Greg hit it fairly well :), my theory, classifying a flag associated with where it was made or by pattern is more of a filing tool, not saying that a flag belonged to an installation or particular regiment or army. Some are particular to one army but within that army you have custom patterns associated with one regiment or company. The ANV was more successful in standards on one pattern. They where closer to the central government and money, distance from that government in Richmond was one factor in flag patterns. It was the Confederate Government that wished for a standard pattern for its Armies.

Example, the Charleston Depot contracted for flags of their design, is one way to file, while you had flags of similar size and pattern but made by others outside of the contract and presented to a particular regiment or other, which could be filed in a sub Charleston Depot file or a separate file group, by maker, i. e.. It is just a matter of ones choice on how they ID the pattern of flags.

Post War, it was at a Confederate Veteran Convention in Nashville that tried to place on pattern as a standard for the Confederate battle flag. Being heavily attended by veteran’s from the western armies is one factor a western army pattern was chosen and promoted as “the” Confederate flag (battle flag).

Maybe mythology or not, the ANV pattern was virtually forgotten by historians until the 1960’s. The one hundredth anniversary of the battles of Gettysburg, was another kick started and then pushed by Howard’s book and early works of other vexillologist.

I hope you are not using a movie for historical accuracy, some producers get the best historical facts on flags but sometimes that ends up on the cutting room floor (if they still do that in the digital age). I hope the upcoming movie on Abe does better then “Gettysburg” & “Gods & Angels” did on the treatment of flags.

My two cents.

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