The source I am citing is William M. Abernathy, Our Mess: Southern Gallantry and Privations, (McKinney TX: McKintex Press) 1977.

Abernathy originally wrote his memoirs in 1902. He served from Manassas to Appomattox in Company B (Mississippi Rangers) of the 17th Mississippi.

On page 53 he wrote:

By the terms of the surrender the regiments were moved back, stacked arms, folded their colors and lay them across the bayonets. That night as the dusk came in, each of us went to the old flag. It had graven on it the many fields of battle in which we had participated. You know orders had been issued that wherever we fought in battle and did not turn our backs on the foe, we should have engraven on the flag its name. You know Manassas was fought before the Southern Cross was adopted, and yet the regiments had been permitted to engrave this field on their flags. And so ours had on it: Manassas, Leesburg, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, and in all the conflicts of northern Virginia, save Mine Run where Chickamauga took its place.

The 17th lost its flag at Knoxville so the above flag possibly was provided to the regiment after that engagement. The specific mention of Chickamauga would seem to preclude an earlier date. If it was issued from current QM stores it would then probably been a Third Bunting Issue. If it was only issued when the regiment returned to Virginia in the spring of 1864 it could have then been a Fourth Bunting flag.

The 17th Mississippi also had a precedent for non-standard markings on its flag. Its Second Bunting Issue had “Col. W. D. Holder” in the upper quadrant. Holder was elected Colonel in June (?) 1862 and was then badly wounded at Malvern Hill the following month. He rejoined the regiment at some time before Chancellorsville and then was again wounded at Gettysburg. This second wound resulted in his retirement from the army.

The additional of a commanding officer’s name (whether current or past) indicates that the regiment was quite willing to go its own way in terms of adding honours. As an aside, the question that arises is when did his name become affixed to the flag? After Gettysburg would seem the most logical.