Hugh,
This chain has evolved into something that probably ought not to be on the Georgia board.
But to answer your question regarding the red flag.
On January 9, 1861, the Star of the West was sent into Charleton harbor to resupply and reinforce the Federal squatters at Fort Sumter. It was not an innocent mission. It was an illegal entry and was driven back by shots from Morris Island. Manning the old 24-pdrs. at Morris Island were students and staff from the S.C. Military Academy (Citadel). Aboard the Star of the West, a Lieutenant Woods noticed a "red flag" flying over the battery. It is not a surety that the flag included a palmetto and crescent, but it has become such a Citadel tradition that one would probably not want to make an issue of it.
It could have been a red flag with just a crescent on it, harking back to Sgt. Jasper's flag of 1776. It could have been a red flag with a white star. It could be that very few Citadel students are aware of its history. I can imagine the Citadel flag flying upside down when the School Band recently struck "Dixie" from its repertoire.
Nothing is as it once was. That's why "once was" is so precious.