CONFEDERATE 1ST NATIONAL PRESENTATION FLAG OF THE “PUTNAM LIGHT INFANTRY” OF GEORGIA.

CONFEDERATE 1ST NATIONAL PRESENTATION FLAG OF THE “PUTNAM LIGHT INFANTRY” OF GEORGIA. On 14 June 1861, Miss Frannie J. Reid, on behalf of the ladies of Eatonton, GA who had contributed love, labor, and expense to the preparation of the flag, presented to Capt. R.T. Davis’ company, the “Putnam Light Infantry”, a newly made Confed. 1st National flag bearing the company’s nickname. This is that flag, and it exhibits the fine workmanship employed by the ladies who made it. When the “Putnam Light Infantry” joined the 12th Regiment GA Vol. Inf. as its Co. G, this flag was retired. The Putnam Light Infantry was formed of boys and men living in Putnam County GA following the Bombardment of Fort Sumpter. They marched to Richmond, VA for assignment in the newly constituted Confed. States Army and were organized and mustered in, along with other militia companies from GA, as Co. G of the 12th Regiment GA Vol. Inf. Richard Tarply Davis was the Captain of this company. Edward Johnson was appointed Colonel of the new Regiment. Co. G would fight throughout the War with the 12th GA Inf. in Lee’s Army of Northern VA and they were present in the most historic and important battles of the Eastern Theater of war. Leaving Richmond in late 1861, they joined Jackson’s Valley Campaign, skirmished near Seven Pines and joined the Seven Days Battle. In rapid succession the 12th participated in battles at Beaver Dam Creek, Gaines’ Mills, and Malvern Hill. They followed Lee’s army in his first invasion of the North fighting through South Mountain and on to Antietam. In Dec. 1862 they fought at Fredericksburg and in the spring of the new year; Chancellorsville. That summer they again marched North and fought in the Gettysburg Campaign. In late 1863 and 1864, the 12th GA Inf. fought at Mine Run, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Lynchburg, Monocacy, Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, Cedar Creek and the Siege of Petersburg. This hard fought unit finished their service fighting in the spring of 1865 at Fort Stedman and Appomattox Court House. Captain Davis, Commanding Co. G or the Putnam Light Inf. was mortally wounded in the company’s first campaign in May 1861. Measuring 39″ on its hoist by 69″ on its fly, the flag follows the basic precepts that defined on 4 March 1861 the “Stars & Bars”, the First National flag adopted by the Confed. Provisional Congress meeting at Montgomery, AL. The field is composed of three silk horizontal bars, the uppermost and lowermost red and 13″ wide each, while the central bar is white and approximately 12-1/2″ to 13″ wide. Inset into the upper, staff corner and extending down to the top of the lowermost red bar, is a dbl layer of dark blue silk, 26″ on the hoist by 27″ on the fly forming the canton. In the upper two-thirds of this canton, appliquéd to each side by hand, are 7 white, five-pointed cotton stars, set in an horizontal ellipse and representing the seven Southern states that had seceded from the Union when this flag design was adopted. In the lower third of the canton, on the obverse side, the ladies of Eatonton embroidered the nickname of the unit, “Putnam Light-Infantry” in red block letters with a yellow-gold edge, 2-3/4″ and 1-5/8″ high, respectively for upper and lower case letters. On the reverse side, in approximately the same location, the ladies embroidered the Latin phrase “Venimus ut Vincamus”, which translates to “We shall come that we shall conquer”. A dark blue silk heading, 1-1/2″ wide along the hoist edge, into which were worked by hand three whipped button hole eyelets, completed the flag and allowed it to be tied to a staff. The flag descended in the consignor’s family from Alexander Sidney Reid who served in Putnam Light Inf. Accompanying is a transcribed copy of a letter written to the Southern Federal Union newspaper issue of June 25, 1861 regarding the departure of the Putnam Light Infantry for Richmond. CONDITION: Flag is in excellent condition with the noted exception of the white silk center bar. Due to the bleaching process, this bar has shattered and deteriorated to small fragments that a conservator may be able to restore to their orig shape. Fortunately the flag has been covered with mesh netting that preserved most of the flag and saved the pieces of the white bar. A rare opportunity to own a Confederate presentation First National flag with a solid documented history to one of the hardest fought Infantry companies in any Georgia regiment. 4-59096 (25,000-50,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2006

