The Civil War Flags Message Board

Re: War Department Capture No. 224

Hugh,

I agree with your conclusion that the flag is from the 40th Miss. I am writing a book on the Battle of Peach Tree Creek, and by process of elimination, as well as by considering the units involved and their locations on the battlefield, I do not believe the right half of Scott's Brigade was as far east and up the hill as the left portion of Featherston's Mississippians. Moreover, the flag matches the remainder of Featherston's Brigade's "national flags". Featherston's Mississippians also carried "battle flags" including the one that was captured from the 31st Miss. at Peach Tree Creek. It is a 12 star St. Andrews' Cross style that was issued to it most likely at Demopolis, Ala. between February and April, 1864. I am told by Gregg Biggs that it was produced at Mobile, Ala., and was part of the lot issued to all of Loring's and French's Division that Spring. Walthall's (Canteys) Division had not yet been created. I would assume that the 2nd National Flags were also issued at the same time.

I know that the 31st Miss.' flag which was nearly captured at Franklin, Tn. , was taken back to Houston, Calhoun Co., Miss. by the Pulliam family who were officers in Company C, apparently the color company for the 31st Miss. I do not now know whatever came of this flag, but assume that it is either lost to posterity or remains in private hands. Perhaps this flag was the "national flag." My own ancestor was from the 31st Miss., and I am also working on a book on the regiment.

The 31st Miss.' flag was captured by a soldier from the 136th New York, from Wood's 3rd Brigade of Ward's 3rd Division of the XX Corps; however, this man, along with 4 companies from the 136th New York, had been on the skirmish line immediately before the Confederate attack, and were pushed back and wound up fighing alongside of Col. Benjamin Harrison's (later U.S. President), 1st Brigade in which the 105th Ill. was included. The Georgia State Historical Marker credits the 105th Ill. for capturing the 12 La. flag on the ridge along Collier Road, and a few yards north of the ridge.

Any flag taken by a unit from Col. Harrison's brigade most likely would have been from Featherston's Miss. Brigade becuase this brigade made the deepest penetration (and the only penetration north of the Collier ridge and road.) The 55th Ala., 57th Ala., and the companies from the 12th La., were a hundred or two hundred yards dressed off to the left or west of the 40th Miss., putting their high water mark of the charge at or near the Tanyard Creek Park parking lot and monuments where this portion of Scott's Brigade were cut down by double "dummy" rounds of grape and cannister from one of Geary's Division's batteries, breaking up their charge and ability to support Featherston's left. Moreover, portions of Geary's Division which had fallen back to the north side of Collier Road, also poured into the Alabamians and Louisianans. The captured 12 La. Flag would had to have occured to the left or west of the Tanyard Park, and over a litle ridge on which the 33rd New Jersey had been posted which split the two parts of the regiment.

The captured flag does not match the Alabamains' flag style as you have noted, it is not taken from a location where the Alabamians were in any organised force, and neither the 55th nor 57th Ala. claim having lost their colors there.

Back to Featherston's front, I have other evidence placing Coburn's 2nd Brigade in front of the 22nd Miss. and the left of the 3rd Miss. The rest of Wood's 3rd Brigade ran up against the right of the 3rd Miss. and all of th 33rd Miss. The 1st Miss. Battl. Sharpshooters had filed out of the front line and formed on the right of the brigade (close to today's railroad line which ran along the east flank of Feathsrston's Brigade attack, generally), and this battalion supported the 33rd Miss. The 33rd Miss.' 2nd national flag was captured by the 26th Wisconsin and it appears to match the flag in question. There is an outside chance that the flag is from the 22nd Miss. or the 31st Miss., but for the reasons set forth above, I believe the 31st Miss. retained their "national" flag through the war. The 3rd Miss.' 2nd national flag was captured at Franklin, Tn. just 4 months later and it also matches the 33rd Miss.' flag and this one in question. Thus, this flag appears to be that of the 40th Miss.

I would like to hear your thoughts and any others on what I have said above, which is based on my research and conclusions from studying this battle over the years, and would like to hear any comments or criticisms that you or others may have to this analysis as it is my desire to get the most accurate and detailed information for the book.

Thanks,
Bob Jenkins,
Dalton, Ga.

Messages In This Thread

Re: War Department Capture No. 224
Re: War Department Capture No. 224
Re: WD Capture No. 224 - Hugh's response
Re: WD Capture No. 224 - Hugh's response
Re: WD Capture No. 224 - Hugh's response
WD Capture No. 224
Re: WD Capture No. 224
Re: WD Capture No. 224
Re: War Department Capture No. 224
E-Mail Response Sent *NM*