Having presented the 1st Texas Infantry with the famous "Wigfall flag" in summer of 1861, then Brig. Gen. and former Texas senator Louis T. Wigfall's family set out to provide both the 4th and 5th Texas Infantry of the Texas Brigade with battle flags as well. Sewn by his wife Charlotte, the two flags were in the pattern of the official Confederate Battle Flag (or "St. Andrew's Cross") but with an especially large Lone Star at center.
The Fourth's surviving flag measures 4 x 4 feet. Two streamers with battle honors were later added, and a spearhead flag staff finial was also fitted to the top of the staff, engraved with the motto: "Fear not, for I am with thee. Say to the North, give up, and to the South, keep not back."
The finial was later hit by a bullet at Second Manassas.
The two flags were presented to the regiments while the Texas Brigade was encamped at Dumfries, Va., in winter of 1861-62; however, Mrs. Wigfall and her daughters were not there to present the flags in person, so that was left to the colonels.
The 4th Texas formed on the parade ground for the presentation ceremony; Colonel John Bell Hood then stepped to the front and gave a short speech to the regiment: "I feel no hesitancy in predicting that you will discharge your duty, and when the struggle does come that this proud banner, placed by the hand of beauty in the keeping of the brave, will ever be found in the thickest of the fray. Texans, let us stand or fall together beneath this silken flag."
The Fourth's flag was presented in the name of the Wigfalls' oldest daughter, Miss Louise "Lula" Wigfall, who was ceremoniously named the "daughter of the regiment."
The flag was then carried throughout the Peninsula Campaign, the Seven Days battles, Second Manassas, South Mountain, and Antietam. Edward M. Francis of Co. A was appointed regimental color sergeant on May 12, 1862. Miraculously, he made it through the 4th Texas's famous charge at Gaines' Mill without a scratch, running at the head of the regiment through a hail of fire and planting the colors atop the hill.
"Desperate Valor" by Dale Gallon. Hood personally leads his old 4th Texas in their charge that breaks the Federal line at Gaines' Mill.
Francis was, however, severely wounded at Second Manassas and missed Antietam while recovering. In the latter, Color Cpl. William A. Parker was shot down carrying the flag as the regiment withdrew from the field; it would've been captured if it had not been for Capt. Stephen H. Darden of Co. A, who was said to have rushed back to pick up the banner. Returning to the ranks, he then handed it to Pvt. John J. Stacey of Co. G, who bore the colors throughout the rest of the battle - thereafter appointed color corporal and served as the bearer until Color Sgt. Ed Francis returned.
After passing through the battles of 1862, Chaplain Nicholas A. Davis of the Texas Brigade noted that by October the Fourth's flag was marked by 65 bullet holes and three other tears from shell fragments. He had this illustration of the flag made which better illustrates the damage:
Since they were so shot up, and also perhaps due to the loss of the 1st Texas's flags at Antietam, it was then decided that October to retire the 4th and 5th Texas's battle-worn flags and send them back home for preservation. Entrusted to the care of Capt. Stephen H. Darden, he made the trip back to Texas and presented them to Governor Francis R. Lubbock; they were then deposited in the state archives in Austin. To the folks back home, the banners would also serve as a testament to what the Texas Brigade had been through over those last few months - and to all the boys who had fallen beneath them while representing the Lone Star State in Gen. Lee's army.
The 4th Texas was issued a Richmond Depot Third Bunting Issue battle flag after their first flag was retired. Color Sgt. Ed Francis bore the replacement at Gettysburg, surviving the charge on Little Round Top. His luck, however, ran out at Chickamauga and he was killed in the action at the Viniard Field on Sept. 19, 1863 - far in advance of the regiment. Capt. James T. Hunter of Co. H quickly ran over and lifted the flag from under Francis's body before it could be captured, narrowly escaping himself.
It's not known what ever became of that replacement flag or any other the Fourth carried throughout the remainder of the war. One veteran recounted surrendering their colors at Appomattox, while another claimed that it was torn up and divided among the men. Nevertheless, the only known surviving flag of the Fourth is their first.
In 1865, as Federal troops marched into Texas at war's end, members of Co. B, 4th Texas, Capt. William C. Walsh and Sgt. R. R. Robertson took the battle flag from the state archives, wrapped it in a piece of oil cloth and buried it on the banks of Barton's Creek near Austin, thus keeping it from possible capture as the Federals occupied the city.
The Fourth's old flag remained buried there for six years until finally reclaimed by veterans of Company B (the company having been recruited in Austin and Travis County) on the ninth anniversary of Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1871. It passed into the possession of Val C. Giles, veteran of Co. B and author of the memoir Rags and Hope, until he later donated it to the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1905. Today it is in the collection of the Texas Civil War Museum in Fort Worth.
Texas Brigade reunion at Floresville, Texas, October 13, 1915. Capt. Frank B. Chilton (left) and Capt. James T. Hunter hold the battle flag of the 4th Texas.