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Fine Handmade First National Confederate Flag Possibly Captu

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Militaria Start Price:9,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
Fine Handmade First National Confederate Flag Possibly Captu
82" x 140" wool/linen blend with canton pattern of single central linen star surrounded by 12 haloed linen stars, sewn canvas hoist. According to descendants of the consignor, this flag was reportedly the last flag to fly over Fort Moultrie, South Carolina, one of the forts protecting Charleston harbor and the fortification that opened fire on Ft. Sumter at the start of the war. It was supposedly captured by a soldier in the 7th Vermont Volunteer Infantry.

This story would appear to be apocryphal on several counts. The 7th Vermont Infantry was never stationed in South Carolina, having served its entire three year’s service in the Department of the Gulf in Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama. And perhaps equally as important, in 1865 the forts protecting Charleston Harbor were utilizing arsenal made garrison flags of the second national pattern.

An examination of the service of the 7th Vermont reveals an instance in which a Confederate flag was captured. On July 21, 1864, the 7th, along with units from the 82nd and 86th U.S. Colored Volunteers under the command of Brigadier General Alexander Asboth attacked an earth and log fort in the backwater of the Florida panhandle dubbed “Fort Hodgson” in honor of its commander Colonel Joseph Hodgson of the 7th Alabama Cavalry. In a sharp fight, the Alabamians were put to flight, resulting in the capture of Hodgson’s official papers and muster rolls, a considerable amount of commissary stores, 18 sabers, 18 guns, 23 head of cattle, and a regimental flag. (Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol.35, Part I, pp 413-416.). Whether this is the flag captured at the Battle of Fort Hodgson is speculative, but intriguing. Clearly it is not an arsenal-made flag, and could conceivably have been the type used by this small Alabama force. Unfortunately, without further documentation, it is impossible to ascertain its complete history.


Condition: 26" of hoist torn from canton (still attached to remaining hoist), scattered pulls and mothing in wool, some stains in canton and light fading.