Flag, Confederate - Key's Battery (Arkansas), Light Artillary

Combined 8th and 19th Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Flag

Flag, Confederate - Key's Battery (Arkansas), Light Artillary

Object number1960.009.01

Date1864

Associated LocationHelena, Arkansas

OriginArkansas

MediumCotton

DimensionsFlag: 32 × 36 in. (81.3 × 91.4 cm) Framed: 38 × 43 in. (96.5 × 109.2 cm)

Credit LineOld State House Museum Collection

Terms

DescriptionThe battle flag of Key’s Arkansas Battery also known as the Helena Artillery organized in Helena, Arkansas on April 27, 1861. The flag is the 1864 issue of the Hardee-Cleburne pattern. It is a cotton flag with a light blue faded field with a white oval with black crossed cannons in the center of the flag. Designation lettering is dark blue capitol Romans 2" above and 1 3/4" high below the disc: Keys Battery. The honors lettering is red capitol Romans, 3" high above the disc, green capitol Romans 3 1/4" high below the disc: Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Tunnel Hill. All of the lettering is painted and in capital letters.

The Helena Artillery, also known as Key’s Arkansas Battery, was attached to General Cleburne's Division of the Army of the South-West. It was organized at Helena on April 27, 1861 with John H. Calvert as Captain and Thomas L. Key, 1st Lt. After Shiloh, it was known as "Key's Ark. Battery." It fought with General Cleburne in all his major battles, and surrendered at Johnston's Army on April 26, 1865. During the Jonesboro engagement, the consolidated 8th/15th Arkansas Regiment was supporting this unit. The unit’s flag was captured by Gilbert S. Fleming of Company B, 52nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteers at Jonesboro, Georgia on September 1, 1864.

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