John,

Another discussion if I might:

>>>As to disobeying orders, I believe that the original post in this chain from Neese about the Virginia flag makes a statement to that. Here was the 10th VA under the command of Colonel Gibbons having entered Jackson's command carrying a flag which after the issue of the silk battleflags was not supposed to be used. Again, the regiment flaunted the Virginia flag in 1862 when the army crossed into Maryland (refer to my previous post). And General Jackson was sitting right there and obviously saw it.>>>>

The ANV silk flags were not issued to Jackson's command in the Valley in 1861. His troops used First Nationals mostly it seems and perhaps a few VA state flags from those units. But the recent book on the 12th Georgia (letters collection) tells that in May 1862, Jackson ordered 20 new battle flags. These were the 12 star ANV style flags made by a Richmond sewing circle (if the history of the flag of the 31st VA of this issued is correct) that were only 42 inches square and had orange tape borders. These were a combination of wool and cotton cloth. I note that the 10th VA served with Jackson from April 1862 onwards and they probably got one of these flags at that time.

It is possible that one of the home made ANV style flags attributed to the 10th VA were instead issued at this time in lieu of the ANV 12 star wool/cotton flags. From what you have stated, there is not much provenance for either of these flags but at some point they get connected to the 10th VA somehow.

Before this they should have been issued one of the ANV silk flags (also 12 stars) as they were in the Potomac District when they were issued to the army from November 28, 1861 into December 9th, 1861. This would have been about a month after they received their VA state flag from Gov. Letcher.

The late Howard Madaus in his extensive examinations of existing ANV flags has stated that the First Wool Bunting flags (the first ANV flags with 13 stars) were issued in June 1862. About 50 of these were given to units of Longstreet's Right Wing (later corps). In July, the ANV Second Bunting flags were issued, again to new units of Longstreet's wing plus some units of Magruder's Army of the Peninsula which had now been absorbed into the ANV (they had their own distinctive colors from April 1862). AP Hill's and DH Hill's Divisions also got them as well as some of Stuart's cavalry.

The First and Second Bunting flags had orange borders and were 48 inches square.

Later in July/early August, the Third Bunting flags were issued, now with white borders. This was the largest issue of ANV flags in the war and this model remained in use until May 1864 when it was replaced with yet another bunting issue (there were seven altogether). The August, 1863 10th VA ANV flag is one of this type of flags.

I offer this information not only for some clarification but also as possibilities of other flags of the regiment.

Greg Biggs