Even though the American Civil War occurred 150 years ago, some Confederate battle flags from that conflict remain in the hands of some states of the North. Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota still hold in their possession a number of flags that were captured by troops from those states during the battles of the Civil War. However in a move to begin healing the wounds of the nation, the United States Government returned a large number of the flags that were held by the War Department in 1905. These are held today by the Museum of the Confederacy.
Wisconsin troops captured a number of flags in their encounters with Confederate forces. Wisconsin has returned some of the flags that were captured by its troops to the states and museums in the South for preservation. Today though, Wisconsin still holds and preserves a number of Confederate battle flags. One of the more famous flags held by Wisconsin is that of a Tennessee regiment, which was captured at the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, on October 8, 1862, by the 1st Wisconsin Regiment. This flag is currently on loan to the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to the Tennessee flag, Wisconsin still holds a number of other battle flags including a flag that was captured at the war's end in Columbia, South Carolina.
Illinois troops managed to take possession of a large number of battle flags as they fought with Confederate troops. Among the flags captured by Illinois troops are 1st National Confederate Flags and a large number of battle flags. These are still in the possession of Illinois. Some of the more famous flags held by Illinois are those 1st National Confederate Flags made by Vaughn Flag Maker Company. In addition to these flags, battle flags belonging to Barlow's Battery and The Robertson Cavaliers are still in the possession of Illinois as well as a number of other battle flags. Illinois, like Wisconsin, returned some of the flags that its soldiers had captured, but has found that the issue remains emotionally charged among its people.
Minnesota has returned a number of the flags that its troops had captured, but it still holds in its possession the battle flag of the 28th Virginia Infantry. This flag was captured by the 1st Minnesota at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on the third day of that battle in 1863. The flag is now stored with the Minnesota Historical Society in a special climate-controlled case. The flag is available for viewing by the public if they contact the Minnesota Historical Society.
Following the actions of the United States Government to return the flags that were held by the War Department in 1905, the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia was selected to preserve and display the captured flags. The Museum of the Confederacy began its flag preservation efforts in 1892 when the first captured battle flag was returned to the South. Today the Museum of the Confederacy allows the public and interested scholars to examine the flags in its possession by appointment and through the displays on its museum floors. The flags in the possession of the Museum of the Confederacy include those of the 47th Virginia Infantry and 3rd Florida Infantry.
