Artillery Style Confederate Battle Flag – Shea’s 4th Texas Battery

This is a fully sewn cotton, historical reproduction of Shea’s 4th Texas Artillery Battalion battle flag. Notice the oversized center star. The actual size of this Artillery flag is believed to have been 34.5″ x 44.5″.

Daniel D. Shea (1831–1864) was a sailor and CSA (Confederate States of America) military officer born in Ireland in 1831. Shea moved to Calhoun County Texas working in the shipping industry. Employed as a steamship captain in 1860, he was able to acquire in excess of $1,500 in personal assets. Daniel Shea raised an artillery battery named the Van Dorn Guards, to serve in the Confederate army in the summer of 1861. A Federal blockade of the Texas coast prompted Shea to be ordered to move the two companies of artillery under his command to Fort Esperanza on Matagorda Island. In December 1861 Shea was reinforced and renamed the “4th Texas Artillery Battalion”. Between December 1861 and March 1862, Shea leads the artillery through a series of intermittent engagements with the Union Navy. On December 10, 1861, he was promoted to Major. In August of 1862, Shea was forced to remove his battery from Matagorda, however, in October the 4th Texas Artillery was successful in repelling a Union attack and attempted invasion of Lavaca. Shea was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and ordered to provide artillery assets for the brand new Eighth Texas Infantry Regiment on May 2, 1863. The 8th Texas was charged with the defense of Matagorda and Corpus Christi areas. During his time at Lavaca (May of 1863), Shea was tasked with arming the steamer “Lucy Gwin” to defend against Union attacks. Daniel Shea died on May 14, 1864, in San Antonio, and was buried in the local City Cemetery Number Four. The cause of death is unknown but is believed to have been a result of illness.

Cotton flags feature a very heavy, luxurious look and feel. They are commonly used indoors because of their old-world, hand-crafted appearance but can also be flown outside, although they are not very durable or fade resistant with prolonged exposure to the outdoor elements. Cotton flags are also suitable for tea staining and/or framing and hanging indoors.