CATAWBA RANGERS

History

A Laurens District cavalry company that was first Company A, Capt. James D. McIlwain, 10th SCV Cavalry Battalion from December 28, 1861 to second Company H, Capt. John C. Foster, 4th SCV Cavalry on December 16, 1862.

Description/Condition

Navy blue silk flag with gold fringe along fly edge and bottom. Two sided with painted decoration on each side. Obverse shows a red star with a hand underneath, in front of a gray cluster of clouds. Gold wreath surrounding center decoration with crossed swords and a pistol above. Lettering on a blue scroll above and below: "Our battle cry/liberty or death." Reverse - Palmetto tree with snake in the foreground. Red star and gold wreath surround tree with lettering above and below: "Catawba Rangers/Liberty or Death."  Possibly the same artist painted this flag as painted the Cedar Creek Rifles and Monticello Guards Flags.   Height: 35 1/2"  Width: 49 1/2"

FABRIC

Discoloration/Stains: Obverse - Light stains along the fly edge. Reverse- Blue silk has darkened. Dark and light stains throughout.

Surface Grime: Moderately soiled throughout.

Embrittlement: Silk is very brittle, especially in the painted areas.

Tears: Small tear in the upper corner of the fly edge.

Holes: Small holes midway along the top edge. Hole left of the palmetto tree. Several holes along the bottom painted area of the flag (on both sides).

Previous Repairs: Obverse - Areas where paint has broken away have been stitched. Reverse - Areas along top painted lettering have been stitched down to prevent paint from breaking off.

Other: Blue dye has run onto fringe border along bottom edge. On both sides.

Comments: Paint and fabric are very brittle.

FABRIC DECORATION

Description: Paint/Attachments - Fringe.

Discoloration: Fringe has darkened and faded.

Fading: Fringe has faded to a gray color.

Missing Elements: Obverse - Paint loss throughout top and bottom areas of flag. Reverse - Paint loss throughout, especially left side off lettering above the tree.