Rare Original Civil War 1st Corps Headquarters Flag

ON HOLD

Rare Original Civil War 1^st Corps Headquarters Flag – This is the only example of this rarely encountered, war period flag that we have had. This flag is a somewhat diminutive, swallowtail, guidon style, headquarters flag. It is constructed of red and white, wool bunting, with a white and red cotton letter “O” sewn to opposite sides of the flag; each “O” is sewn to the flag, on both sides. The flag is completely handsewn. There is a looped over, section of bunting along the vertical, straight edge of the flag, to allow a pole to be inserted. There are some minor stress pulls in the flag’s bunting, although the flag is in overall very good condition.

Civil War Union Army Corps flags, badges and insignia – The Union Army had 25 corps during the American Civil War, each with a unique insignia:

• Colors: Red for the 1st division, white for the 2nd division, and blue for the 3rd division
• Additional divisions: Corps with extra divisions used green for the 4th division and orange for the 5th division
• Materials: Insignia could be made of cloth or metal; flags of wool bunting

1st Corps Badge, the sphere, was adopted by the Union Army March 21, 1863.

As described in Frederick Todd’s “American Military Equipage – 1851 – 1872”, published in 1977 by the Company of Military Historians:

“Army Corps, Divisions, and Brigades, 1863-1866

• 1st Army Corps , Army of the Potomac (3 March – 4 April 1862). McDowell’s corps used the 1862-type flags even after it became the Department of the Rappahannock.
• 1^st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac (12 Sept. 1862 – 24 March 1864) Badge a disk or circle, prescribed 21 March 1863 (Cir A of P). When broken up its troops formed the 2^nd and 4^th Divisions, 5^th Corps, and were permitted to keep their flags … Headquarters flags show a white circle device …” (pps. 323, 327 – Vol. II)

Measurements: Width – 33.25”; Height – 19”