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13-STAR CONFEDERATE FIRST NATIONAL FLAG WITH GETTYSBURG HISTORY - “GRIMES COUNTY GREYS,” CO. G, 4th TEXAS INFANTRY, HOOD’S TEXAS BRIGADE

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The flag is in very good condition, with strong colors and just a few scattered small holes that do not detract. It has been archivally conserved, mounted and framed by Textile Preservation Associates and comes with their November 2020 treatment report to the Texas Civil War Museum, where it was until recently on display. It was carried by the “Grimes County Greys,” one of thirty-two Texas companies sent in 1861 to Virginia, where they were organized into the 1^st, 4^th, and 5^th Texas Infantry regiments in late September, with the Greys becoming Company G of the 4^th Texas under Colonel John Bell Hood, who soon took command of the Texas brigade.

The flag is also accompanied by a 1977 dated letter from respected vexillologist Howard Madaus to its then owner stating the flag “conforms to several used in Virginia supplied by Cassidy of New Orleans in 1862 to regiments from Texas and Mississippi.” As a possible maker this fits the company’s history, though the timing is a bit off: they passed through New Orleans in early September 1861 on the way to Virginia. The New Orleans Crescent of September 6 prints their September 2 resolutions of thanks to the citizens of New Iberia for hosting them on the way (with a mention of Gould) and the New Orleans Times Picayune of the same day announces their expected arrival in the city in three or four days along with four other Texas companies.

More significantly, Madaus indicates the flag was connected to the Grimes County Greys  by an entry in a family bible held by a “Mrs. Baxter” recording the flag as having been sent in 1863 to the family of Sergeant James L. Gould of the Greys, giving it a likely 1861-1863 period of use. No reason is given for sending it to them at that point, but the natural assumption, given the date, is that it was connected with Gould’s death from wounds received at Gettysburg. Madaus states that three holes in the flag might be from projectiles and stains might be from powder or “blood splatter,” though Gould had also been wounded earlier at Gaines Mill, on June 27, 1862, and was back with the company by March-April 1863, making it possible he sent it home before the Gettysburg, though whether a company flag would have been carried into action on either occasion is open to question. We note that the November 2020 treatment report by Textile Preservation Associates to the Texas Civil War Museum, where the flag has been on display, made no such specific claims for the holes or stains.

As a company colorbearer or custodian of their flag, however, James L. Gould would have been a good candidate. He was company First Sergeant from his enlistment “for the war” on July 19, 1861, up to January 7, 1862, when for one reason or another he changed posts with the company Second Sergeant. He is listed as present on all extent muster rolls up to his wounding at Gaines Mill, a hard-fought battle in which the Texas Brigade was credited with breaking the Union line, but at a heavy cost- some 21 killed, 63 wounded and 1 captured. Gould was wounded in the calf during the fighting and sent to the rear. He was admitted to Chimborazo Hospital No. 3 at Richmond on June 29, and received a furlough on July 12, with the notation “Atlanta, Ga.,” but does not seem to have recovered quickly. He was admitted to Hospital No. 8, back in Richmond, on October 16, 1862, for “debility” and furloughed again, for 60 days, on October 27. This may have been extended: he only appears again as “present” on the company rolls for March-April 1863, by which time the regiment had seen action at Second Manassas (losing 31 in killed and wounded,) and in the fierce fighting at Antietam where they lost some 210 officers and men.

At Gettysburg they were in Robertson’s brigade of Hood’s division in the July 2 attack on the Union left. The brigade line split in the advance with the 4^th and 5^th Texas fighting alongside elements of Law’s brigade in pushing across Plum Run Creek and driving back Union troops from the lower slopes of Big Round Top before attempting three or four assaults up the wooded and boulder-strewn slopes of Little Round Top, losing some 112 in killed wounded and missing out of 415 officers and men taken into action. Gould suffered a gunshot wound to the left leg and was captured. Surgeons amputated the leg at the upper third of the thigh in an effort to save him, but he died on July 8. He was initially buried on the field, but was later reinterred with the other Confederate dead at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.

As mentioned above, Madaus’s letter indicates the flag was preserved along with a family bible bearing an entry referring to it by a Mrs. Baxter. She seems clearly to be a Gould descendant or relative, but no other information about her is given. We have tracked some of James L. Gould’s relatives, but have not linked them to a Baxter, though a more thorough genealogical search might do so. It is possible she belonged to a branch of the family in Georgia. We note that Gould’s initial 1862 furlough refers to Atlanta, Ga., that both Gould’s father and two younger sisters are listed in the 1860 census as having been born in Georgia. If the flag was sent home in by Gould, or on his behalf, in 1863 it may well have gone there instead of Texas given Federal operations along the Mississippi, which made such communication difficult.

The flag is archivally framed in plexiglass pressure mounting with a single line of stitching across the top and makes an impressive display. The treatment report includes instructions for handling, shipping, display and care. The frame measures 48-12” by 76” overall. The flag itself measures 40-1/4” by 68-1/2.” We quote the TAPA summary below. For condition and treatment reports we refer to the full report, which we are happy to supply to interested parties.

“The flag is constructed in the pattern of a Confederate First National of one layer of wool. The blue canton is constructed of two pieces of fabric 18 1/4" and 8 3/4" which are seamed horizontally and measures 26 1/2" on the leading edge and 27" on the fly. There is a selvage edge at the top edge of the canton. The canton is decorated with thirteen five-pointed stars. The stars measure 3 1/4" to 3 1/2" point to point and are arranged in a circle that measures approximately 22 1/2" diameter. The stars are constructed of what appears to be undyed cotton appliquéd to both sides of the canton. The top red bar has an unhemmed selvage edge at the top and measures 13 1/2" in height. The center (white) bar measures 13 1/2". The bottom red bar has an unhemmed selvage edge at the bottom and measures 13 1/4" in height. The leading edge has a 1 1/2" wide hoist constructed of what appears to be tan linen with two 1/2" hand sewn grommets located at the top and bottom. The fly end has a 718" rolled hem turned to the reverse and secured with three rows of running stitch 1/4" apart. The flag is hand sewn throughout.”

This would make a wonderful addition and backdrop to a Confederate and particularly a Texas collection. Few units have as robust a history as Hood’s Texans.  [sr] [ph:L]

EXTRA SHIPPING REQUIRED.

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