logo
Brief Publisher Logo
FACT BRIEF

Has Virginia been asking Minnesota to return a 'blood-soaked, bullet-pierced' flag for more than 100 years?

By Jayne Williamson-Lee
View this fact brief on MinnPost
Copy link
email
Copy featured image
email
YES

The 28th Virginia battle flag was captured by the Minnesota First Volunteer Regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. When a 1905 congressional resolution was passed requiring captured flags be returned to the governors of former seceded states and border states who supplied regiments to the Confederate Army, the scarred square red flag with a blue saltire and white stars was not returned to the governor of Virginia.

For more than 100 years, Virginia has been asking that Minnesota return it, according to a St. Paul Pioneer Press report. Various groups have requested for its return in 1961, 2000, 2003, and 2013. In 1998, Virginia Civil War reenactors threatened legal action over the flag. Each time Minnesota has refused. When, in 2000, Virginia legislators asked once again that it be returned, Gov. Jesse Ventura said, “Absolutely not. Why? I mean, we won.”

The flag is part of the Minnesota Historical Society’s permanent collection today.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Twin Cities Minnesota has a Confederate symbol — and it is going to keep it
PBS Returned Flags Booklet, 1905 | A State Divided
Chicago Tribune Ventura won't give flag back to Virginia
Washington Post Capture the Flag
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
MinnPost
MinnPost is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces thoughtful, in-depth journalism about civic and cultural affairs impacting Minnesota. Through our reporting, we take readers beyond the headlines and deep into the issues that matter through our public-service journalism, empowering them to engage in the politics and policy-making shaping Minnesota’s future.
FACT BRIEF BY
Brief Publisher Logo
Latest fact briefs from MinnPost
facebook
twitter
email
email
About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.