Id’d Confederate 1st National Flag – Made for Private Thomas J. Young Co. C 56th Virginia Infantry

SOLD

Id’d Confederate 1^st National Flag – Made for Private Thomas J. Young Co. C 56^th Virginia Infantry – This flag initially appeared at an estate sale in Louisa, Virginia, several years ago. The family descendants selling the flag reported that it was made by a Louisa County mother, to give to her son when he enlisted in the Confederate Army, in 1861. Stenciled on the hoist of the flag is the name “T. YOUNG” – extensive research indicates that this was not the name of the manufacturer of the flag, but that of Thomas Jackson Young of Louisa County, Virginia. Young enlisted, as a private, on July 9, 1861, in Co. C of the 56^th Virginia Infantry. He would remain with his regiment, sustaining a wound at 2^nd Manassas (“minnie ball in calf of leg”), until he was paroled, on May 25, 1865, in Ashland, Va.

This flag has been thoroughly analyzed and examined by noted flag expert, Greg Biggs – his report will accompany the flag. In summary, Mr. Biggs states that the flag, constructed of a semi-satin twill, is, in his opinion “… dates from the Civil War era. The flag has been forensically examined by someone with experience in mid-19^th Century flags, as well as sewing techniques and found to be of the Civil War era, in terms of cloth and threads. Thus, based on this evidence and how the flag is constructed, I believe that my opinion is sound.” (Greg Biggs, Military Historian, Clarksville, TN)

The flag, which is completely hand sewn, remains in excellent condition, retaining strong color and fabric integrity; there are several minor stress pulls in various areas. The canton displays eight, hand-cut, cotton stars, hand sewn to the blue field; the eight-star configuration is indicative of the flag having been created just subsequent to the State of Virginia becoming the eighth state to secede from the Union, on April 17, 1861. Rectangular in shape, the flag measures as follows: Hoist – 32.75”; Fly – 58”. The hoist has three, hand-whipped grommets and is constructed of a homespun, linen twill. Along the bottom edge of the hoist, on one side of the flag, just above the grommet, is inked the name: “T. YOUNG”.

These early, First National Flags are uncommon to find in such fine condition; to find one that is identified to a specific soldier in a Virginia regiment, is exceedingly rare.

Flags of the Confederacy

EDITORIAL STAFF

Greg Biggs, Text Editor.

Greg, an amateur military historian for over 30 years, first became interested in the study of Confederate flags about 10 years ago, Since then, he has piled on the miles researching Confederate flags all over the country in museums, archives, libraries and other places, to find out as much as possible for at least two books he has planned on the topic (mainly on Georgia and Alabama flags). Greg was also an Associate Editor for Blue & Gray Magazine for a few years and has written articles both for that magazine and Civil War Regiments. He also has given numerous lectures on various aspects of the war to Civil War conferences from California to Ohio as well as to over 30 Civil War roundtables throughout the country. Besides Confederate flags, Greg has a growing interest in the flags of the Napoleonic Wars as well as many other aspects of warfare through the ages from ancient Sparta to Desert Storm.

Historian Greg Biggs explains the various types of flags used by both sides during the Civil War. This video is part of the Civil War Trust’s In4 video series, which presents short videos on basic Civil War topics. Civil War Trust

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/videos/flags-civil-war

Thomas Jackson Young

NOTES:

56th VA Infantry

Thomas Young

in the 1850 United States Federal Census

 Thomas J Young

in the 1870 United States Federal Census