There's an Alabama National Guard tank brigade thats been known to fly the Stars N' Bars for a special reason. It is descended from Wilcox's Confederate brigade that, while advancing on Cemetary Ridge on the second day at Gettysburg, was hit by the famous countercharge of the 1st Minnesota Volunteers, the first volunteer regiment raised for the Union. The 1st lost 80% of it's strength in that one charge, the heaviest casualties of any Union unit during the entire war. The charge bought the 5 minutes for Major General Hancock to reinforce the center of the Union line, and perhaps did more than any other single unit to save the victory.
During a recent reorganization of the National Guard, the current Minnesota Guard unit which is descended from the 1st Minnesota was grouped with the current Alabama unit derived from Wilcox's boys. When they go on maneuvers together, the Alabama tanks fly the Stars N' Bars in memory of that long-ago and historic encounter.
