Gents,

The flags of Vicksburg in 1863 are based only on those taken at Champion Hill and Big Black River plus the few that survive known to have been carried in the campaign. These break down into three basic types so far:

1) First Nationals (not sure if Pemberton actually ordered any but they were there) including the one mentioned in the previous post and that of the 31st Alabama (Champion Hill) and a couple Tennessee flags from Big Black River. A First National from a Mississippi unit was taken in Jackson by a Minnesota regiment. One of the Port Hudson garrison flags taken when that post fell after Vicksburg was a First National.

2) Bowen/Missouri pattern flags - blue and red versions (Bowen's and Stevenson's Divisions - at least some of the latter). There is a woodcut of CS troops surrendering at Vicksburg and stacking arms and colors and the flags shown are of this pattern. A period newspaper report states the same by description.

3) ANV style flags, some bearing 15 stars (7th Texas, 42nd GA, 50th TN and I think an Alabama unit so far plus the Tilghman HQ flag). 7th Texas and 50th TN were both Fort Donelson captured and exchanged regiments and served in Gregg's Brigade in Mississippi.

If memory serves, Grant's report states that 85 flags were taken at Vicksburg and NONE were sent to the War Department. With this many missing flags we will never know for sure what the complete flag breakdown would be in terms of what patterns and how many. Two turned up on loan to the Cincinnati Sanitary Fair in December 1863 courtesy of Gen. Frank Blair - a Texas and a Louisiana unit flag according to the account.

Greg Biggs