I was taken back by your statement as to ties on the 32nd/45th/3rd Mississippi and the 5th Confederate Hardee pattern battle flags, spring 1864 issue, there is no indication of ties on those flags. The picture included in the write-up by the owner of the 32nd / 45th Mississippi edited by you, shows no indication of ties, nor is it indicated in the write-up or the newspaper article written on the find of the flag. Don’t know what you saw on the other two you mention to indicate they had ties, but a little enlightenment would be helpful.

The four brigades of Cleburne’s Division,(3 artillery batteries, 29 infantry/dismounted cavalry battalions and regiments) received, after December 1863, new Hardee pattern battle flags that had sleeves for attachment. After widespread destruction of Cleburns’s division in the Atlanta campaign, the units that lost flags received new ones, they also had sleeves for attachment. The 8th Arkansas had ties but it is in a Hardee pattern of 1863, and a bit larger then the 1864 issued battle flags. Howard Madaus has more details on these, on your’s and our web site www.Confederate-flags.org

Ties for attachment are in the minority on the 1862-1863 Hardee pattern battle flags unless you count the ones with whipped eyelets, which could be attached by ties or tacks.

The original question was, as to ties on the 2nd Tennessee Hardee pattern battle flag. If they received a 1864 issue, which is unknown, at this time, it would have had a sleeve for attachment but since it is not known to survive, as in the illustration, it is speculative and probably added for a touch of color.

Happy Trails!
Tom Martin
www.Confederate-flags.org