Hi Clarence,

Just back in town. The real Augusta Depot flag for the 5th Georgia is in private hands in Atlanta. This is the flag featured in the article in North/South Trader that I wrote a couple years ago and sent to you. Then flag was issued in February 164 and captured in December at the Battle of Coosawatchie, SC. It was sent back to the 5th GA veterans in the late 19th Century and was brought to many veteran reunions of which I have numerous newspaper articles and photographs for showing the flag in the article. The 5th Georgia never got another Augusta Depot flag that I have ever found and I have been researching Georgia unit flags for over 25 years.

I have never told you that your flag was authentic that I can recall. When you first sent me the picture of it I had reservations about it. No surviving Augusta Depot flag has a white hoist edge for example - and this is based on the numerous examples that still survive. These flags were attached to the staff by ties that were sewn directly to the flag's hoist edge.

I would indeed have this flag looked at by Fonda Thomsen who is now in Texas but still does flag research for a fee. She was the top flags conservator in the US and has done hundreds of flags over the years for the National Park Service, many state museums and many more private flag owners. She can tell by the cloth, thread and sewing style.

Greg Biggs