[3] They participated in the Siege of Chattanooga on Missionary Ridge until they were driven from their position and fell back with the rest of the Army of Tennessee.

The regiment suffered through a series of battles in their retreat through Georgia in early 1864 and served as prison guards until being moved to the South Carolina coast late that year.

They fought to protect the Charleston and Savannah railroad, losing the battle flag a second time as they were forced to retreat.

They participated in the Battle of Bentonville in March, launching an assault against the Federal XX Corp, where they encountered devastating fire and were forced to fall back.

Thomas Pryor "Tip" Barnes was the 5th Georgia's color bearer for the entire war, who survived the wound with the amputation of a toe and kept "a" flag, as a sacred treasure, until his death in October 1905.

The flag was kept by a daughter of Tip Barnes and there is a touching plea on her behalf for this position from the Ellaville paper at this time.

The flag according to Barnes family descendants was originally presented to the company (or regiment) by the wife of Col. William T. Black and was reputed to have been made by her from portions of her own silk wedding dress.

The flag that Tip Barnes daughter kept after his death was reputedly lent to a Dr. Chapman, of Americus, for a Memorial Day event and was never returned.

"Formed in 1852, this unit wore a simple, elegant uniform of rifle dark green single-breasted frock coat and matching trousers.

The collar and French cuff flaps were outlined in the regimental (color) for the enlisted men and gold for the officers.

The uniform was also described by the unit commander to the governor of Georgia as follows: "Our Dress uniform is a dress coat of dark green broad cloth, with gilt rifle buttons, and trimmed with gold lace and cord on the outside seams; cap of dark green with letters 'C.R.'

The article described the flag as being the design of "the Confederate States," implying it was a First National, topped with a wreath of flowers.

It resides in the collections of the Georgia Historical Society of Savannah, and it is a small silk First National flag; the word "Clinch" with a white bar on it.

[1] Alongside Richmond County, Augusta County, Georgia, contributed to these Irish Volunteers, formed in 1852, which became Co C. (nicknamed the Color Company for their Irish heritage) of the 5th Georgia Infantry Regiment; this unit suffered heavy casualties at Chickamauga, serving in John K. Jackson's Bde, Cheatham's Div of Polk's Right Wing at the time.

For the last week they have been practicing with their large guns over at the navy yard and when they first commenced the boys thought that the fight had begun.

Excuse this letter for there is a perfect moon around me all the time but I was determined to write you Direct—5th Regiment Ga Volunteers Schley Guards, Pensacola Fla Charles Womack[14] "During the war this unit's designation was Company K. Its headgear was a dark blue shako with a large brass state coat of arms over the letters 'UG' within a wreath on the front and a yellow pompon.

The wool bunting flag features seven stars with the left side of the circle open, forming a horseshoe.

The flag was given in 1906 to Miss Annie E. Campbell, who presented it to the local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) in 1941; one of the few remaining remnants of the companies existence.