evidence (and I have seen none) any flag resembling the Rucker flag and
presenting itself as a Regimental flag of that Brigade is blatantly misrepresented.

Ken