I have recently run across a letter, dated January 22nd, 1864, from a James M White commanding the Steamer Crescent to the Colonel of the Crescent Regiment. In it he says,

"I would respectfully ask of you the loan of your Confederate flag for the present trip as I am going out on flag of truce for our prisoners and I have no flat. I know no flag that I would rather sail under than the Crescent flag."

This raises several questions:
1) Why would he state "Confederate Flag?" Wouldn't that be obvious or does it indicate what type of flag it is?
2) If "under a flag of truce" does this indicate he would fly both a white flag and a confederate flag?
3) He clearly wrote "I have no flat." Is this a mistake or does the term "flat" indicate a particular sort of flag?
4) Why would a CSS vessel not have a Confederate flag or is it possible that the steamer was privately owned and borrowed for the prisoner exchange?

Just an observation, the letter was routed through an adjutant who noted, "Dear Col, will you be so kind as to loan the old flag to Capt White." It is interesting to note he says the "old flag." Back in February we discussed whether the Crescent carried the same flag throughout the war. Of course this is inconclusive but it does seem to indicate they had this flag for a long time.