Hello,

Research has shown that the first batch of Van Dorn flags came about in June 1862 made by the ladies of Guntown, MS for the Missouri Brigade (Cockrell's) that had come east of the Mississippi River. Two of these flags survive today and they have fringed exterior borders and thirteen stars set on the red field in a somewhat haphazard fashion.

The second batch came from a flag maker in Jackson, MS (several were listed on a Jackson based QM report) in August/September 1862. These had color borders (white or yellow) and the stars set on the field in a 3-2-3-2-3 pattern from top to bottom (for the most part). By this time these flags equipped Van Dorn's Army of the West and were used at Iuka and Corinth in September/October 1862 where some were captured. Some units of the Port Hudson garrison also had them based on the flag of the 15th NW Arkansas Infantry that survives today.

Two had battle honors on them - the Arkansas flag above and a Van Dorn variant taken at Iuka from the 3rd Louisiana Infantry (private collection).

That's about all we know for these flags. The crescent by the way i from the Missouri state Coat of Arms and was used to help lure the Missouri troops to cross the river to fight in Mississippi.

Greg Biggs