You are most correct about the Second National coming before Chattanooga. In fact, I have the flag presentation article in my file for this flag from the Augusta Constitutionalist of November 1, 1863. Duuuh on my part!

And I should have known that the 5th GA wasn't at Shiloh - in fact no Georgia troops were there other than a cavalry escort company and the Washington Artillery of Augusta (Girardey's Battery). At least we know they stayed with their First National until captured in December 1862 at Stones River. Thanks for filling in where the 5th GA was at the time. I knew that Jackson's Brigade had been detached from the AOT for Tullahoma along with some other troops (part of Buckner's command heading to the AOT I believe). Too bad- Bragg needed every guy he could get for that one!

Believe me, this is one flag mystery that I would love to solve. I did find a note in CS Staff Officers from one of Polk's staff making mention of getting new flags after Stones River so perhaps this means that they got a Polk Corps battle flag especially if they lost their First National. But who knows. If they did get a Polk flag it would be one of the very few issued to Georgia units (the 41st GA probably getting one before the KY Campaign).

Greg Biggs