< Back    Next >


 

Although this flag has not yet been attributed to a specific Union Army unit, the size, format, construction and period of the flag are all very strong indicators that the flag was made as a Union presentation color, most likely for a Company sized unit.  The flag has qualities that are strikingly similar to the Isaac Merry flag of Company A, 16th New York Volunteers, also in the Rare Flags collection (IAS-00127). This flag is made entirely of silk, which was by far the most expensive and luxurious fabric of the day.  American flags were seldom made for personal or business use in the era prior to the Civil War, but a flurry of homemade flag making at the opening of the war ensued when presentation colors were sewn by the women of various communities and gifted to the leaders of the forming units. Most that I have encountered were made at the outset of the war, when units were outfitting themselves ahead of receiving their official uniforms, weapons and unit colors from their state governments.  They often feature 33 or, most typically, 34 stars as found on this flag.  The flag's proportions, the use of a thin silk sleeve hoist with silk rope, and silk stars are all exemplary of the highest quality materials. The flag was made to present beautifully and to endure prolonged use on the battlefield.

This flag is entirely hand sewn in an extremely fine stitch.  It took an extraordinary amount of time, talent and skill to make this flag.  The flag's silk stars are single-appliqué, made using a single piece of silk with the canton cut through in the shape of a star, enabling each star to peek through to the opposite side.  The seamstress thoughtfully used a blue silk thread for the outer seam of the star and a white silk thread for the inner seam.  She also used a combination of white and red silk threads when sewing the stripes and the turned-back fly end of the flag in order to mask the presence of the seams.  The pattern of 30 stars arranged in rows, with four inliers, is unique in my experience.  At first glance, I believed that perhaps the flag was originally 30 stars, to which 4 additional stars were added, but upon close inspection, it's evident that the star material and stitching for the inner 4 stars matches all of the other stars, and they were done at the same time by the same hand.

The presence of the rope hoist and some minor wear are evidence that the flag was affixed to a staff and flown at some point, but it did not endure significant wear and tear.  While this is purely conjecture, it's interesting to note that the areas of pink bleeding from the red stripes into the white are curiously slanted at an angle and appear in bands. The bleeding is also heavier toward the top of the flag.  Just two of the stars shows indications of pink color bleeding.  This is a reasonable indication that the color bleeding occurred when the flag was fairly new, was hanging from it's flag staff and was subjected to rain.  If the commander of the unit noticed the bleeding, perhaps he quickly retired the flag, thus preserving it in such an excellent state.  On all counts, the flag itself is a rare and unique example of a presentation color of the finest quality in terms of materials and handiwork, and is a fine example of early homemade flag-making from the opening years of the Civil War.

The flag descended in the family of the late actor John Beal. According to his family, "he was born in 1909 and raised in Joplin, MO. He then went on to have a long and full career in Hollywood, New York, and t.v. First movie was with Katherine Hepburn in The Little Minister, last one 60 years later with Tom Cruise in The Firm. More on him at the IMDB website. His mother was raised in Dubuque in the late 1800's. His grandfather, named Bliedung on his paternal side, was originally from Germany. Left Germany for the US because he didn't believe in German military conscription. Ironically, he ended up joining the Union forces in the Civil War. He may have been the one who collected the flag."  More research is required to possibly determine if the flag did in fact belong to the Civil War unit of John Beal's paternal grandfather.


 
Learn more about the many patterns of stars on American flags. Star Count:  34

Dates:  1861-1863

War Era:  Civil War

Statehood:  Kansas

Construction:  Hand Sewn Silk

Catalog Number:  IAS-00338

   

Next:
A Small American Civil Flag
Revenue Cutter Service, 1890-1900


Except where cited otherwise, all content © 2010-2020 by Anthony Iasso   

Contact Me   

  Guest Book