American Civil War era flags hightlight Julia firearms sales

James D. Julia, Inc., will present a collection of Civil War era flags as one of the highlights associated with its two firearms sales on Oct. 5 to 7 with a pre-event preview on Oct. 2 to 4. The first, the inaugural Sporting and Collector Firearms auction, includes more than 730 lots and focuses on more affordable firearms and related collectibles in the $2,000-$8,000 range. The second, the two-day Extraordinary Firearms Auction, includes more than 1,300 lots and offers rare and historic firearms.

This collection consists of four American Civil War era Confederate battle flags. They include an Army of Northern Virginia battle flag carried by Tucker's Navel Brigade at the Battle of Sailor's Creek; a Confederate 1st National battle flag of the 15th South Caroline Heavy Artillery Battalion "Lucas Artillery"; and a Confederate 2nd National Naval flag captured by the 121st New York Infantry during the Civil War possibly from Tucker's Naval Battalion at Sailor's Creek. The fourth example is the flag of the all black 38th Regiment US Infantry, is among the few Civil War era black units flags known and probably the only example ever to come to auction.

These flags also each have provenance equal to their historical importance. The Army of Northern Virginia battle flag was used by a handful of Confederate seaman and marines at the last major battle of the Civil War, Saylor's Creek. The Lucas Artillery "Stars and Bars" is from the Charleston family of a commander of the Lucas Battalion Artillery and is among the few unit marked Confederate Artillery flags ever offered. The Confederate Stainless Banner is de-accessed by a New York historical society who had loaned this flag to the US Naval Museum in Washington for many years; it still bears their tag with history from Saylor's Creek battle. The African-American National colors of the 38th U.S. Infantry is the only flag known privately held to ever come to auction. The short lived all Black 38th fought Indians along side Buffalo soldiers in New Mexico from 1867 to 1869 before being consolidated.