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Company G, also known as the "Highland Guards," was a company raised in Clay and Macon counties, North
Carolina, and at Athens, Georgia. It enlisted at Franklin, NC, on July 8, 1861. The company was then mustered into state service
and assigned to the 25th North Carolina Infantry Regiment. The company functioned as part of the regiment and its history
for the Civil War is reported as a part of its regimental history. The Captains of Company G were William S. Grady,
John R. Hayes and John M. Phinizy.
The flag is a company flag and not a regimental flag. Many companies had their flag fashioned after the
First National. Company G, 6th Regiment North Carolina Volunteers flag is like this flag except that it reflects
"Rutherford Volunteers" where this flag has "Highland Guards" (the blue section has the same motto and style).
"The Company H Flag is in the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh and is perhaps the only 25th
Flag that exists."
The last 25th NC Regimental Flag was not surrendered at Appomattox, but was smuggled home by the color bearer from Company C. The sergeant had disobeyed orders at the surrender and concealed
the flag and turned it over to Captain Wesley Newell Freeman. Within six months, Capt. Freeman's home in Waynesville, NC,
was burned; allegedly the work of arsonist. According to family history, Freeman sold their remaining property and moved back
to Ellijay, Georgia.
The 25th North Carolina Regiment never surrendered its "Flag" in battle and its flags were never
captured, so there were no surviving flags as there were with most regiments. The company flag
is approximately 24" x 36".
Courtesy of Mr. DeLaine DeBruhl
25th NC Troops
"In my opinion this is not a Civil War Era flag, but one recently manufactured. In the last few years these
have appeared numerous times on eBay which continues to ignore contacts by flag curators relating to the authenticity of these
flags. From the photo you can see how irregular the stitching is on the flag. Nineteenth century women prided themselves
on their sewing abilities and would never have made something so dear as a flag with the quality of stitching on this
flag. The folks who make these flags believe because they are Confederate they should be crude--not so, as most Civil War
flags are extremely well made. Most of the eBay flags are also one-sided and I expect this one is also, which may be why it
is framed. In addition, most (but not all) Confederate flags are made from wool bunting. From what I can tell, the fabric
for this flag is not wool. Consequently, in my judgment this is not an original Confederate flag."
Courtesy
of Mr. Tom Belton
Curator of Military History
North Carolina Museum of History
Notes and Related Reading:
Advance to:
Credits: thomaslegion.net extends its highest recognition and appreciation to Mr. DeLaine DeBruhl and
Mr. Tom Belton!
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