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 This
is a superb example of a Navy small boat ensign
flag that dates to the era of the Civil War. The
unusual low star count of 16 stars might seem to
indicate an earlier flag commemorating Tennessee
statehood in 1796, but this is a later period flag of
the mid-1800s, based on its construction and materials
such as the use of double-appliqué cotton stars.
The use of even rows of lower count stars on Navy flags
is an intriguing practice from this era. The Navy
made flags such as this so that the canton of stars were
more distinctive and visible at longer distances such as
when seen through a looking glass on the high seas.
The Rare Flags collection has the great privilege of
containing several very rare 19th century maritime flags of the
type in various star counts and sizes, from small boat
flags to large ship flags, including counts of 12 stars,
13 stars, 15 stars, 16 stars, 20 stars, 22 stars, 24
stars, 28 stars, and 30 stars. Although other flag
scholars have speculated that there may be symbolic
meaning in the star counts of the mid-19th century Navy
boat flags in low star counts, my personal opinion is
that these flags were designed to have symmetrical,
evenly distributed rows of large stars simply to best
fill the space of the canton to make the flags easily
recognizable at sea. Small boat flags in the star
counts of 12 stars (IAS-00316)
and 15 stars (IAS-00317)
are the only examples in these star counts that I'm
aware of, and this flag is one of just three or four
that I've seen surface with a count of 16 stars.
One particularly special trait of this flag is that its
canton sits on the red stripe, also known as the "war
stripe" or "blood stripe". Although there are
examples to the contrary, flag lore holds that flags
with this trait were made during a time when the nation
was at war, which in the case of this flag, may in fact
be accurate. In an unusual reversal of what is
typically encountered, the stripes of the flag are hand
sewn, but the stars of the flag are machine sewn using a
treadle sewing machine. Typically when machine
stitching is encountered on a Civil War era flag, the
stars are hand sewn and the stripes are machine sewn.
The small size, beautiful coloration, rare star count,
hand sewn construction and blood stripe all add up to a rare and special early
American flag. |
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Next:
A Magnificent Grand Luminary
34 Stars, American Civil War Period |
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