Ben,

The wool bunting used for the Mobile Depot flags was single ply and thus more "open" between the threads, at least those that I have seen, and the Richmond Depot wool bunting flags were double ply with thread counts of between 35-38 per inch. This was a tighter weave.

As Michael stated, the Second Nationals from the Richmond Depot had the fimbration carry all the way around the outer edges of the blue cross - this was the only depot that made them this way. None of the surviving Staunton Depot Second nationals exhibit this trait so we are talking about two different makers for them.

The MOC has a shipment book for blockade runners through Wilmington and where the goods were sent upon arrival. I have been through this some years ago and it details several shipments of bunting from England which came in boxes and bales. How much per box and bale I have no idea but it had to be substantial.

The NA also has the Richmond Depot production log book for 1862 - sadly the only year that survives - and in that year from June through December they made over 700 flags. These included ANV battle flags and First National flags of larger sizes for posts, garrisons, forts, government buildings, etc. The typical US regulations for the larger flags indicate a replacement of them every few months due to wear. The log book also detailed the passing through of the depot the Army of the Peninsula battle flags made in Norfolk in April 1862 to Magruder's army. These were made from the captured wool stocks taken at Gopsort Navy Yard, as were a bunch of the flags made by the depot itself.

Greg Biggs