Ben,

Regarding this statement:

>>>>>In fact what objective evidence now exists that the red and white geometric flags associated with Magruder are actually BATTLEFLAGS? Why not headquarters markers or the like. And why not the flag described as a battle flag in the above article actually the form of the TRUE MAGRUDER BATTLEFLAG.>>>>

We have the invoice for the flag maker, Almanea Tompkins, for making 40 battle flags for Magruder's army found in the National Archives.

But, most importantly, we also have two of these flags taken at Sharpsburg from Semmes' Brigade most likely, which did receive these flags according to the list that I found in the records book for Magruder's army, also at the National Archives. Both have WD numbers and both are at the MOC today. Both were painted by a Union soldier at the War Department and can be seen in his reissued book of a few years ago.

We also have an account from the 32nd Virginia Infantry, which received one of these flags, from its unit history written by Leslie Jensen that describes its flag at Sharpsburg being the one issued to them on the Peninsula complete with its colors red and white. Jensen found the account in the papers of one of the unit's men at the University of Virginia.

Lastly, there exists, in private hands today, the flag of the 53rd Georgia Infantry of this pattern. This regiment was part of Magruder's army as well.

So we have documentary and physical evidence that the red and white flags were indeed the battle flags for John Magruder's Army of the Peninsula.

This new flag description is new to me and may even be an erroneous description. Sometimes the reporters got it right - sometimes they did not. I have been through years of period newspaper research to back this up too.

Greg Biggs