I completely agree with the term "hyperbole" to describe statements like this. My first thought, when I read this, was my wife's ancestors, who were members of the 5th Alabama Battalion of Archer's/Frye's Brigade, the "guide battalion" of the Pickett/Pettigrew Charge at Gettysburg. I'm sure you're aware that their flag was lost just north of "the Angle" on Cemetery Ridge. Their flag and the others lost in this famous charge showed signs of damage, but nothing approaching "shot to shreds" or pieces.

I do know that the 5th Georgia, specifically, had a hard day on the September 19th especially, and then again, but less so on the 20th at Chickamauga. What it does suggest is that "something" happened to the unit's flag on the 19th other than capture that required a replacement in October.

I presume, you or our other flag experts have done this, but I was thinking of posting a request for our Georgia in the CWMB participants to look to local period newspapers and archived documents, to see if any "flag presentation" or flag information appears during the period of Jan. 1863 to Sept. 1863 for the 5th Georgia and/or Jackson's brigade. What do you think of this attempt to find something?

During this period, the "5th" was stationed in the Bridgeport/Stevenson, AL area. Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any local newspapers in this Northeast Alabama area that provided news during this period.

Jim

Jim