Flags of the Civil War (Special Editions (Military))

This book combines Men-at-Arms 252: ‘Flags of the American Civil War 1: Confederate’, Men-at-Arms 258: ‘Flags of the American Civil War 2: Union’ and Men-at-Arms 265: ‘Flags of the American Civil War 3: Specialist Troops’. The flags of the Civil War were no mere unit designations – they represented the very hearts of their regiments. The formal ceremony in which a regiment received its colours constituted an initiation into the world of the soldier, and the flag became the symbol which drew the regiment's members together. In camp, regimental colours flew over unit headquarters as a guidepost to members and outsiders alike; in action, it flew in the centre of the line, drawing enemy fire upon its carriers. Few things were more disgraceful than losing one's colours in battle, and extreme sacrifices were often made to save them.