The Flag of the Second Maine Regiment*, captured on the Plains of Manassas at the great battle by the Palmetto Guard*, which was exhibited for some days at the Mercury office, and which has been in the possession of Capt. P. B. Lalane for some weeks past, has been demanded from Col. Kershaw by Gen. Beauregard. A formal requisition for the flag was, in consequence, made to Capt. Lalane, who complied by sending it to Virginia on Thursday, by the Southern Express.
Charleston (SC) Mercury, 9/20/1861
*The Palmetto Guards were Co. I, 2nd SC Infantry (Col. Kershaw). The 2nd SC engaged O. O. Howard’s brigade on Chinn Ridge. The 2nd ME was part of Keyes’s brigade, which did not engage the 2nd SC. If a Maine flag was captured by the 2nd SC during the fighting, it was likely one of either the 3rd, 4th or 5th ME of Howard’s Brigade.
Harry Smeltzer
Bull Runnings 
A number of the 2nd Maine’s men were killed defending the regiment’s flag at Bull Run, one known as the California flag, an ornate banner they’d just receive from West Coast Mainers who supported the Union. It’s been pointed out that the 2nd Maine did not engage with the Palmetto Guard, but was rather engaged with the 5th Virginia I believe. The fact that the 2nd Maine brought their flag off the field supports the statement that it was not their regiment’s flag that fell into enemy hands.
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