Company B of the 45th Alabama Infantry Regiment Battle Flag

The 45th Alabama Infantry was raised in Opelika-Auburn Alabama, (Opelika is the county seat of Lee county) in May of 1862. It initially consisted of 10 companies with a total of about 750 men. Company B also known as the “Dixie Sledge Guards” was made up of men from Lowndes and Macon counties. The regiment was immediately sent to Tupelo Mississippi where many men died from diseases. Later the 45th was sent to Kentucky and attached to the Army of Mississippi where they fought at Perryville on October 8th,1862 sustaining heavy casualties. After Perryville, they were assigned to the Army of Tennessee and participated in several major battles including Murfreesboro, Tullahoma, Chicamauga, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta, Resaca, Jonesboro, and Franklin where they were almost annihilated. Out of a total of 1516 men who served in the 45th throughout the course of the war, only a remnant of the 45th Alabama Infantry was combined with several other Alabama units and moved to North Carolina where they surrendered with General Johnston’s army on April 26th,1865. The regimental flag was a standard-issue Hardee style with “45 Ala.” centered on the white disc and multiple battle honors surrounding the disc. It was captured at Franklin by an Iowa regiment. It is known that the company B Dixie Sledge Guards flag was fashioned after the 13-star 1st National flag with the motto “Dixie Sledge Guards Strike Hard” inscribed in an arched pattern on the top and bottom red bars. A painting of a sledgehammer with an entwined serpent appears on the white bar centered within the motto. “Opelika Ala.” is also inscribed just above the painting at the bottom edge of the top red bar.

This is a reproduction of the Dixie Sledge Guards Company B flag and has a vintage/aged finish. The actual dimensions are not exactly the same as the original flag. The artwork is visible on both sides. The lettering reads right on one side only.