REGIMENTAL FLAG OF THE 2ND BATTALION GEORGIA VOLUNTEER SHARPSHOOTERS, CAPTURED BY MICHIGAN INFANTRYMAN

ACCOMPANIED BY EXTRAORDINARY PERIOD PROVENANCE

Hand-sewn throughout. Field of red wool bunting with a 6-in. blue wool St. Andrew’s cross bordered by 1 3/4–2 in. white cotton twill-tape fimbriation. Ten (of the original thirteen) 3 1/2–4 in. white cotton stars, single-appliquéd—one at center and originally three on each arm. One (of four) red wool twill-tape ties, 5/8 × 9 in., remains on the hemmed hoist. The hoist has a 1/2-in. hem turned to the reverse and reinforced with interior cotton. Leading edge 36 in. Fly 52 in., framed to ## x ## in. 

Upper quadrant with the regimental designation “2d. GA / BATT. / S.S.” in white cotton Roman letters, 2–2 1/2 in., appliquéd to the obverse. Eight battle honors in white cotton Gothic letters, 1–1 3/8 in., also appliquéd to the obverse. Left quadrant: “Murfreesboro / Chickamauga / Dallas.” Right quadrant: “Pine Mountain / Ken[esaw / Atlanta].” Lower quadrant: “Jonesboro / Franklin.”

Organized in the summer of 1862, the 2nd Battalion Georgia Sharpshooters drew in part from companies with prior service and was assigned to Gen. J. K. Jackson’s Brigade. The battalion first saw heavy action at the Second Battle of Murfreesboro (Stones River), participating in Breckinridge’s Division during the assault on Union artillery. At Chickamauga, now in Cheatham’s Division, it distinguished itself under pressure on the first day and later held the center of the ridge at Missionary Ridge, suffering severe losses.

During the Atlanta Campaign (1864) the battalion fought across central Georgia, including Jonesborough, and subsequently joined the Nashville Campaign, taking part in the so-called “Pickett’s Charge of the West” at Franklin.

As Federal forces closed on the Confederacy, the unit moved into the Carolinas, where this flag was apparently abandoned. An article titled “Relic of Red Battle May Soon Be Sent to Georgia,” Atlanta Constitution, 17 October 1902, illustrates this flag and reports: “the flag was found in an old satchel by a federal soldier on his return home through North Carolina in 1865. At the time of his death he bequeathed the relic to his daughters, who have retained it ever since.” The article includes a letter from Gordon Lister noting that Thomas D. Bivins [sic] of the 25th Michigan discovered the flag in “an old black carpet bag, hidden in a brush heap.” The soldier was clearly Thomas Dixon Binns of the 25th Michigan Infantry.

Thomas D. Binns (1823–1897) was born in Yorkshire, England; he emigrated in 1844, settled near Niles, Michigan, and married Mary Catherine Lister in 1849. He enlisted as a private on 11 August 1862, Co. F, 25th Michigan. After provost duty around Louisville and the pursuit of John Hunt Morgan, the regiment joined the Atlanta Campaign, fighting at Rocky Face Ridge and Resaca, where it lost 50 men in minutes and Binns was wounded. The regiment then occupied Decatur, pursued Hood, and fought at Rome, Cedar Bluff, Pine Creek, and Franklin, ultimately moving with Federal forces into the Carolinas, where Binns found and kept this flag as a wartime trophy. He later returned to his farm near Niles and was a member of GAR Post No. 64 (Frank Groves).

Provenance: Thomas Dixon Binns, Co. F, 25th Michigan Infantry; by descent to Tamara Lamb (great-great-granddaughter of Binns); Gary Hendershott, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1999 (paperwork accompanies the flag); Ray Richey, ca. 2004; Alejandro de Quesada, Jr.

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Flags, Patriotic Textiles]

Sustained damage and approximately 20% loss throughout from both use and insect damage. Two fo the letters in the unit designation have been resewn. A detailed condition report is available upon request. 

A conservation analysis was executed by Textile Preservation Associates, Inc. in 2004. Report is available upon request.