The NC Museum of History holds a very tattered silk eight-star first national flag associated with Company E, Buncombe Riflemen, 1st North Carolina Volunteers. I believe this flag may have been carried at Bethel. It is documented that after the war the name "Bethel" was placed on this flag. The museum also holds another flag which is a small banner with the name "Buncombe Riflemen" on it. You are correct in that no one carried the 1861 pattern state flag as it had not been adopted. A few months after the battle the 1st North Carolina Volunteers did receive one of the early silk issue North Carolina issue flags with the battle honor "Bethel" on it.