Otay
.. I think we have narrowed down this inquiry and chase to a "possible" undocumented Richmond Depot Issue.. maybe..

Data review...
The initial flag examined is identified to the 26th Va (captured at Saylers Creek) The star spacing was similar to the 3rd bunting.. yet the star sizes were larger and more similar to either the 4th or 5th bunting.. and the center star is missing... making it a 12 star flag.. Its oddity sparked further research and evaluation... none of these appear to have ever had a center star.. Ben took the time to evaluate the spacing forte and if there was ever a center star it didnt follow the same spacing that all the others were.. So most likely as predicted probably never had a center star.. Examination of the flag of the 26th had no evidence found that would suggest it ever had a center star..

Three flags of this exact charactoristic type have been noted... A flag belonging to the 12th Va.. that was known to have been a replacement flag for the one they had severely damaged at the Battle of the Crater.. thus it would be reasonable to assume these flags were issued around Aug 1864 or later... The other two 26th Va, and 12th NC... no issue date yet known, but both were captured at Saylers Creek in April 65.

The star spacing seems consistant between the three with slight variations as is common.. All have the oversized stars that barely fit within the blue cross,(like the 4th bunting)and kinda clustered towards the center similar in fashion that is charactoristic of at least the ANV 3rd bunting. A key item Ive noted in regards to the stars amongst these three examples... In most other ANV flags Ive examined some that have no real orientation pattern and placed at random angles.. however moreso I have found it more common that the stars on a given segment of the cross typically all orient in the same direction either point up or down (If you had the cross segment laying straight across in front of you).. Since the stars were normally placed upon the blue cloth prior to assembly on the flag body.. this just seems to have been a common habit..

If you again look at each segment or branch of the cross of these three flags as if it was laying horizontal in front of you... Have noted that the star orientation is alternated on each arm of the cross consistantly, up-down-up or down-up-down... on all three of these flags... This could easily be suggested that this might have been a pattern detail.. and/or could also give possibility that all three flags were made by the same individual...

Could these just be a transient hybrid made of pre-cut out parts between two different bunting issues that we are more familiar with... Maybe have uncovered a brand new previously undocumented Richmond Depot Bunting issue type of its own... Even if it might have been a rather short lived one...

Frederick