We wish there was a listing of where these flags went to!!!!

The ANV did not get these Second National flags until the fall of 1863 (despite what you see in the film "Gettysburg"). This was due to a shortage of imported English Bunting to make the flags which was also the primary reason that Ed Johnson's Division did not get new ANV flags before Gettysburg. I have correspondence in my files from the National Archives that talks about the bunting shortage.

The Second Nationals made by the Richmond Depot can be told by the white fimbration going completely around the edges of the blue cross. John Coski and I located where the Richmond Depot was and it was not big enough to bring in lots of people to make flags, uniforms or much else. They had space for the bulk cloth and at least 60 cutters who cut the bulk cloth into uniforms and flag kits to be taken home for sewing. The larger flags may have been sub-contracted to local flag makers but having been through their files in Citizens & Business, none of these flags have been found in their respective files. Prominent among Richmond flag makers was George Ruskell who did make large sized First Nationals in 1861 (that for the state capitol was 18 by 25 feet) and would be a prime candidate for larger Second Nationals but his invoices do not indicate that. In fact, the last invoice I have for him is October, 1862. To me this indicates that all major flag making was taken over by the Richmond Depot.

Greg Biggs