I'm kinda taking a shot in the dark here, but hoping perhaps Greg Biggs or Ken Legendre might be able to provide an answer or at least take an educated guess. So here goes. As far as I know, the only references to early-war 2nd Mississippi Regimental colors were a Harpers Weekly sketch showing the 2nd Mississippi "Wildcats" passing through Winchester, VA in mid-1861 prior to 1st Manassas. If the sketch is accurate, it appears to show the regiment with a variant of the First National design, although you really can't make out the details. There is a second "hint" that another early flag may have existed from an early powder horn carving possessed (I don't know if he carved it himself) by Private James C. Knight at Camp Fisher, VA. Again, early war. I've attached the link to the images below. On it he has carved a 12-star battle flag with "Victory or" in the top quadrant and "Death" in the bottom quadrant. I have no idea if this was a real flag, or simply came from Private Knight's imagination. I believe after Sharpsburg, the 2nd Mississippi's regimental colors were sent back to Jackson to the Governor after the circa early 1863 colors were issued. That earlier flag is lost to history. Maybe became a trophy when Sherman occupied the town during the Vicksburg Campaign.

At any rate, any thoughts appreciated on either a First National Variant or the "Victory or Death" flag. Of course I am aware of the early Company G First National variant design, but that was a company flag and not the regimental colors.

Thanks!