I knew the late Rich Rollins and helped him some with his book on CS flags at Gettysburg. So I knew what he was after and his thought process for the book.

He based his IDs for some of the flags on the best evidence. As we know, the capture of unmarked CS flags often lead to mis-ID for them. The 14th TN/19th GA flag taken at Fredericksburg by the Pa Reserves unit is one such case. Proof has come that it was undoubtedly the 14th Tennessee's flag yet it was turned in as the 19th GA's.

Offhand, I think three VA regiments used older flags on July 3, 1863. The 8th VA, 38th VA and 14th VA (if that ID is correct) used their older flags instead of those issued in June 1863. The 19th Mass. account I have had them behind the line of another regiment and Cowan's Battery and then they moved to one flank to deal with the breakthrough. Armistead's Brigade (with the 14th VA) shifted NE behind those of Kemper and Garnett's after they reached the wall. The 19th Mass also shifted north connecting with the 72nd PA but Gottfried's GB maps book still has them behind the Federal regiments to their front.

Accordingly, I would bet that some of these flag pickups were after the fact and found lying on the ground. I know of some cases of that taking place. I will have to read the unit history of the 19th Mass and their OR report and see what they have for details.

Rollins missed about three more flags that popped up after his book was done and after he passed away. It would be great to do an updated version of this work - which has tremendous research into it.

Greg Biggs