American Historical Ephemera and Photography Featuring the Civil War and American Militaria Collection of Bruce B. Hermann

44 1/4 x 40 in. worsted wool flag, entirely machine sewn (small holes throughout). The Saint Andrew's cross is machine stitched to each side of the red field, with "7th" stenciled above the cross and "VA" stenciled below. White cotton fimbriation outlines the cross and is attached using one line of stitching (some soiling). 13 cotton stars are machine stitched to each side (some stars with small holes and soiling). The cotton hoist is inscribed "7th Va. Ca[v?]" and initialed "R.H.D." (hoist with small pinholes throughout, soiling, some tearing and loss). The fimbriation is inscribed with the names of at least four Civil War engagements in which the 7th Virginia Cavalry fought, including "Kernstown," "Buckton Sta.," "Winchester," and presumably "Harrisonburg" (with loss to majority of inscription).  Indeed, all four honors were for significant engagements for the 7th Virginia Cavalry especially "Harrisonburg" where then commander Turner Ashby (and Chief of Cavalry for Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson) was killed in June 1862.   Colonel William "Grumble" Jones took command of the regiment after this.  The 7th Virginia Cavalry were raised in the Shenandoah Valley and served with Jackson almost from inception and later became part of the famous Laurel Brigade and served until the end of the war.

Accompanied by modern documentation from a previous seller indicating that the flag was made for Colonel Richard H. Dulany of Welbourne, located near Middleburg, VA, whose name corresponds with the initials "R.H.D." written on the hoist. Colonel Dulany assumed command of the 7th VA Cavalry after Colonel William E. "Grumble" Jones was promoted to brigadier general in October 1862. The document notes that flag historian Howard Madaus previously reviewed the flag, commenting that it "was a known pattern of Confederate Veteran's battle flag from an unidentified flag maker in and around Richmond, the bunting used to construct these flags was like that used in the 1861-1865 period." Since that time, a small number of UCV battle flags identical in construction have been discovered, including an example owned by the Virginia Military Institute, and are identified as having been possibly made by ex-Confederate artillery officer Thomas A. Brander (1839-1900).   If Brander did not make these then he had something to do with their creation.  Flag historian Greg Biggs has previously examined the flag offered here and believes that it was likely made by or ordered by Brander based on the characteristics the flag shares with the other known examples.  To date four flags of this style have been discovered and while the sizes of the flags differ somewhat they bear the same construction characteristics: no exterior border; white hoist edge; a single line of stitching down the near center of the white fimbriation (typically the fimbriation featured a line of stitches on each of its edges).

Of the four known flags of this pattern that exist, two of them bear Brander's name on the hoist edge. First is the flag held by VMI (which also has the price of $2.00 on the hoist edge) and the other is in private hands.  Thomas Brander served with the Virginia Letcher Light Artillery, participating in most of the major battles fought under Robert E. Lee, including Gettysburg, where a plaque observes his position. He was also active in post-war Confederate Veteran commemorations, serving as Major General and Commander of the Virginia division of the United Confederate Veterans at the time of his death. It was possibly during his time as state UCV commander that Brander made or had made these flags for presentation to Virginia units.

RARE: Only one of four known commemorative Confederate Veteran battle flags made by or associated to Thomas A. Brander.

Our sincere thanks to Greg Biggs for his detailed analysis of the flag.