Jeff and Tom,

Here is what Howie wrote on the FOTC website:

>>>In November of 1863, an officer of General Randall L. Gibson's Brigade of the Confederate Army of Tennessee was authorized to proceed to Mobile, Alabama to procure new flags for Gibson's Brigade. Gibson's instructions specified that the lieutenant sent was to procure "new Confederate flags" that were to be inscribed with battle honors and (as applicable) the "crossed cannon inverted" symbol that indicated the capture of enemy artillery in battle. The lieutenant was successful and returned with a flag for each regiment in the brigade as well as the 5th Company of Washington Artillery. These flags were made of cotton and measured between 36" and 41" on their staff by 58" to 64" on their fly. The red cantons were between 24" and 27" square and bore a 5 1/2" to 6" wide dark blue St. Andrew's cross with 5/8" wide white edging. The flags probably emanated from either Jackson O. Belknap or James Cameron, and in common with the battle flags made by both parties had only twelve stars on the arms of the St. Andrew's cross. The white fields were decorated with both unit designations, battle honors, and crossed cannons (muzzles up) formed from separately cut and appliqued cotton letters or symbols. A 2" wide white linen sleeve finished the staff edge of the flag.>>>

The flag depicted on page 273 IS this flag! There are several examples of this pattern of Second National that survive, mostly Louisiana units of Gibson's Brigade, but they are ALL made the same way! These were made by Jackson Belknap not the ladies of Mobile.

These were issued as presentation/parade flags and none of the ones I have seen in person (all of the LA ones) show any evidence of combat at all.

But they are all uniform in construction.

Greg Biggs