John Worsham, "One of Jackson's Foot Cavalry," writes that Gen. Johnson determined to present the 21Va flag in person to the unit's one-armed color bearer. The flag "was received at division headquarters, and Friday, August 26th [1863] was the day announced for the presentation. On that day the Second Brigade was drawn up in line, and in the presence of many spectators...Gen. Johnson, in patriotic and thrilling words, presented to our regiment its first battle flag....Our flag had the following battles inscribed on it: Kernstown, McDowell, Winchester, Second Manassas, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Through an oversight these were omitted, viz: Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, and Cedar Run. This flag was carried with distinction in all our battles to the end."

Worsham's dating of the presentation is partially confirmed by Jacob Lemley, a musician in 48th Va, same brigade, who maintained a daily diary for nearly the entire war. He recorded that on 26 August "We had a Brigade review this evening at 4 o'clock and a Division review at 5 p.m." The diary does not mention any flag presentations to any unit on this day.

Issues of flags to the 42nd and 48th Virginia ( same brigade as the 21Va) took place on October 9. On that day Jones' brigade quartermaster Maj. James Bruce issued one battle flag to Capt. Fleming Saunders, Asst QM 42Va, in camp near Madison Court House. [Saunders Papers, UVa]. On the same day the 48th Va received a flag [Source NA CSR)

On 21 Dec 1863, Col. Robert W. Withers, commanding 42Va at Morton's Ford, is issued "1 Battle Flag." Why the need to have this second flag issued so soon after the October issue is not clear. Two possible explanations: The 9 October issued flag had the same ommissions as that of the 21Va, and December issue corrected that error, or the 42nd lost at flag, possibly at Paynes Farm in November. Thoughts?

42Va Flag at Sharpsburg

A postwar account by Lt. D.W. Garrett, C/42Va, noted that at Sharpsburg, "Company C had its color bearer shot down and left its colors on the field." [Hardesty's Geographical Encyclopedia Illustrated: Special Virginia Edition, Bedford and Amherst County edition, 1884]. C/42Va had 4 killed and 10 wounded at Sharpsburg, but none of them are identified as being part of the regimental color guard.