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EARLY 1863 ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA BATTLE FLAG OF THE 23RD GEORGIA INFANTRY. In September of 1861 Confed. Gen. P.G.T.
Beauregard, in conjunction with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and Gen. Gustave Smith, determined to secure a flag to be used in
battle that was so distinct that it could not be confused with the flag of the United States or other Union regimental flags.
The result of their conference was the adoption of the famous Southern Cross battle flag of the (then) Confed. Army of the
Potomac, afterward the Army of Northern VA. The first sets of these new battle flags were made in Richmond from dress silks
purchased by the Confed. Quartermaster Dept. and presented to the units of the Army of the Potomac in late November and early
December of 1861. As more units joined the forces in the Department of Northern VA, more flags were needed, but the supply
of silk in Richmond had been exhausted by the Fall of 1861 purchases, and cotton made for a poor substitute. However, in Oct.
of 1861, the Richmond Clothing Depot had received a large quantity 195 bolts) of English wool flag bunting that had run the
Union blockade into Savannah in Sept, and with this strong flag material the Richmond Clothing Depot began the regular production
of Army of Northern VA battle flags starting in May of 1862. Production continued at the Richmond Clothing Depot through March
of 1865, and over 1,000 battle flags were made, following one of the seven successive variances that evolved as the War progressed.
This flag follows the pattern of the third type issued by the Richmond Clothing Depot, which was produced the longest (Aug.
of 1862 through May of 1864). In conformity to the pattern established in Aug. of 1862, this infantry size battle flag is
nearly square, measuring 48" on its hoist by 49-1/2" on its fly. The red field is composed of three panels of English
wool bunting joined by flat felled seams, the uppermost and lowest panels each being 18" in width and the center 12"
wide. The red field is traversed, corner to corner and inset, with a dark blue woolen St. Andrew's cross, 5" wide, edged
on its sides with 9/16" strips of white cotton. Thirteen, white, 5-pointed stars, each 3-1/2" across their points,
are appliquéd by hand to each side of the cross at 6" intervals (center to center) from the center star on each arm of
the cross. A white wool bunting border, 2" wide, is folded and stitched along the three exterior edges of the flag, while
a white cotton, twill weave, canvas heading, 2-1/8" wide, is similarly folded and stitched along the staff edge. Three
handmade buttonhole eyelets are worked into respectively each end and the center of the heading through which ties passed
for securing the flag to its staff. This flag was located in Southern CA, held by the descendants of Col. Emory F. Best, who
commanded the 23rd GA Inf. until he was cashiered from Confed. service after a court martial in mid-1863. Col. Best evidently
took this flag with him when he was dismissed
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