Finding a missing Flag

 The other day, a Facebook Post popped up with a memory from Sept 4, 2012. In it, I announced to my friends and comrades that I had discovered a "missing" flag belonging to the 6th North Carolina State Troops that had recently been conserved and was on display at Gettysburg.

I had read about this in the 8/30/2012 edition of the “Hanover Evening Sun”. I don't recall now how I first stumbled upon this article, but I know I was very excited to find it. I probably found it by my routine searching of the internet for items related to the 6th North Carolina State Troops at lunch time.

The article explained that the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Centerwas becoming more dynamic,rotating exhibits and acquiring new and borrowed artifacts.

"The new exhibits also will include an artifact from the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation in Virginia. A flag representing the 6th North Carolina that was carried during the Battle of Gettysburg is on loan from its former home in Stratford Hall, the birthplace of Robert E. Lee."

Here is what I wrote to Facebook: 

"I have learned that the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center has acquired a battle-flag carried by the 6th N.C. during the battle of Gettysburg. I have contacted curators to determine the provenance and learn whether this flag was carried by the 6th NC State Troops or the 6th NC Volunteers. This may be the "missing Flag" I have long talked about!"

Chris Pelletier uses a level to straighten the Confederate flag he had just finished hanging at the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center Thursday. The flag was flown at the Battle of Gettysburg by the 6th North Carolina.

The 6th North Carolina State Troops was mustered on May 16, 1861. They were among the first ten regiments raised by the state of North Carolina, originally intended for the defense of the State. These regiments were equipped, trained, and ready for action and were the first troops consigned to the Confederate Government.

At the same time additional volunteer regiments "re-used" State Troop regimental numbers and had to be renumbered later. For example the 6th NC volunteers eventually was renumbered to the 16th North Carolina Troops. I have often found the 16th NCT referred to as the 6th NC Vols so this distinction must always be cleared up when researching. 

To make matters more confusing, the 6th North Carolina State Troops, The 6th North CarolinaVolunteers (16th NC Troops), and sometimes even the Sixth North Carolina Cavalry(65th NC Troops) are often denoted simply as the 6th NC! 

If you are doing research on an ancestor and their regiment is 1-10 NC "Volunteers", simply add 10 to get the final regimental designation as 11-20 NC "Troops".

This article launched a lot of letter writing, research and documentation that eventually established the provenance of the flag carried by the 6th North Carolina State Troops.

Stratford Hall object number 1981.096.

The Flag is owned by Stratford Hall, Robert E. Lee Memorial Association, Stratford Virginia. Stratford Hall object number 1981.096. It is On Loan to the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center 

The battle flag is a third bunting issue, Army of Northern Virginia Battle flag made of wool and cotton. It is attributed to the Richmond Depot circa 1862. It was carried by the 6th North Carolina State Troops at Gettysburg.

Battle honors include Manassas, Malvern Hill and Eltham's landing, Seven Pines and Gaines Mill, all of which help narrow down the potential unit owning this particular flag since there is no unit number painted on it.

On July 25th, 1862, after the Peninsular Campaign, General W. H. C. Whiting, commanding the Third Brigade, issued General orders number 88 directing:

“The regiments of the five brigades of this division now present will have inscribed on their battle flag the names, “Seven Pines, Gaines Farm & Malvern Hill.” In addition to the above the regts of the Texas Brigade, The Hampton Legion & the 6th N. C. will have the word Eltham’s Landing put on their colors & all the regiments of the 3d. Brigade including the Legion the word Manassas.”

Here was the real Clue! Per Whitings directive ONLY the Texas Brigade, the Hampton Legion and the 6th N. C.S.T. would have the battle honor for Eltham's Landing.
Research showed that the ONLY flag unaccounted for was that of the 6th North Carolina, so BINGO, we have a match.

Author Rick Walton in 2014, pointing to the Battle Honor that proved the provenance of this flag

Two years later I journeyed to Gettysburg and had the opportunity to view this flag up close. As the historian for the 6th North Carolina State Troops it gave me great pleasure to have "discovered" this lost flag. I am grateful to all the flag experts at Gettysburg and elsewhere that did the real footwork to prove the provenance and give us a glimpse of the actual flag carried on the battlefield at Gettysburg.