4th VA Infantry Battle flag. Captured 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania — Bloody Angle.

The Battle Flag.–The papers are all discussing what kind of flag the South ought to adopt as the permanent ensign of the Confederacy. It seems to be generally agreed that the “Stars and Bars” will never do for us. They resemble too closely the dishonored flag of Yankee Doodle. Should the questions remain undecided until Gen. Beauregard redeems the pledge which has given — to plant upon the stately column which towers aloft from Mount Vernon Place, in Baltimore, the battle flag given him by a lovely and exiled rebel of Maryland — we imagine that the battle flag will become the Southern flag, by popular acclaim. We are indebted to the cunning fingers of a lady friend for a small but very accurate and beautiful model of the battle flag under which our brave soldiers on the Potomac will yet march to victory. It may be seen at the Mercury office.

– Charleston Mercury, 27 January 1862, p. 2, c. 1.