"Over 15 years ago a very real Confederate flag walked into an antique mall/flea market. It was a white flag with a red St. Andrews cross and upon the cross was 13 blue stars. The size about 46" by 46".""THE Rucker's Brigade flag was found by a "picker" in the mid-western US. It was sold for little or nothing to a dealer operating out of Renninger's Antique market in south central PA. From this dealer, who always did get, and still has the best I acquired at least 5 great flags between 1985 and 2000."
"All we knew about the flag was that it was taken at or near Franklin TN in 1864."
"The flag had a full and detailed forensic report stating it was of the period 1861 to 1865."
"Wow, here WAS my flag BUT an all gussied up version; Sunday go to meeting and all that there. No other flags of this description have turned up anywhere. There are two known only MINE and the presentation version of mine now under discussion."
Best I can determine from this, Ben has a good business relationship with the dealer who sold the flag. Based on his personal experience, Ben believes the man to be trustworthy. He gave us the dimensions and design of the flag. As far as its provenance, the flag arrived by way of a "picker" from the midwest. What the heck is a picker?
I don't understand how Ben or the picker "knew" the flag was taken at or near Franklin TN. For that matter, who wrote the forensic report mentioned and what exactly does it state?
The connection between what I will call the Storrs flag at the ADAH and this flag appears to be intuitive - "Wow, here was MY flag...all gussied up".
The key assumption appears to be that the pattern matches the Storrs flag, so it MUST be another Rucker's Brigade flag. Also, since this one was said to be captured at or near Franklin TN in 1864, it MUST be the one captured with Rucker as mentioned in U.S. reports of the battle. Furthermore, the flag MUST have been produced by the same hands that made the Storrs flag, at the same time and place. Colonel Rucker rode away with a brigade flag he could use for presentations or parades, and another for all other purposes. We're also assuming this MUST be fairly standard practice at the time -- two flags for each brigade, one for dress occasions and another for field use.
Did I miss anything?