Big Red, the Battle Flag of The Citadel, was almost lost to history but was discovered in the archives  of an Iowa Civil War museum. When discovered the history of the flag was uncertain but through extensive historical research by two groups of historians, one from Iowa and the other from South Carolina the flag’s origins were discovered. It was found to be a design of Charleston Flag maker Hugh Vincent and was the flag that flew over Morris Island when Citadel cadet fired on the resupply ship Star of the West in February of 1861 which marked the first shots fired in the Civil War. A group of Citadel alumni organized the Palmetto Battery of Artillery and were presented Big Red by The Citadel’s then Superintendent, Maj Stevens. The unit then deployed to the Western theater of operations and used Big Red as their unit battle flag.The flag was taken as a war prize by an Iowa unit  at the surrender of Ft Blakey in Alabama. Big Red was donated to an Iowa Civil War museum by Cpl Bake of the Iowa unit that accepted the Palmetto Battery surrender. Big Red is now proudly displayed at The Citadels Alumni Center.

Big Red is now the “battle” flag accompanying cadets during parades and football games.