The Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board

Re: CSS Arkansas
In Response To: Re: CSS Arkansas ()

"The Ensign (Naval Flag) of the CSS Arkansas is currently on display at the National War Museum in Columbus, Georgia."

We have had this discussion a long time back about this Ensign. But the question has never been answered as to the authenticity of this flag.

When and where was it captured?

The only possible time it could have been captured were either during the attack on the "Arkansas" when it was tied up for repairs at Vicksurg, or if it was left on the "Arkansas" when it was destroyed at Baton Rouge.

The story that I have heard is that when the Arkansas was at Vicksurg the "Queen of the West" tryed to Ram her while she was tied up. The "Arkansas" crew (As you mentioned on 41 on board) slipped the lines (during the heat of battle with the Essex) and caused the "Queen" to glance off the "Arkansas" and become struck in the mud bank beside the "Arkansas".

At some point while the "Queen" was lying beside the "Arkansas" with her decks being swept by close range rifle and cannon fire, someone jumps out a gunport runs across the "Queens" deck, jumps on board the deck of the "Arkansas" climbs her casemates, tears down this flag and then runs back to the "Queen" and hides the flag in a barrel of potatos, where it isn't discovered until much later.

Sounds kinda funny to me. If you went through that much danger to capture that flag, why hide it in a barrel of potatoes and forgotten about?

I believe that this Ensign is misidentified.

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