Historic Civil War Flag Comes to Auction!

DALLAS, TEXAS: The personal "Southern Cross" battle flag of the Southern Confederacy's most illustrious cavalry commander and icon, Major-General J.E.B. Stuart, hand sewn for him by his wife, will be offered to collectors worldwide on December 1 & 2, 2006 by Heritage Auction Galleries.

The thirty-four inch square cavalry flag displays the design of the "Southern Cross," a red wool bunting field with a white border on all four of its sides, traversed from corner to corner by the white edged blue bars of the Saint Andrew's Cross, decorated with thirteen white, five-pointed stars representing the thirteen Confederate states.

In December 1862, J.E.B. Stuart returned the flag to his wife Flora with an apologetic note, "My Darling One - My battleflag - the beautiful one you made fell from the tent front the other day into the fire It has proudly waved over many battlefields and if ever I needed a motive for braving danger and trials I found it by looking upon that symbol placed in my hands by my cherished wife...Yours ever JEB Stuart" Although the fire-singed corner is still evident, professional conservators have labored over it to ensure that the flag is preserved for generations to come.

"Major-General Stuart was mortally wounded at Yellow Tavern on May 11, 1864 during Grant's 'Overland Campaign' against Richmond," said Tom Slater, Director of Americana auctions for Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries. "The flag was passed on to Stuart's son by his widow, and by him to his son (J.E.B. Stuart III), and finally to J.E.B. Stuart IV, who loaned it originally to the Stuart Academy which later exhibited it at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond until it was subsequently sold it to a prominent collector who recently consigned it to this auction. We estimate that this flag - one of the most historically important Civil War battle flags ever offered at public auction - as well as priceless military and personal effects of General Stuart that will be offered alongside this outstanding battle flag, could bring more than $1 million. This is a significant opportunity for Civil War collectors, one that will certainly be talked about for many years to come."

According to Dennis Lowe, special consultant to the auction, "An American flag from the Revolutionary War carried by General Washington's cavalry recently sold for $12 million at auction. This adds strong speculation to the market value of General J.E.B. Stuart's flag, considered to be an exceptionally important piece personally owned by one of the Confederacy's great icons." Lowe also noted that Southern women often made flags for their husbands and sons to carry into battle. In the same way that Betsy Ross stitched an important flag for George Washington during the American Revolution, Flora Stuart did the same for her gallant husband during the American Civil War. This flag was by his side during every battle as a patriotic symbol of his country.

In addition to General Stuart's personal battle flag, there are several other documents, letters, and personal military items related to this important figure being offered in the upcoming auction, including the golden spurs presented to him by the Ladies of Baltimore, a patriotic group of Baltimore women who supported the Confederacy and its troops.

J.E.B. Stuart Battle Flag:
ESTIMATE: $400,000 - $600,000

Golden Spurs Presented to J.E.B. Stuart by the Ladies of Baltimore:
ESTIMATE: $100,000 - $150,000

Heritage Auction Galleries will hold their auction of Civil War material on December 1 & 2, 2006 at their headquarters in Dallas, TX.

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HeritageAuctions.com.

Prospective consignors and sellers of political memorabilia, Americana, and related collectibles are invited to visit www.HeritageAuctions.com and click on the "Sell Now" tab. Or simply email Tom Slater at TomS@HeritageAuctions.com.

To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Nicole Jewell at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 272, or visit www.HeritageAuctions.com to order by email.