The image at your right shows captured Confederate Civil War Flags. It is the front cover of an original November 12, 1864 edition of Harper's Weekly, the most popular illustrated newspaper of the day. This fascinating illustration shows none other than
George Armstrong Custer presenting his captured Confederate Civil War Flags to the War department. The illustration is captioned, "General Custer Presenting Captured Battle Flags to the War Department,
Washington." The flag on the right appears to be the "Southern Cross" Rebel Battle Flag, and the others appear to be various examples of Confederate flags. There are ten flags all together in the illustration. It also appears that Custer brought some additional soldiers along to present the flags. Perhaps common soldiers that had somehow distinguished themselves during Custer's campaigns. |
Select Picture for Enlarged View of Confederate Civil War Flags |
It should also be noted that this image is consistent with the personality of George Armstrong Custer. Even before the close of the Civil War, Custer was seeking publicity for himself. There are two 1864 Harper's Weekly newspapers that feature Custer on the cover. In addition, there were many other pictures and stories on Custer in Harper's Weekly that year. In this image, Custer is shown uncharacteristically with short hair. |
