Flags of the Civil War

This book combines Men-at-Arms 252: \253Flags of the American Civil War 1: Confederate\253, Men-at-Arms 258: \253Flags of the American Civil War 2: Union\253 and Men-at-Arms 265: \253Flags of the American Civil War 3: Specialist Troops\253. The flags of the Civil War were no mere unit designations \253 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.