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	827	$43,125.00	CONFEDERATE 1ST NATIONAL PRESENTATION FLAG OF THE “PUTNAM LIGHT INFANTRY” OF GEORGIA. On 14 June 1861, Miss Frannie J. Reid, on behalf of the ladies of Eatonton, GA who had contributed love, labor, and expense to the preparation of the flag, presented to Capt. R.T. Davis’ company, the “Putnam Light Infantry”, a newly made Confed. 1st National flag bearing the company’s nickname. This is that flag, and it exhibits the fine workmanship employed by the ladies who made it. When the “Putnam Light Infantry” joined the 12th Regiment GA Vol. Inf. as its Co. G, this flag was retired. The Putnam Light Infantry was formed of boys and men living in Putnam County GA following the Bombardment of Fort Sumpter. They marched to Richmond, VA for assignment in the newly constituted Confed. States Army and were organized and mustered in, along with other militia companies from GA, as Co. G of the 12th Regiment GA Vol. Inf. Richard Tarply Davis was the Captain of this company. Edward Johnson was appointed Colonel of the new Regiment. Co. G would fight throughout the War with the 12th GA Inf. in Lee’s Army of Northern VA and they were present in the most historic and important battles of the Eastern Theater of war. Leaving Richmond in late 1861, they joined Jackson’s Valley Campaign, skirmished near Seven Pines and joined the Seven Days Battle. In rapid succession the 12th participated in battles at Beaver Dam Creek, Gaines’ Mills, and Malvern Hill. They followed Lee’s army in his first invasion of the North fighting through South Mountain and on to Antietam. In Dec. 1862 they fought at Fredericksburg and in the spring of the new year; Chancellorsville. That summer they again marched North and fought in the Gettysburg Campaign. In late 1863 and 1864, the 12th GA Inf. fought at Mine Run, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Lynchburg, Monocacy, Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, Cedar Creek and the Siege of Petersburg. This hard fought unit finished their service fighting in the spring of 1865 at Fort Stedman and Appomattox Court House. Captain Davis, Commanding Co. G or the Putnam Light Inf. was mortally wounded in the company’s first campaign in May 1861. Measuring 39″ on its hoist by 69″ on its fly, the flag follows the basic precepts that defined on 4 March 1861 the “Stars & Bars”, the First National flag adopted by the Confed. Provisional Congress meeting at Montgomery, AL. The field is composed of three silk horizontal bars, the uppermost and lowermost red and 13″ wide each, while the central bar is white and approximately 12-1/2″ to 13″ wide. Inset into the upper, staff corner and extending down to the top of the lowermost red bar, is a dbl layer of dark blue silk, 26″ on the hoist by 27″ on the fly forming the canton. In the upper two-thirds of this canton, appliquéd to each side by hand, are 7 white, five-pointed cotton stars, set in an horizontal ellipse and representing the seven Southern states that had seceded from the Union when this flag design was adopted. In the lower third of the canton, on the obverse side, the ladies of Eatonton embroidered the nickname of the unit, “Putnam Light-Infantry” in red block letters with a yellow-gold edge, 2-3/4″ and 1-5/8″ high, respectively for upper and lower case letters. On the reverse side, in approximately the same location, the ladies embroidered the Latin phrase “Venimus ut Vincamus”, which translates to “We shall come that we shall conquer”. A dark blue silk heading, 1-1/2″ wide along the hoist edge, into which were worked by hand three whipped button hole eyelets, completed the flag and allowed it to be tied to a staff. The flag descended in the consignor’s family from Alexander Sidney Reid who served in Putnam Light Inf. Accompanying is a transcribed copy of a letter written to the Southern Federal Union newspaper issue of June 25, 1861 regarding the departure of the Putnam Light Infantry for Richmond. CONDITION: Flag is in excellent condition with the noted exception of the white silk center bar. Due to the bleaching process, this bar has shattered and deteriorated to small fragments that a conservator may be able to restore to their orig shape. Fortunately the flag has been covered with mesh netting that preserved most of the flag and saved the pieces of the white bar. A rare opportunity to own a Confederate presentation First National flag with a solid documented history to one of the hardest fought Infantry companies in any Georgia regiment. 4-59096 (25,000-50,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2006 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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