The guidon bearer’s task was one of necessity, for when any action was to be relayed or noted on the battlefield, men of different companies clothed alike were hard to distinguish one from another, particularly as their companies mixed together or closed ranks with one another, being side-by-side. A color bearer was one who would be in the forefront of the action, leading the way for the other soldiers in his company so that they would move in the proper direction. Although it would seem unnecessary to have someone "blaze a trail", so to speak, yet in the confusion and excitement of battle when the din of gunfire and the shouts of men on both sides can be positively disorienting, having a marker to look to for direction is necessary. The color bearer provides a rallying point for the rank and file.

Too, in order for a commander over multiple companies to be able to ascertain company position and command hierarchy with a single look, the presence of company flags makes that possible. Orders may be given to communicate to the company with some high degree of confidence that the orders will be delivered to the proper company when the company has a color bearer responsible to keep the colors prominent and flying.

As a position of honor, there is none greater. The color bearer was not a man who carried the flag because he was generally unable to contribute much else, but rather he was a man who had most likely demonstrated great courage, a man who could be depended upon to stand steadfast in the face of fire for the sake of his fellows. Emblematic of all of the history and glory of the company was the flag borne by the color bearer, a visible testimony of the company’s legacy and pride. There are higher ranks, but no greater honor and privilege than to be chosen as the color bearer.

For all these reasons, the color bearer knew that his position was vital. A color bearer needed to be prepared to die rather than lose the colors to the enemy because that man knew how important his role was. The color bearer was also the man in greatest risk of injury or death within a company.

As a position of necessity, the enemy needed to eliminate the man who carried the flag in the hope of creating confusion not only for the company, but also for the command structure. Killing the color bearer would make it more difficult for the company to know where they should be at any given time, adding to the confusion of the battle. To cause the colors to fall once and for all, or to seize the colors from the enemy, was to eliminate the rallying point for the company. The color bearer was the target for all who understood his importance.

As a position of honor, the risk was great for when a color bearer was slain, the men of the company saw a man of uncommon courage who was lost to them all. To lose the color bearer was tantamount to losing the best of their numbers. To lose the company colors was likewise a grave loss, for not only did it accomplish all that has been described, but their pride and honor were wrapped within the folds of their flag. Taking an enemy’s flag was prestigious, a matter of counting coup, and losing a company’s colors was a great loss indeed.

That is why proper handling of the flags used by a company is so very important in re-enacting. Casual handling of the flag would have been unthinkable in the days of the War, and should be equally unthinkable now. Since so few people have ever had occasion to handle a flag and because it is a highly visible aspect of what we do as re-enactors, particularly with so much unwarranted controversy today concerning the Confederate battle flag, it is fitting and proper to discuss flag etiquette.

When a rectangular flag is removed from the flag staff or pole, it is to be folded in a specific manner. The flag, never touching the ground, is to be held by one man at either end. The flag is then folded lengthwise so that the top of the flag is folded over the top of the bottom half of the flag. The flag is then folded lengthwise once again in the same direction. From that point, the flag should be folded diagonally from one end, with a number of successive folds creating diagonal folds until the flag is folded to a triangular shape, commonly referred to as the shape of a "cocked" or tricorn hat.

When folding a square flag, such as the Hardee pattern flag, all folds should be diagonal folds until the last fold has reduced the flag to the shape of a cocked hat, just as with the rectangular flag. Whether square or rectangular, the flag should be unfolded by two people who open it in the reverse fashion from its folding. As with the folding of the flag, it should never be allowed to touch the ground.

When two or more flags are displayed in public, the Confederate National flag should always be on its own right-hand side and to the right of any other flags. For example, if the men are in formation and there are two flag bearers, the flag bearer to the right should be carrying the National flag. The way in which the right-hand side is determined is based on the perspective of the two flag bearers, for it is to be on their right-hand side. When the men march single file and there are two or more flags, the National flag would precede the other flag or flags in the procession.

Should there be more than one file of men and more flags than just the National flag, the National flag should always be in front of the other flag or flags, and always in the center of the files of soldiers.

With a group of other flags mounted on flagstaffs, the National flag should be displayed in the center of and elevated above the other flags. In chancel or in church, if the flag is located on the speaker’s platform, the National flag should be located to the right of the speaker and all other flags, if any are present, must be located to the speaker’s left. When it is necessary to display another flag or flags with the National flag on the same flagstaff, the National flag must always be located above the other flag or flags.

Without reference to being indoors or outdoors, any time the flag is displayed otherwise than being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat so that its folds fall as free as though the flag were staffed. When displayed on a wall with another flag, the National flag should be mounted on its own right with its flagstaff in front of (on top of) any other flagstaff.

During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or review, all persons present, whether military or civilian, should face the flag, stand at attention, and salute in the appropriate manner. Men in uniform are to render the military salute. When not in uniform, men should remove covers with the right hand and hold the cover at the left shoulder in order that the right hand be placed over the heart. Men without hats should salute in the same manner. Women should salute as do men without head coverings, with the right hand placed over the heart. Those who are not citizens of our country should stand at attention. The salute to a flag in the moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.

There are occasions when it is proper and appropriate to display the flag at half-staff. The procedure for positioning the flag at half-staff is to hoist the flag to the peak of the flagstaff for an instant, and then lower the flag to the half-staff position. "Half-staff" means lowering the flag to one-half the distance between the bottom and the top of the flagstaff.

The state flag and regimental or company colors may be dipped to a person or thing as a mark of honor, but the National flag is never to be dipped to any person or thing. Dipping the flag to a person or thing brings dishonor to the flag.

The custom is to display the flag between the hours of sunrise and sunset. However, it may be displayed at night on special occasions when it is desirable to produce a patriotic effect.