WASHINGTON LIGHT ARTILLERY PRESENTATION CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG.

WASHINGTON LIGHT ARTILLERY PRESENTATION CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG. This is a well-provenanced Presentation Confederate Battle Flag measuring 42″ on hoist x 54″ on fly including the 3-1/2″ fringe. This flag was sold by the daughter of Lt. John Henry Neibling. At that time she (Mrs. Effie Neibling) prepared a sworn written statement stating it was given by his unit for his services & popularity in the unit after Appomattox. In Ms. Neibling’s 1932 affidavit she states that this flag was made by the ladies of Augusta in the second year of the war. Noted Confederate flag expert Howard Madaus wrote a report on this flag in 1989 detailing history and construction of this flag. Mr. Madaus states in his letter that he felt that this was originally a 2-sided flag with the reverse side, which is only partially intact now, was white silk with the presentation unit nickname or motto like other known early presentation flags. Also included is a recent report prepared by noted military and flag historian, Gregory G. Biggs. His report is based on a recently discovered newspaper article written in 1878 in an Augusta, Georgia, newspaper. This article discusses a very similar flag that was made and presented to the Washington Artillery after the war. The original owner’s (Ms. Effie Neibling) obviously disputes this, but the description and details of information in the Augusta, GA, newspaper are rather convincing. Even if this is not the original flag carried in battle by the Washington Artillery but one made shortly after the war for the remnants of the unit, it is indeed a significant and historic flag. The flag referenced in the newspaper article obviously was made for what was then the remnants of that unit who were all true confederate soldiers that had taken part in the Civil War, and the flag continued to be used by them for parades and display, etc., throughout the 19th Century. Early surviving post-war Georgia military banners are extremely rare today, according to Biggs report and only a couple are known to exist, making this an important, rare and historical artifact, regardless of whether this is the one Mrs. Neibling refers to in her affidavit or whether this is the one referred to in the Augusta newspaper. This flag was orig preserved by netting which was an early 19th century technique of conservation & preservation of such flags. The Washington Light Artillery of Augusta, GA saw its first service in Pensacola, FL late in 1861 and early ’62. This unit saw action under Cap. Isadore P. Girardey and unit was more commonly known as Girardey’s Battery. This unit saw its first major action at the battle of Shiloh & later in other actions with the Army of Mississippi and the Army of Tennessee. There is a file of copied documents with this flag. PROVENANCE: Lt. John Neibling, 1865, Effie M. Neibling, Calvin Bulloch, 1932, George Gorman. CONDITION: Flag is sound and very good as restored. About 20% of the blue silk quadrants are missing as can be seen in photos. Red silk cross is mostly complete but with numerous repairs to silk as can be seen in photos. Bullion and sequined stars are intact, but four are missing their central red colored central sequin and one central red sequin is loose and the red color on retained sequins is worn but visible on others, the metallic bullion fringe is complete. The top brass loop of seven orig attaching loops to hoist is missing. 4-45699 JS33 (20,000-30,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

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
	2424	$0.00	WASHINGTON LIGHT ARTILLERY PRESENTATION CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG. This is a well-provenanced Presentation Confederate Battle Flag measuring 42″ on hoist x 54″ on fly including the 3-1/2″ fringe. This flag was sold by the daughter of Lt. John Henry Neibling. At that time she (Mrs. Effie Neibling) prepared a sworn written statement stating it was given by his unit for his services & popularity in the unit after Appomattox. In Ms. Neibling’s 1932 affidavit she states that this flag was made by the ladies of Augusta in the second year of the war. Noted Confederate flag expert Howard Madaus wrote a report on this flag in 1989 detailing history and construction of this flag. Mr. Madaus states in his letter that he felt that this was originally a 2-sided flag with the reverse side, which is only partially intact now, was white silk with the presentation unit nickname or motto like other known early presentation flags. Also included is a recent report prepared by noted military and flag historian, Gregory G. Biggs. His report is based on a recently discovered newspaper article written in 1878 in an Augusta, Georgia, newspaper. This article discusses a very similar flag that was made and presented to the Washington Artillery after the war. The original owner’s (Ms. Effie Neibling) obviously disputes this, but the description and details of information in the Augusta, GA, newspaper are rather convincing. Even if this is not the original flag carried in battle by the Washington Artillery but one made shortly after the war for the remnants of the unit, it is indeed a significant and historic flag. The flag referenced in the newspaper article obviously was made for what was then the remnants of that unit who were all true confederate soldiers that had taken part in the Civil War, and the flag continued to be used by them for parades and display, etc., throughout the 19th Century. Early surviving post-war Georgia military banners are extremely rare today, according to Biggs report and only a couple are known to exist, making this an important, rare and historical artifact, regardless of whether this is the one Mrs. Neibling refers to in her affidavit or whether this is the one referred to in the Augusta newspaper. This flag was orig preserved by netting which was an early 19th century technique of conservation & preservation of such flags. The Washington Light Artillery of Augusta, GA saw its first service in Pensacola, FL late in 1861 and early ’62. This unit saw action under Cap. Isadore P. Girardey and unit was more commonly known as Girardey’s Battery. This unit saw its first major action at the battle of Shiloh & later in other actions with the Army of Mississippi and the Army of Tennessee. There is a file of copied documents with this flag. PROVENANCE: Lt. John Neibling, 1865, Effie M. Neibling, Calvin Bulloch, 1932, George Gorman. CONDITION: Flag is sound and very good as restored. About 20% of the blue silk quadrants are missing as can be seen in photos. Red silk cross is mostly complete but with numerous repairs to silk as can be seen in photos. Bullion and sequined stars are intact, but four are missing their central red colored central sequin and one central red sequin is loose and the red color on retained sequins is worn but visible on others, the metallic bullion fringe is complete. The top brass loop of seven orig attaching loops to hoist is missing. 4-45699 JS33 (20,000-30,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 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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