A year ago, I acquired a First National Pattern flag is very interesting on several levels. I believe that it is a regimental battle flag. It measures 71” on the hoist by 47” on the fly and has a blue canton of 22-23” on the fly by 32” on the hoist. It is pieced together in a manner suggesting that it was constructed in part from a disassembled U.S. flag. It apparently was an original seven star flag which would date it to very early 1861, then three additional stars were added, with the 10th star being for either Tennessee or North Carolina depending on what dates one is looking at for admission into the Confederacy. The star pattern of a star and a hexagon within the main seven stars is apparently unique and may provide some clue to the flag's ultimate identification. The positioning of the three additional stars is also unique.

This flag was rediscovered in the summer of 1969 in an attic trunk at the Camden Historical Society, New Jersey by a summer intern who is very well known in collecting circles. Two flags were in this trunk, with the other being a slightly smaller, 3' x 5', 10 star (circle of eight with two in the center) First National identified to the CSS LeCompt, which was taken off of Galveston, TX on 24 May 1865, the last flag captured in the Gulf. This flag was sent to Acting Rear Admiral Thatcher who forwarded the flag onto the Navy Dept. How it ended up in New Jersey is a mystery. Because of it's ID, the LeCompt flag was subsequently donated to the Smithsonian. My flag was deaccessed and traded to a prominent Civil War dealer. Howie Madaus saw this flag several times and was very interested in the star pattern. I believe that his notes at Carlisle Barracks may shed some light, but I am on the West Coast and haven’t scheduled a visit back there yet. Subsequently the flag passed through several hands and now into mine.

The items rediscovered in the CHS's attic were attributed to the Burlington County Lyceum of History and Science and, indeed, there is a small card with my flag saying that it was a gift from them. I speculate that the flag originally was in the GAR General G. A. Shivas Post #26 at Burlington, NJ, donated by one of their members. Charles Evan Merritt, who was commandant of the Shivas Post was also President of the Lyceum in the late 1880s and 1890s. When the Post closed, I think that many of their artifacts were given to the Lyceum. The Lyceum closed in 1931 and its things dispersed. When they reopened in the 1950s there was apparently no previous inventory of what they had. Of course, this is my speculation. Much research still needs to be done.

I can provide photographs and my diagram of the flag to anyone who is interested. My email address is jpbcoast@aol.com.