First of all, when I said I saw the flag in Iowa, I mean I was on a step stool looking in the cabinet at it! =) =) I can tell you the suit I had on that day (the experience is seered in my mind =).

I have had contact with Ben Hudson, as he was one of the first people I contacted because he had written up something on the internet about Fort Blakeley. I found him to be a very nice gentleman. If I may offer a possible explanation for his actions, the naysaying from the other side has been rather hostile at times, so that may be why he will not share. I do not know him and have not had contact with him for awhile (internet stalker (not him) - long story), but I do know that after I read some of the things written in emails and on this board, I didn't want to have anything to do with anybody about the flag. And, while some of the facts might be debatable, Ben Hudson has stuck with it and the flag is coming home! So good for Ben =). I couldn't have done what he did and gotten the flag back to SC for a visit, so I admire him for what he has been able to do. With that being said, I do understand where you are coming from.

From the P&C reports, it seems that the Citadel is not saying it "is" the same flag, but that it represents what a flag of that time period would have looked like and is more historically accurate than their current 1970 edition which has the early 1900's Salley created crescent. I expect you will accept that; it's the saying it "is" the same flag that is getting your goat. But, without that rather weak "is" there is no way the Citadel would, or probably could raise the money to bring the flag home. And as a South Carolinian, I'm just happy the flag is coming home.

>>>>>>Another thing the CHC conveniently ignored was the period report that the flag on Morris Island flew for at least three weeks and the flag in Iowa shows NO wear and tear for a flag that would have flown in a sea breeze for anything close to that time frame. You and the CHC guys have only seen the pictures of it - I have seen the actual flag when I was in Iowa a couple years ago looking over their CS flags collection. There is NO such wear and tear from flying in any sea breezes! <<<<<<<<

As far as the damage to the flag, I can't say; I don't know how it should look after 3 weeks in the wind. What you say makes sense, but then again, where could it have flown and be in as good of shape as it is in. Surely not on a ship, as the winds would have been just as bad and would have done as much damage. Which then begs the question, how did a SC flag get to Mobile, be in pretty shape approx 150 years later, and be picked up by the Iowan?

>>>>>>The Ft. Blakely part can be, in my opinion, discarded. The guy that got the two flags - this SC flag and the large FN flag - came from, according to him, Mobile. His regiment was in and around that city for over two months and no one can disprove at all that he did not find the flags where he said he found them! Heck - it is even more logical that he got them there than at Blakely for that would have been a combat capture of flags and I can tell you that even if I am 100, and I took flags in battle, I would recall that to a "T" at that age! Yet his own statement to the Iowa Historical Society states "Mobile." <<<<<<

Very good point, here. Except, I'm thinking the note was written for him. I lost a lot of emails when I changed email addresses, but there is some tingling in my brain that is telling me that (but I have no proof). So the person could have just identified where the Fort was, i.e. Mobile and not identified the Fort. BUT, and its a big BUT, I think like you, that if it had been captured by him during a battle, it would have been identified as such. Which brings us back to what the heck was the flag doing in Mobile for him to pick up.

With your experience, I can see where you have problems with the Citadel report. But as a South Carolinian, I'm just happy the flag is coming home for a visit. If that means the Citadel embarrasses itself, so be it.

It's such a beautiful flag, isn't it?