It is nice to see that someone has tried to make some since of real or fiction in this thread.

["The flag had a full and detailed forensic report stating it was of the period 1861 to 1865.”]

I have to laugh when I see the words “detailed forensic report”, I don’t think we are investigating a crime here, but then again?

Shannon Pritchard’s post looked like a Wikipedia page, detailing a process, HPLC. One which could be as much as 50 years off. Was the lab AIC certified? No way is this a detailed “forensic” report.

From my notes at the Star-Spangled Banner House Flag Symposium, Fonda Thompson.

Provenance is not always reliable, even when given in good faith.

Overall materials structure, of the whole flag, photos during and before the examination.

The removal of any organic and/or animal microscopic fibers, by vacuum or nonabrasive cosmetic sponges. Testing and identification of soiling, urban pollution, including carbons, soot, salts, pollen and oils.
.
The material, mechanical loom or hand loom, sewing methods. Mechanical damage, frayed edges, splits, tears and losses. Fiber count, weave count.

Textile fibers removed from the deferent textiles on deferent parts of the flag, analyzed against known samples and dated, chemical analyzed, under supervision of the conserver.

Fiber identification and pigments, animal or plant. Find the source of the pigment, purpurin, indigotin, apigenin, alizarin or others.

A conservators report would bring analyzation of all test to date a flag. One test does not accurately date a flag. If the flag was ever in Franklin, Tennessee some of these test might prove or disprove it.

Between 1830 and 1870 beeswax was used on cotton thread to help strengthen it and for easy sewing. If the beeswax was not removed from the thread or fibers then the test are way off. After 1870 paraffin wax was sometimes used, until modern process were used.

Happy Trails!
Tom Martin