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  CONFEDERATE 2ND NATIONAL PATTERN FLAG (STAINLESS BANNER), USED BY VETERANS OF JONES, VIRGINIA AT THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 28.75" x 42.25"
Flag Size (H x L): 18" x 31.75"
Description....:
Confederate 2nd National pattern flag, a rare homemade example, hand-sewn of satin silk and with gold painted text that reads:

WELCOME
COMRADES
JONES VA VOLs
1863-1913

1913 was a landmark anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. It was also the year of the first major Blue & Grey reunion. With the war now 50 years past, this was the first time that the now-aged men from both Union and Confederate troops could gather together and set at least some of their differences aside to remember the good and bad of their wartime military service.

Printed parade flags exist from this event, but flags with pieced-and-sewn construction, which also have text that references the anniversary, are all but unknown; so much so that this is the only one I have seen. They may well have been plentiful during the 1913 festivities, but it seems that almost none have survived.

Also on the short list of surviving colors are 2nd National pattern flags of any vintage, with or without text. Neither wartime or reunion-era examples seem to have been produced in any quantity. One good reason why this is true is simply because it was the second of three successive designs. Nicknamed the "Stainless Banner" because of its white field, it was generally disliked by Confederate soldiers because it looked too much like a white flag of surrender. Both for this reason and because it was replaced by another design, it was rarely the choice of Confederate veterans who were in need of a flag for reunion purposes. During the war, when the flag became official on May 1st, 1863, most ground units already had flags. So with most units already in possession of either a 1st National pattern flag (Stars & Bars) or a Southern Cross battle flag, demand would have been limited to a small handful of newly mustered units, replacement colors, and larger ensigns for ships or garrisons.

Jones, Virginia is a tiny hamlet about 25 miles southwest of Fredericksburg, in Spotsylvania County.

Construction: This is a entirely hand-sewn, one-sided flag with gold-painted text. The canton and field are made entirely of satin silk. There is a herringbone-weave, cotton tape hoist.

Mounting: The flag has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton twill, black in color, which was washed to remove excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose. The flag was then placed in a black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed Italian molding. The front is U.V. protective Plexiglas.

Condition: There is very minor foxing and staining, but there are no serious condition issues.
Collector Level: Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count:
Earliest Date of Origin: 1913
Latest Date of Origin: 1913
State/Affiliation: The Confederacy
War Association: 1861-1865 Civil War
Price: SOLD
 

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