1st Flag of the 47th Virginia Infantry
Flag of the 47th Virginia captured at Falling
Waters, VA (Potomac River), 14 July 1863
Captured by the 1st Michigan Cavalry
Third Wool Issue Type
Size: 46" x 46½" Field: Red wool Cross:
Blue wool 5", wide ½" white fimbration,
Border: White cotton on hoist edge, white
wool on the three sides, three whipped eyelets on hoist edge.
Star: Five point white cotton 3½" wide,
6" apart. 13 Stars on flag.
Unit designation: Yellow paint
Battle honors: Blue black ink or paint
Original in the collection of the Museum of
the Confederacy
Rendition of the 1st flag of the 47th Virginia
2nd Flag of the 47th Virginia Infantry
Flag of the 47th Virginia captured at Weldon
Railroad, Globe Tavern, VA, 19 Aug 1864.
Captured by Sgt Charles Brown, 50th Pennsylvania
Infantry.
Third Wool Issue Type
Size: 47" x 47" Field: Red wool Cross: Blue
wool 5", wide ½" white fimbration,
Border: White cotton on hoist edge, white
wool on the three sides, three whipped eyelets on hoist edge.
Star: Five point white cotton 3½" wide,
6" apart. 10 remaining after capture.
Unit designation: Yellow paint
Battle honors: Blue black ink or paint
Original in the collection of the Museum of
the Confederacy
The following is an account of how the 2nd Flag of the 47th Virginia was captured at Weldon Railroad, as written by the captor, Sgt Brown of the 50th PVI. Thanks to Mr. Stu Richards for submitting this account.
We received orders to charge on the balance
of the rebels. As soon as we began to charge on them they took to their
heels and retreated as fast as possible. We took a great number of prisoners.
We are now at the breastworks and are charging right on. Now we have taken
the breast works. There was not more than one out of every ten that escaped.
While at the brestworks I heard a peculiar sound coming from the other
side of the works. I crawled on top of the works and looking around saw
Charles Oswald and Joe LOng fighting two rebels. They seemed to have the
best of the rebels. Looking ahead about 50 yards I saw a rebel sgt. and
two color guards working their way through the wood. I was then wearing
a sword and had no gun, but I jumped down and picked up a Belgian rifle
. I thought she was loaded and ran after the Sgt. and color guards When
I got close to them and commanded that they surrender. One of the guards
attempted to raise his gun and I said "drop that" and then made them turn
around and marched back to the brestworks. I then threw down my rifle and
took the flag from the sgt. and got to the top of the brestworks and waved
it. Our whole regiment cheered me. But my waving drew the entire rebel
fire at me. The soles of my shoes were shot off as also the rim of my hat.
Many shots went through my clothing and it got to hot and I jumped down
back of the brest works. In shooting at me the rebels killed Charles Burkett,
Adam Burkett and William Wagner. After the firing was sum what lessened
we examined the flag and found that it belonged to the 47th Virigina and
it was presented by the Ladies of Richmond. It had the marks of many battles
on it that were fought in Virginia. The sgt. and color guards sitting near
by cried bitterly that the flag which they had prized so highly had been
taken from them. I then stuck the staff in the ground and lay down beside
it and went to sleep.
General Wilcox came by and awakened me
and said Brown while you were asleep I heard all about the capture of the
flag and the Sgt. and color guard. Now the law of the government requires
me to send this flag to Washington for safe keeping and it will be labeled
by whom and how it was captured so that future generations can view it.
He said he would see that I was properly rewarded.