Shared by Chris Calkins, Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park Manager, as Guest Blogger.

Chris Calkins, Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park Manager

Many collections in historic sites across this nation have a similar storyline to the following.  A descendent of Civil War General George Armstrong Custer had presented the Appomattox Court House the surrender towel General Custer accepted on April 9, 1865 when Lee’s army capitulated. 

Along with that item, was also a Virginia battle flag attributed to the general’s brother, Tom Custer, who supposedly captured it in a fight at Namozine Church on the retreat from Petersburg, April 3, 1865. A few days later, on April 6, Tom Custer would find himself again in battle at a place called Sailor’s Creek near Farmville. Fighting with his brother’s cavalry in close quarters, he approached an enemy color bearer and received a shot in the face, but was able to grab hold of the flag from the bearer and captured it.  He in turn, shot the flag bearer.  Ordered to the rear by his brother, Tom’s fighting was now over; he was ordered to the Cavalry Hospital at City Point (now Hopewell) near Petersburg.  He was later presented two Medals of Honor during that final week of the war in Virginia.

Many years later, the storyline continues. Last fall descendants of Nevin Custer, brother of Civil War General George Armstrong Custer, arrived at the Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park, after visiting nearby Appomattox Court House. At Sailor’s Creek, the Custers engaged in conversation with Park Manager, Chris Calkins. They brought up the question of the Virginia flag at Appomattox, as the curator there said there was some doubt that it was the one captured at Namozine Church, since only North Carolina troops fought there. Calkins, having written an article about the combat at the church, agreed. In fact, his theory is that it was actually the flag of the 2^nd North Carolina Cavalry which fought in that engagement.

Staff members at Virginia State Parks and other historic sites are always trying to understand better the provenance of items that have been in their collections for years.  Provenance is the history and circumstances of an object’s ownership and possession. Knowing the story of an object’s ownership and possession may contribute to understanding the significances of that object to individuals, our nation, groups, and locations, and may improve understandings of legal rights, titles, and interests in objects. Understanding and sharing provenance information can further public trust, public service, and building historical records for objects. However, the ability of a site of any type to ascertain provenance for objects is greatly dependent on the practices of past owners or possessors, and other interested parties, to document and share knowledge about ownership and possession. 

Reeactment of Battle of Sailor’s Creek

As the Custers discussed the captured flags, they wondered where they might be, if they still existed, and what units they did actually belong to. Mr. Custer mentioned that a friend of his had found them listed in a book called “The Returned Battle Flags” which listed their War Department numbers. Calkins suggested they first try the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond which has the largest collection of Confederate flags, many having been returned in later years after the war through the War Department. This is what was discovered:  WD304 Army of Northern Virginia battle flag “Captured by Lt. Lieut. Thomas W. Custer, A.D.C. to Bvt. Major Genl. George A. Custer, at the Battle of Namozine Church, Virginia, April 2, 1865” (Identification as 2^nd North Carolina Cavalry (tentatively) based on modern research. The one captured at Sailor’s Creek by Tom Custer was also present. It is number WD325 and is tentatively identified as belonging to the 2^nd Virginia Reserves which fought under General George Washington Custis Lee’s Division at Sailors’s Creek.  So, apparently the mystery was solved as far as Tom’s captured flags from the battlegrounds preserved at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park.  So, but where did the Virginia flag from the Custer family collection on display at Appomattox come from?  Perhaps we’ll never know….and that is one of “History’s Mysteries.”