Thomas,

Happy to help. I hope that something turns up as to why the 7th Texas was not carrying their Hardee/Cleburne flag at Franklin.

MacArthur was wounded in front of the Carter House if my memory serves.

The flag looks almost identical to that of the 50th Tennessee (also 15 stars), and based on a conservator's examination, was probably made by the same person. There is no blue cross on the reverse side; the wool is the same style with an orangeish coloring in one of the treads; the stars are cut through and the blue cross is pieced together by bits of blue bunting. The Tilghman flag is much too fine and certainly more refined in materials and construction than the 7th Texas and 50th Tennessee flags are.

The 40th Alabama also had a 15 star ANV style flag while fighting in Mississippi but it is square and according to its history was issued in late 1862. I think we are looking at a series of 15 star ANV style flags in use in the Vicksburg Campaign.

Greg Biggs