St. Johns River Flag

There are many symbols and flags from the American Civil War, some of which the origins are debated, even to this day. This is the case with the flag of the 1st Florida Battalion Special Cavalry, called the Cow Cavalry. It appeared in the battles in Duvall County, Florida, but the exact battle and manner it was recovered is still a matter of debate. The Cow Cavalry Battalion was organized by the Confederate Army to protect one of the most critical supply items from Union raiders: cattle and their hides and meat. At the Museum of Florida History, the canvas sleeve has a brief inscription, “Captured near St. John’s River.” The river, in northeast Florida, was a hub for Confederate blockade runners and major site for Confederate artillery batteries. One of the theories maintains that the flag was captured by Union forces as the confederate forces for the 1st Florida Battalion Special Cavalry were attempting to evacuate their heavy artillery from St. John’s Bluff. Upon the flag’s seizure at the battery, a Union officer presented it to Rear Admiral Samuel Francis DuPont as a trophy for the victory. An alternative theory has a more maritime based story. It states the flag bears a similarity to the Tampa Bay flag, and indicates an existing record of capture from a confederate ship. Many also associate the flag with South Carolina due to the crescent moon, and the vessel it was captured from may have had ties to the state. To this day, the flag is part of the Texas State Library & Archives. How it got there, and the exact origins of this flag are still unknown, leaving one of the remaining questions from the American Civil War waiting for an answer. 3.5x2.5" Woven Hook Backing Release: 5/22/26