Flags have been mostly used as rallying points for the duration of battles; soldiers might gather round their colors for morale

https://travismqdt216.zenbloomer.com/posts/civil-war-flags-near-me-discovering-local-sources-for-historic-replicas

Flags were commonly used as rallying features at some stage in battles; squaddies could gather around their colorings for morale guide when faced with overwhelming odds.