"When Co. B went to Pensacola, [Florida in April 1862] we carried a silk Confederate flag that I understood was made by the wives of Noah Fountain, James Metcalf, Robert E. E. Ward, Joseph A. Pelham and perhaps others. The first 33rd Alabama flag was of red, white and blue silk, which we exchanged or dispensed with at Tupelo [Mississippi] about June 1862, for a [Hardee pattern] blue and white silk flag some 48 inches square with a white border some two inches wide about it, and a white new moon or crescent moon in the center. The name and number of the regiment were made of silk and sewed onto each side of the flag, thus, 33rd Alabama."
QUESTIONS:
1. Which flag would they have carried in March-April 1862 to Pensacola?
2. The Hardee pattern flag description seems to better match the 1863 3rd pattern - are there examples of 2nd pattern [June 1862] Hardee flags that are 48" square? 3. Could there be a "missing" pattern Hardee flag issued in June 1862 similar to the 3rd Hardee pattern of 1863?
4. Are there any actual examples or other descriptions of a Hardee pattern flag with a "crescent moon" on it? [L.B. Williams added remarks on page 54: "[Hardee flags] do not have crescent moons. Yet Preston was there. He was an eyewitness to the issuance of the flags. He fought under them. The man knew what he saw. When and how the change came from crescent to full moon on the blue field simply is not clear. 'Battles and Leaders' shows a picture of Cleburne's Division fending off Sherman on Missionary Ridge. The flag appearing in that picture bears out Preston's contention, a white crescent."]
Private Preston's quote continues:
"This flag had holes shot in it at Perryville, Ky., and again at Murfreesboro. We drew a new one like it at Wartrace, Tenn. [while in winter quarters], in the spring of 1863. [This would be the Hardee 3rd Pattern.] On this [flag], in addition to the number and name of the regiment, it had Perryville and Murfreesboro in large white letters on each side. At Chickamauga, this one had holes shot in it and the staff was shot and broken near the lower corner of the colors. Neal Godwin, the color bearer, first put the colors on the longer piece of the staff while on the battlefield. Afterwards, he made a new staff...This flag and staff we also exchanged for a [Hardee-Cleburne pattern] new one at Dalton, Ga., spring of 1864, and on this flag was the same lettering as on the older one with the addition of Chickamauga [and Ringgold Gap - this flag at ADAH]...An oilcloth sheath came with each regimental flag and Godwin wore a leather pocket on his belt in which to support the staff."
5. Are there any examples [photos available] of the oilcloth sheath and the leather pocket on a belt?
6. What other evidence or references are available representing the issuance of these Hardee-Cleburne flags sometime in the spring of 1864 that would help narrow down the date? I consider spring to be AFTER Feb. 1864 which has been a referenced month for issuance.
7. Does anyone know when the 15th Miss. Sharpshooters were disbanded in the spring of 1864 - mid to late March or April?
Rob Swinson
reswinson@cox.net
32nd & 45th Miss. (Consolidated) Researcher & Historian