Everyone, thanks for tuning in to this special Vexelology episode of our Civil War podcast.

I'm Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Welcome to the podcast.

We know we said we weren't going to do a new episode this week, but we just wanted

to add this show on Confederate flags as a short post-script to our discussion of the

first battle of Manassas.

We decided we could justify sneaking in an extra episode at this point because the story

goes that on Sunday, July 21st, 1861, during the battle, they are on bull run.

Since his victory seemed certain, Confederate General PGT Borgard saw a large force of

troops advancing toward his flank.

Borgard later explained, quote, at their head, waived a flag which I could not distinguish.

Even by a strong glass, I was unable to determine whether it was the United States flag or the

Confederate flag.

End quote.

Borgard at first thought the unknown force was a column of enemy soldiers, and he admitted

to a feeling of shock as he imagined the fresh union troops turning the tide of the battle.

He recalled, quote, I came reluctantly to the conclusion that after all our efforts,

we should at last be compelled to yield to the enemy the hard fought and bloody field.

End quote.

Borgard even told a nearby officer to go back to Joseph E. Johnston and inform the senior

...