The stars on the flag described bellow are appliqued stars not embroidered, attached with (what I call) a zig-zag loop stitch.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1360131/ANV-7182011/0526_24.jpg The sewing machine that did a zig-zag stitch was patented in 1872. The Singer machine that could do both the straight stitch & zig-zag stitch came about some years later.

The deference between a Richmond made flag & the offshoot, Staunton made 5th issue bunting ANV, is the diameter of the stars, width of the blue bars and the border of the Staunton ANV are white flannel, while the Richmond ANV 5th bunting have a white bunting border. This one appears to have a bunting border http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1360131/ANV-7182011/0526.jpg

The date of issue, October 1864, does conflict with the date of death, 1862. Perhaps this flag was a late or post war gift to the family in remembrance of the Majors service during the war.

To answer an earlier question, on who was responsible for the pattern change of the ANV Battle flag, it appears that a Mr. Daniel Morrison, a clerk in charge of the manufacturing department of the Richmond Depot is.

Another earlier question, there was a detail survey of sewing methods done, years ago but it is held in confidence as part of a counterfeit flag guide

Brunk Auctions

Rare Confederate Army of Northern http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1360131/ANV-7182011/0526.jpg

Virginia Infantry Battle Flag Virginia, circa 1861, plain weave (possibly hand loomed) natural-dyed wool and undyed cotton fabrics, treadle sewn with linen thread, ground fabric triangles assembled from three horizontal panels, saltire fabric cut on the bias, five-pointed stars with traces of fine wool binding stitches on edges, hoist-side border with three hand-embroidered rope holes, overall 46-1/2 x 50 in.,

well constructed and in good condition given age and use, insect damage, stains, grime, fold marks, late 19th century restorations include replacement of hoist-side border fabric and binding remaining edges with wool fabric

Descended in the family of Maj. Richard Kidder Meade, Jr., Engineer Corps of the Confederate States, the great-great uncle of the consigner
Estimate: $5,000 - $10,000

Lot Notes: Usually square, the battle flag of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia was constructed in various sizes for the different branches of service: the flag for the infantry was about 48 inches square. An officer in the United States Army who resigned to join the Army of Virginia, Richard Kidder Meade, Jr. was stationed for a time at Fort Fisher, near Wilmington, North Carolina, and planned defenses at Yorktown, Virginia, during the Battle of Bethel Church, June 1861. He was a member of Robert E. Lee's staff during the Peninsular Campaign (March-July, 1862) and provided strategic information about Union troops during the Seven Days Battle (June 25-July 1, 1862) near Richmond--and especially at the Battle of Chickahominy River, June 27, 1862. Over 2,000 Confederate soldiers who were wounded during the week-long battles were taken to Petersburg, Virginia; deaths from pneumonia and typhoid fever were common. Meade died of typhus in Petersburg at the end of July 1862. He could have acquired this flag during any one of these events, or his family may have been presented with the flag after his death.

Happy Trails!
Tom Martin
www.Confederate-flags.org