Waxhaw Flags and the Westchester Flags

2nd Regiment of Continental Dragoons

David Redden, a vice chairman of Sotheby's auction house, which conducted the sale, said that during the wars of the 18th century, the primary targets in a battle were the opposing commanders and their units' flags as trophies of victory. Only about 30 Revolutionary War flags are known to exist and these are in museums or institutional collections.

The four flags, by contrast, are in good condition and their histories were well documented by Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton, a firebrand British officer who captured them in battles nearly a year apart.

On July 2, 1779, the 24-year-old Tarleton led his cavalry unit, known as the Green Dragoons, in a surprise attack on the Continental Army’s 2nd Light Dragoons, a Connecticut regiment also known as Sheldon’s Dragoons, at Pound Ridge. The redcoats routed the Americans, capturing supplies, weapons and the unit’s battle flag — a banner with 13 red and white stripes and a field with a painted thundercloud.

Nine months later and almost 600 miles to the southwest, Tarleton did it again on May 29, 1780, capturing three flags belonging to a Virginia regiment led by Lt. Col. Abraham Buford, in a clash at Waxhaws, on the line between North and South Carolina.

Waxhaws, main regimental
This battle flag is known as "Perseverando".

Waxhaws, yellow ground

Waxhaws, blue ground

Re-enactors saluting the colors at the auction

Banastre Tarleston by Sir Joshua Reynolds with captured flags at his feet.

Flags and auction photos by Scott Miskimon. Copy from MSNBC.