Monday, September 10, 2012

Civil War Battle Flags Offer A Glimpse Of Greatness

By Kerri Turner


A flag held great significance during the turmoil and unrest that occurred during one of the darkest times in the United States in the late 1800s. Civil war battle flags were important symbols and soldiers treated them with the utmost care and respect. There were many different ones being used to represent regiments, states, and the nation and soldiers felt a great deal of pride for their home states.

As objects, these pieces of material that were sewn with care and given specific designs were used to mark locations on bloody battlefields during skirmishes. Soldiers needed a way to see where there commanding officer was leading them when chaos was occurring all around and they could not hear the shouts and bugle calls. They had to spot the flag of their regiment and then attempt to stay in that area and stay alive.

The colors on the various designs were specific and had to be visible and distinct. In many cases a commander would create the flag and choose the colors which would represent their brigade. Loud gun fire and bursting cannons made it so difficult to navigate in times of combat so the flag was only thing that the troops could look to for guidance.

Both the South and the North had national flags made up and the designs of these changed over time. The versions that the North created then are all very similar to the original United States flag and much the same as the one in use today. Each regiment had their own flag which was usually made by the commander.

A team of esteemed soldiers was chosen by the commanding officer to be the color guard and they were entrusted with carrying the flags during battle. Two men were given the duty of holding the regiment symbol and the nation's symbol while the remaining two soldiers were to be their guards. This position came with no small amount of respect and while an honorable position, it was often a fatal one.

The color bearers were men of great courage and displayed their bravery on the harsh battlefields. They had to follow the lead of their commander no matter what and faced their enemies head on, without a weapon. They simply could not retreat because it would be a cowardly move and the remaining troops may end up mistakenly following them.

Although rare, you can still find original remnants of these artifacts today. Many are in the private collections of individuals who have a passion for this time in American history and others can be found on display in museums. They are often prized pieces and sell for very high prices.

Replicas and reproductions of civil war battle flags are available for purchase and are popular with history buffs. Many people in the Southern states still hold these symbols in high regard and are proud to wave them as an acknowledgment to their heritage. You could get a well-made reproduction made from polyester or cotton from a reputable company.




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