The hypothesis Im chasing at present....

....Exploring the thought that these were made by the same individual, business or group, probably located somewhere in the Valley itself, due to the slightly differing charactoristics from the usual RD issues amoungst other items.

...It has also been noted that during this time frame most in the valley tended to mirror and copy whatever Richmond was doing. Staunton at this time was also producing uniform goods. Cant really specificly identify them or tell them apart from what was made and issued out of Richmond... A flag or two earlier made by individuals (non-depot) in western Va seem to have also closely followed/copied what Richmond was doing at the time. By this time if memory serves correctly would have been in the time frame of the Fifth Buntings... hence the probable simularity.

... Have found it not unusual for units working in the valley to go out on their own and procure and make purchases for whatever necessity was needed if it was unfeasible/unable to obtain or unavailable via the depot. Not everything obtained by the troops came only via the depot. If the depot had none, and was not contracting for any, it probably wouldnt be out of scope that units made arrangements for same on their own accord. Which would also help explain the ellusive lack of depot record data relating to them that Ive yet able to find evidence of. If purchased on their own, it should still be reflected in invoices for the respective AQM for the regimental, brigade or division, since he had to account for any and all expenditures from his funds, if such survived. If given as a presentation gift... thats yet another different even more ellusive chase...

Frederick