Ben,

Repelling moisture is what makes wool bunting so good in addition to its strength. But the Staunton Depot must not have been able tog et enough of it for their flags. The Richmond Depot had bunting problems during the war, most acute in the late spring of 1863 when they ran out and could not make any of the new Second National flags for Lee's army for the Gettysburg Campaign or new ANV flags for Ed Johnson's Division.

Bunting was entirely imported and what came to Virginia came through Wilmington. If none shows up on a blockade runner you either do not make flags until it does or, like Staunton use what you have available in quantity. Not perfect but I guess it worked.

Greg Biggs