Taylor Battle Flag 52″x52″ Sewn Cotton

Cotton Trans-Mississippi (Reverse Colors) Square Battle Flag

This is a beautifully sewn and appliqued 100% cotton 52″ x 52″ square Confederate battle flag with reversed colors. The reverse color battle flag was most commonly used by Confederate infantry and cavalry units stationed in the Trans-Mississippi Department.

History of the Taylor Battle Flag AKA Trans-Mississippi Battle Flag

The flag design was named after Lieutenant General Richard Taylor, a Confederate Army commander in the Trans-Mississippi theatre of the American Civil War, and is credited with successfully defeating a Union invasion of northwestern Louisiana during the Red River Campaign. Richard Taylor was also the only son of Zachary Taylor, a career US Army officer, and war hero during the Mexican-American War. Also the 12th President of the United States. The Trans-Mississippi theatre consisted of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) and was largely cut off from the rest of the Confederacy as a result of Union forces capturing New Orleans and its seaport in May 1862 and also taking control of the entire Mississippi River shortly thereafter. Because of this, many materials and supplies became extremely scarce for troops stationed west of the Mississippi. Even more so than before losing control of the Mississippi River. This included silk flag bunting. Many of the Trans-Mississippi regiments did not receive a flag until late in the war because of the shortages. Many of the battle flags were hand-made by ladies from the hometowns of the soldiers serving in the Trans-Mississippi and were of different styles, shapes, sizes, materials, and patterns. There were no two alike. There were also a number of the distinctive reverse color Confederate battle flags that were made in Cuba where silk was plentiful. These flags were commissioned by expatriates who had fled there from New Orleans and sent the flags to Galveston via blockade-runners. Legend has it that the reason for the reversed color scheme was the result of a misunderstanding of the standard color pattern of the Confederate battle flag by a seamstress or by the expatriates who commissioned the flags to be made. It is unclear whether that is true or not. It is also unclear as to how many units in the Trans-Mississippi carried the reverse color flag or how many were made as only 2 flags of this pattern from the Trans-Mississippi dept. survived the war and are still in existence today. It is known that the 3rd Texas Cavalry and the 2nd Louisiana Cavalry carried the Taylor-style flag. Although the reverse color design was primarily used by Confederate cavalry and infantry regiments within the Trans-Mississippi Department, there are some examples of flags with this color pattern used in the Eastern theatre. Such as General Sam Bell Maxey’s garrison flag that was first used while he was stationed in Indian Territory and later at Fort Fisher North Carolina while General Maxey commanded that defensive position which allowed the flow of supplies to continue through the Wilmington port via blockade runners. The flag was a 2nd National style with a reverse color saltire against the solid white background. The 39th North Carolina Infantry Regiment which served almost entirely in the eastern theatre also carried a battle flag that loosely followed the reverse color pattern featuring a background of deep blue and a solid white saltire with no stars and red triangle shapes in the four corners of the flag.

This flag is a reproduction of the Taylor-style, Trans-Mississippi Battle Flag. The actual dimensions and materials are not exactly the same as the original flags. The artwork and stitching are visible on both sides of the flag.

Cotton flags feature a very heavy, luxurious look and feel. They are commonly used indoors because of their old-world, hand-crafted appearance but can also be flown outside, 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 appliqued stars
• Heavy canvas header with 3 brass grommets
• Flag size 52″ x 52″