Van Dorn Flag | 4th Missouri 15th Arkansas Infa...
The Van Dorn battle flag 1862 is a historical Confederate flag with a red field depicting a white crescent moon in the canton and thirteen white stars; and trimmed with gold cord.
In February, 1862, Confederate general Earl Van Dorn ordered that all units under his command use this flag as their regimental colors. The 4th Missouri Infantry Regiment and 15th Arkansas Infantry Regiments carried this flag into battle, as well as some of Van Dorn's old units in the Army of Mississippi and East Louisiana.
Fringes and Sleeves can be added to any flag.
Van Dorn Flag Made in USA
The thirteen stars in the Van Dorn battle flag reflect the thirteen states admitted to the Confederacy, including Kentucky and Missouri.
Story of the Van Dorn Flag.
In January of 1862, Major-General Earl Van Dorn was detached from the Confederate Army of the Potomac and given command of the Confederate Trans-Mississippi District - the "Army of the West. Van Dorn had a distinctive battle flag made, consisting of a red field with a yellow crescent in the upper corner, and a distribution of thirteen stars. His original flag was edged with a yellow fringe, so many of the subsequent ones were bordered in yellow. The crescent was a symbol of Missouri, found on their state seal (representing the state at the time of it creation, with small population and little wealth, both of which would grow like a crescent moon). The first issues were made by the ladies of Guntown for the Missouri Brigade.
What others say about General Van Dorn.
Historian Arthur Carter wrote of Van Dorn, "Van Dorn had a fearless and dashing nature, coupled with a love of danger throughout his life. During the prewar days in Texas, he had shown remarkable ability as a cavalry officer and Indian fighter. Later, his talent as a leader of mounted troops came to the forefront when he proved his true value to the Confederacy by leading the successful raid on Holly Springs, Mississippi, in December of 1862. His career was resurrected with his appointment as a cavalry commander at a time when the Confederate mounted arm was coming into its own in the West in 1862. By December of that year, Van Dorn appears to have matured as a soldier, giving the impression that he had learned to curb his impatience and recognize the value of intelligence and reconnaissance. This is evident in the action at Thompson's Station, Tennessee, the following March, when instead of dashing headlong into an attack on his adversary, he allowed the enemy to come to him. Van Dorn was controversial in life as well as in death. He had ardent supporters, particularly among the Texans, who, in the words of Lt. Col. Arthur Freemantle of the Coldstream Guards, considered Van Dorn to be the 'beau ideal' at the time of his death. In contrast, his detractors, such as Sen. Phelan of Mississippi, accused him of 'womanizing' and debauchery. Van Dorn's fatal weakness was his attraction to beautiful women, a weakness that would prove to be his undoing.