Austin Rifles Battle Flag 2×3 Sewn Cotton

Austin Rifles – Travis Rifles 6th Texas Infantry Battle Flag – Sewn Cotton

This Texas flag was carried by Company “G” of the 6th Texas Infantry known as “Austin Rifles” and later as “Travis Rifles”. This flag is a reproduction and is designed to look as much like the original flag as possible. The design features a regular Texas flag with the letters “A” and “R” as well as “Semper Fidelis!” above and below the central star inside the blue canton. The “AR” is for Austin Rifles and Semper Fidelis is Latin for “Always Faithful”. The flag was made and presented before the name change from Austin Rifles to Travis Rifles. All of the lettering is embroidered and visible on both sides of the flag but readable from one side only. Made of heavy sewn cotton which is best suited to indoor use.

Cotton flags feature a very heavy, luxurious look and feel. They are commonly used indoors because of their old-world, handcrafted appearance but can also be flown outside for parades and special events, although they are not very durable or fade resistant with prolonged exposure to the outdoor elements. Cotton flags are also suitable for tea staining and/or framing and hanging indoors.

• Heavy, soft cotton fabric
• Sewn panels and embroidered lettering and details
• Heavy canvas header with brass grommets
• Flag size 2′ x 3′

History of Austin/Travis Rifles and the 6th Texas Infantry

Recruited from around Austin Texas by Rhoades H. Fisher (who also served as the company’s Captain) The men of Company “G” were mustered into service in November of 1861 and assigned to the 6th Texas Infantry which consisted of ten companies of around 100 men each. The men of Company “G” were mostly from the Austin area, but many were from other towns in Travis County, hence the name change from Austin Rifles to Travis Rifles. The 6th Texas Infantry remained in Victoria Texas until May 22nd, 1862 when they were sent to Arkansas Post where they were stationed at Fort Hindman. On January 9th – 11th, 1863, 30,000 Union Troops attacked the fort along with 40 cannons and several Union warships including 3 ironclad gunboats. The entire Confederate garrison defending the fort numbered a little over 5000. The bombardment from the artillery and gunboats was so intense, that it pounded the fortifications into piles of rubble and the Confederate defenders had no choice but to surrender. This conflict was known as the Battle of Arkansas Post or the Battle of Fort Hindman. Except for the few dozen who were able to escape, the entire force, along with the 6th Texas Infantry and their battle flags were captured. Most of the men of the 6th Texas Infantry who were taken prisoner at Arkansas Post were paroled through a prisoner exchange a little over three months later in April 1863. What was remaining of the 6th Texas Infantry was then combined with remnants of the dismounted 15th Texas Cavalry which had also recently been released on a prisoner exchange. The new regiment was to become the 6th and 15th Consolidated Texas Infantry and became part of Granbury’s Texas Brigade which was formed in November 1863 being comprised of the remnants of several Texas dismounted cavalry and infantry regiments. Even though the brigade was formed at late as November 1863, it established a reputation for fierce fighting ability unsurpassed by any other brigade in the western theatre. When what was left of the 6th Texas Infantry Regiment finally surrendered in North Carolina on April 26th, 1865 along with General Joseph Johnston’s Army, there were fewer than 50 men still fit for duty and were commanded by a lieutenant, as all of the other officers of higher rank had been killed, captured or wounded. The original Austin Rifles flag was returned many years later and is now on display at the Arkansas Post National Memorial.