That is the million dollar question, I have had for the last Twenty years. As many of you know, I work on the captured Union flags. I will type to you what I do know. When Richmond fell, Union soldiers found "250" of their flags, only "58" were "Identified". My associates and I found that "58" list on microfilm at the Library of Congress. The rest of the Unidentified flags are lost, I know they were sent to West Point, but West Point claims they have no flags of that size.

Back in July 2006 we found the "58" "Identified" flags and one flag on the list had us jumping for joy. The 46th Pennsylvania lost their "State Flag" at Chancellorsville. The importance of that flag, proved the 12th Corps did indeed lost a flag. If you look up on Google and type in, "12th Corps history", it will say, "The Corps that never lost a flag or gun". Not only did the 46th PA lose a flag, but the 128th Pennsylvania lost both of theirs when they surrendered in mass. Their Nine month enlistment was up in two weeks and they were not determined to die that day. Knipe's 12th Corps brigade lost many flags. I question the 5th Conn as well. I do not have any paperwork on me right now, but I would question every regiment in Knipe's brigade at Chancellorsville.

The 7th North Carolina captured the 128th Pennyslvania regiment, Colonel Haywood was wounded and he either brought both flags or one of the flags with him back to North Carolina. Confederate authorities wrote him about the flags and to turn them in. I do not know if he kept the flag/flags or turned them in.

Thank you very much for this excellent thread on the missing Union flags.

Have a great day,

Shawn Prouty