The 6th Arkansas Infantry is the best-documented of Arkansas's Confederate regiments with respect to its battleflags, especially those flags which have survived to the present day.

For more detailed information on the battle flags used in the Confederate armies, visit the Flags of the Confederacy web site.

Appreciation is due to Howard Madaus and Anthony Rushing for this research.

When Brigadier General William Hardee was appointed as a division commander in the Army of Central Kentucky, he instituted the use of a distinctive pattern of flags featuring a "full moon" on a field of blue bunting, the whole surrounded by a white border. Thus was born the famous "Hardee pattern" battle flag. Patrick R. Cleburne was appointed as major general and given command of Hardee's old division in November, 1862, and the fighting prowess of Cleburne's Division became widely known throughout the Army of Tennessee and the Western Theater. Cleburne's regiments clung tenaciously to their treasured blue flags, which clearly marked the Division's presence on the field and served to strike an additional measure of fear into the Federals opposing them.

This is a 2nd pattern, Hardee battle flag, 31" x 43 1/2", with white border all around and inscription "6th Arks/Shiloh" on elliptical central disc in black paint or ink. (See Battle Flags of the Confederate Army of Tennessee, pp. 55-56.) This flag presumably was used by the 6th Arkansas as its battle flag from sometime in early 1862 until the flag was too worn for further use. (Note: 1/3d of the fly portion of the blue field is replaced, presumably a repair, but who knows when it was done.)

This flag is currently in the collection of the Old State House Museum in Little Rock. [Dimensions: 31.5" x 43.5"; blue wool bunting, white cotton, with black painted letters.]

Most Arkansas units that marched off to war in the spring and summer of 1861 carried a version of the 1st National pattern battle flag, typically with 11 stars in the canton representing the eleven Confederate states.

This is a silk Confederate 1st national flag of the 6th Arkansas Infantry with battle honor "PERRYVILLE" attached by means of a rectangular applique on the reverse; 55" x 84 1/2" (exclusive of fringe), badly faded. (See Battle Flags of the Confederate Army of Tennessee, pp. 54-56.) It was captured when found in an abandoned railroad car at Macon, Georgia on 20 May 1865 by Sergt. John W. Deen, 17th Indiana Mounted. Infantry; and is War Department capture no. 500. According to a 1907 letter, this flag was only used at Perryville, then retired before Murfreesboro.

It is currently in the collection of the Old State House Museum in Little Rock.

Following the retreat from central Kentucky after the Battle of Perryville, combat losses in both units led to the consolidation of the 6th Arkansas with the 7th Arkansas, and the two units merged and were administered as a single unit after that time.

This is a small (23 1/2" x 28 1/8") flag, most likely a camp color or flag marker, in the form of the 2nd pattern Hardee battle flag, with the Arkansas coat-of-arms painted on the elliptical disc and the designation "6TH and 7TH ARK. REG." painted on the upper border in black. It was acquired in 1976 by the National Park Service, and is on display at the Stone's River National Battlefield visitor's center in Murfreesboro, TN. [Dimensions: 28" x 38"; blue wool bunting, white cotton, with black painted letters.]

This is a 2nd pattern Hardee battle flag, originally of the 7th Arkansas, but modified for the combined 6th & 7th Arkansas; 30" x 37 1/4"; captured at Jonesboro, Georgia on 1 September 1864 by Private Henry B. Mattingly, 10th Kentucky Infantry; War Department capture no. 531. This flag bears the embroidered battle honor "SHILOH" in the center of the elliptical disc, over embroidered "Down with the Tyrant", and with "7TH ARK." above it in paint, with "6TH &" added in front of it, both in black. Similarly, three battle honors, "PERRYVILLE." "MURFREESBORO." and "CHICKAMAUGA" painted in black on the white border. Also painted in white on blue field, "LIBERTY GAP", "RINGGOLD GAP", and "TUNNEL HILL, Tenn." This is the flag that the combined 6th and 7th Arkansas carried from their consolidation in November, 1862 until its loss in September of 1864. This flag was captured, along with the regiment, when Govan's Arkansas Brigade was overrun and captured by a Federal charge on their position at Jonesboro, Georgia on September 1, 1864. Private Henry B. Mattingly of Co. B, 10th Kentucky Infantry (U.S.) won the Medal of Honor that day for the capture of this flag. (A display on Private Mattingly is on exhibit at the Kentucky Military History Museum.)

This flag is in the collection of the Old State House Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas. [Dimensions: 28.5" x 37.5"; blue wool bunting, white cotton, silk embroidery, with blue, black, and white painted letters.]