I'm going to be writing a chapter for a new book on women in Texas during the Civil War. Mine focuses on the time period between the 1860 election, through secession and early mobilization, to the end of August, 1861. A large part of it will deal with flag presentations, based on my newspaper research. I'm already thinking ahead to illustrations. There are no engravings or photographs of Texas women presenting flags, but there are flags, and there may other illustrations that we could perhaps use if they aren't too expensive. This is a university press book, so not a whole lot of money. At this point we're looking preliminarily at several at the Texas Civil War Museum, pending whatever agreements that have to be made. Specifically, the 11th Texas Cavalry Flag (unit organized summer 1861 in Grayson County), the Magnolia Rangers flag (July 4, 1861, Texas State Militia, Galveston County), and the Corpus Christi Light Infantry, 8th Texas Infantry flag (June 11, 1861, presented but not made by the ladies). Also perhaps the Co. K, 3rd Texas Cavalry flag recently purchased but not yet conserved (June, 1861). I am also tempted by the 10th Texas Cavalry "Strike for your altars and your homes" flag, probably fall of 1861, because the motto fits the chapter so well. That flag is in Austin. It, and many others, are in Maberry's Texas Flags book.

Do any of you have any other suggestions, either of flags perhaps in unusual places, or of illustrations?

Vicki Betts