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  CONFEDERATE 1ST NATIONAL FORMAT FLAG (STARS & BARS) WITH A RARE, CRESCENT STAR FORMATION, CAPTURED BY LT. CHARLES H.B. CALDWELL

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 44.5" x 60.75"
Flag Size (H x L): 34" x 50"
Description....:
CONFEDERATE 1ST NATIONAL FORMAT FLAG (STARS & BARS) WITH A RARE, CRESCENT STAR FORMATION, CAPTURED BY LT. CHARLES H.B. CALDWELL:

Confederate, 1st national format (Stars & Bars) flag with a rare, crescent star formation, captured by Lt. Charles H.B. Caldwell of the United States Navy. It is surmised that the flag was captured at the Battle of New Orleans. Caldwell was Union Navy officer that served under Admiral Farragut and commanded a gunship called the Itasca, among other vessels.

In early April of 1862, Commander Caldwell, at the helm of the Itasca, began the perilous duty of preparing the way for Farragut's fleet to attack the forts protecting access to New Orleans. He and a small crew went before the forts under cover of night and cut chains that Confederates had strung across the Mississippi River to discourage passage. On the night of April 40th, Caldwell returned in a 10-oar rowboat to make sure that the chains had not been repaired. Dodging fire rafts and risking detection, he discovered that there was indeed a passage free for movement along the eastern shore and so relayed this discovery to Admiral Farragut. Upon his signal, the Union fleet sprang into action and the assault of Forts Jackson and St. Philip began, ending five days later with the surrender of New Orleans. Commander Caldwell was lauded for his bravery, having successfully ensured the success of Farragut's Union fleet. Family history agrees that it was during this engagement and the surrender of New Orleans that he captured this early style Confederate First National flag.

This 7-star, crescent or horseshoe example, dates between February and Aril of 1861, which corresponds to its early capture in the Civil War with the fall of the Confederacy's first major city. The stars and bars are entirely hand-sewn of merino wool. The stars are made of cotton, are hand-sewn and double-appliqued (applied to both sides of the flag). The star arrangement would have been for one of two likely purposes. The first is that the flag could have been made in New Orleans, "The Crescent City". Another is that the open space may have been left to welcome more states that would soon secede.

Three other Confederate flags captured by Charles Caldwell are in the collection of the Naval academy museum at Annapolis. The flag is accompanied by a full evaluation and write up by flag expert Howard Madaus, as well as related papers concerning both the flag and Caldwell. Among these are a signed affidavit from Dorothy Morrill, the great granddaughter of Caldwell, and a photo of her with the flag.

Mounting: The flag has been hand-stitched to a background of 100% cotton twill, black in color. The black fabric was washed to remove excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose. The flag was sewn to 100% natural fabrics for support as well as for masking purposes. The mount was then placed in a black painted, hand gilded and distressed, contemporary Italian molding. The front is u.v. protective plexiglas.
Collector Level: Flags for the truest Patriots. My best offerings
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 07
Earliest Date of Origin: 1861
Latest Date of Origin: 1861
State/Affiliation: Louisiana
War Association: 1861-1865 Civil War
Price: SOLD
 

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