GDG- Wright's Brigade flag captures

[Biggsk at aol.com]

Laurie Schiller writes:

4) What  we do have is concrete reports (and a flag capture) of fighting the 
Georgians  by units south of the copse and a battery over run down there 
(Brown). The  fact that the main Union line was not 
broken there does not validate  Wright and make us search for a place that it 
was (since there are no other  reports in that sector that it was) but makes 
us reasonably doubt Wright's  veracity - and of course we have never seen an 
OR that exaggerates what a unit  has done. Nor is it very convincing to suggest 
that AFTER the breakthrough,  Wrights units retreated, not back west where 
they came from, but curling to  the south in front of Webb and past the copse to 
the south where they were now  engaged in more fighting, thus explaining the 
flag capture of the 48th GA.  Possible, but pretty weak. Why not retreat 
directly away from danger instead  of passing in front of more?



Wright's Brigade actually lost two flags in this assault - the 48th  Georgia, 
taken by the 59th New York and, what we think is the flag of the 2nd  Georgia 
Battalion, a First National.  The late Richard Rollins details  these 
captures in his book "The Damned Red Flags Of the Rebellion" on pages  126-127.  As 
he correctly states in his footnotes for his citations (Page  139-140), only 
Lang's FL Brigade and Wright's GA Brigade can only be considered  for this area 
of combat.  All of Lang's flags (only 3 to deal with) are  accounted for 
either by capture or escape and the same can be said for Wright's  Brigade as 
follows:
 
"After the battle Major Sylvanus Curtis of the 7th Michigan in Hall's  
brigade reported that he observed reinforcements filing past his left flank  where 
they picked up 'two flags and one regimental banner' that the Rebs had  left on 
the ground.  Report of Major Sylvanus Curtis, OR I, 448.  See  also Report of 
William McFadden, 59th New York, July 16, 1863, OR, I,  452."
 
In his next footnote pertaining directly to the flag of the 2nd Georgia  
Battalion he states, ""Record 59 and Howard Madaus to author, Feb. 16,  1996.  
This is probably the flag Maj. Curtis called "the regimental flag"  picked up by 
the 59th New York, cited in the above note.  In Wright's  Brigade, the 3rd 
Georgia returned their Gettysburg flag to the state; the 22nd's  flag was 
accounted for, and the 48th was captured on July 2nd.  Only the  2nd Georgia 
Battalion is unaccounted for.  The 2nd Battalion was  transferred from Walker's 
Division just before Fredricksburg, and apparently had  not been issued ANV pattern 
flags.  Thus it seems most likely that WD#59  was the 2nd Battalion's flag at 
Gettysburg."
 
I can concur with Rollins' analysis.  Several ANV Georgia regiments  did send 
their colors to Georgia Gov. Brown in the summer of 1863 for  retirement.  
The entry in the War Department record for captured  Confederate flags for #59 
does not mention what regiment took it (some of  the entries do not list this) 
but that it was taken at Gettysburg.   While there were three full divisional 
issues of ANV flags to three of Lee's  divisions prior to Gettysburg - D.H. 
Hill's Division (Rodes' at GB) in  April, A.P. Hill's Division (broken into two 
units - Pender's and  Heth's with the latter getting two additional brigades 
from elsewhere) in  May and Pickett's Division in June.  Ed Johnson's Division 
did not get  ANV flags as a full issue until late August/early September, 1863 
and thus  fought at GB with a hodge-podge of flags.  The Richmond Depot that 
made the  ANV flags experienced a wool bunting shortage in May-June, 1863 that 
was  completely depleted by the divisional issues and did not get a new 
supply from  England via the blockade until August.  So this is why not all ANV 
units  carried ANV flags at GB and why there were no Second Nationals in the 
battle  either (despite the movie) because there was not enough imported bunting 
on  hand to make them.  The Second National of the 32nd NC was made using white 
 cloth taken in Carlisle and sewn to their ANV flag which became the  canton. 
 This was a VERY large flag! 
 
If anyone has any firm details of what regiment took the 2nd Georgia  
Battalion's flag I would very much appreciate seeing it.
 
Greg Biggs