"Flank Markers" Topic

Does anyone model/use flank markers on their miniatures? I'm having Tim from Old Gunny's Flags make me some. From what I can tell is they were little flags on what amounted to plug bayonets. Is that correct? What rank?

That's correct. The rank was usually a private or sometimes a Corporal. I never model them. My average size regiment in my games (only 25mm) are about 28 models. I don't bother.

Nope.

I don't use them, but they were present in both armies. They were not plug bayonets, but small (approx 12 X 24 or 18 X 24) flags carried on poles, and used to mark the right and left ends of the line of battle. The men were to be selected based upon their military bearing, calmness and ability to maintain a steady and accurate pace.

When the regiment was ordered to advance the flank marker/guides would, on the preparatory command, step forward 6 paces and align them selves on the colors, who also advanced 6 paces. Upon the command of execution ("march", or the last note of the bugle command) the guides and colors stepped off and maintained their pace and alignment. The regiment would maintain it's pace and distance based off of that of the guides and colors.

As mentioned, both armies used these right through the war and many examples still exist. At the start of the war, some markers were small examples of state colors, while others were simple white, red, or some other color with the regiment's number in the center, etc.

By 1862, MOST (but not all) units began to use small versions, (in the federal armies) of the national flag, while the confederates began to issue small versions of the CS battle flag. These could be either in swallow-tail or regular shape, and what style was carried is very much a unit/date/place affair.

But there is no doubt that they were used on both sides, and throughout the war.

Thanks TKindred, did the bearer carry his rifle too?

Some did. Most of them would not have, though they would have carried their knapsack, haversack & canteen,etc. Like the color bearers with the national and regimental colors,or the CS color bearers, they were unarmed, expecting the rest of the color guard (in the latter's case) or the flank company to protect them.

FWIW, like the color guard, when the firing started, they would have withdrawn 6 paces behind the line of battle, and been on line with the file closers. When the firing ceases, they move up on line with the rest of the battalion.

V/R

Thanks again for your sage advice, TKindred.

A bit OT but what about the file closers, how were they armed and how many would there be in a regiment, and what rank?

Files closers consisted of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th sergeants, and the 1st & 2nd lieutenants.

These were formed on a line 6 paces behind the line of battle. On the march, they formed in various positions based upon the regiment's formation (IE, marching by the flank, columns of companies, etc.

The sergeants were armed as the other enlisted men, and the officers carried the M1850 foot officers sword, and, possibly, a revolver.

As to the company organization, there were 3 officers, 5 sergeants and 8 corporals. When the company was divided into platoons, the captain commanded one and the 1st Lt. the other. There was a sergeant for each section, and a corporal for each squad. In line of battle, the Captain was posted on the far right flank of the company, in the first rank, with the 1st sergeant directly behind him. If the Captain stepped aside, or fell, etc, the 1st sergeant took his place until he returned, or until the 1st Lt stepped up to take over the company.

FWIW, the sergeants were also supposed to carry a musket tool in the small pouch on the front of the cartridge box, underneath the outer flap (where the oval brass plate was attached). This tool consisted of a cone wrench on one end, and one or more flat screwdriver blades on the other. One of the jobs of the sergeants in the file closer line was to assist any soldier whose weapon had misfired by being able to remove the cone and help clear any blockages (the soldiers each had a small wire cone pin used to clear the cone, which was held in a small loop inside the cap pouch) or any other light maintenance. They also used these tools to help the soldiers clean their muskets post battle, etc. Basically light maintenance and cleaning. Anything else was brought to the attention of the ordnance Sergeant.

BTW, each of the sergeants had collateral duties as well. The 1st sgt, of course, was the senior enlisted man and as such was the go between for the Captain and the men. He "ran" the company. The other sergeants had duties such as the commisary sergeant, who went with a detail and drew rations for the company. Another was the quartermaster sergeant, who picked up and distributed clothing and equipment for his company,etc.

So the NCO's led a busy life. Like today, they earned every penny of their pay.

BTW, here's an image of a Springfield musket tool.

TKindred has it correct. The flank markers were usually referred to as the Right and Left General Guides and were typically sergeants. They were not just for decoration, they performed important functions in keeping the battalion's alignment. Most general guides wouldn't carry a rifle for the same reason officers didn't: they had more important things to do. Many would carry a revolver or even their NCO sword for personal protection (and the flag pole for the guidon usually had a spear point).

During the early days of the war there were some units which DID had company level flank markers who did have small flags which were attached to the rifles as Rhino Co suggests. They usually disappeared pretty quickly.

Oh, and the file closers normally formed TWO paces behind the rear rank. And the color guard simply took one pace back while firing was going on. The front rank stepping back to the rear rank's spot. When advancing only the front rank of the color guard moved the 6 paces forward. The rear rank stepped into the front rank's spot and the third rank stepped into the rear rank's spot. It was important to not let there be any gap in the line because the dress was usually to the center and any gap would quickly get filled and there would be no place to the color guard to go back to :)

Yep, I have been in color guard for the National Regiment re-enactors quite a bit. I will second Scott's knowledge. Always a pain to keep everything right with the center dress. Like the guides on the flanks and the file closers behind us we are kept pretty busy maintaining the center. A big issue for us is forward movement of the battle line. We have to be fairly careful or we will lead the line to an angle instead of straight ahead. In a real fight we would also be the target of just about every aimed shot at the regiment, so you need the absolutely most level headed and experienced veterans at the position.

TK, is the staff a normal 9'10" flagstaff or shorter like a guidon staff?

It's shorter, normally 8 foot, and sometimes a bit smaller.

Most had a spear point of some style. I have never seen one with an eagle on top.

I own an original and the point is made more like an elongated diamond. It is constructed of two hollow pressed brass pieces, soldered together and filed smooth, then filled with a papier-mache material.

Thanks TKindred. I'll post some photos of the unit after next.

Interesting discussion – thanks to all. SWMBO has suggested I add guide flags to all of her Secesh regiments. There's 100+ of them so for once I shall stand firm in my refusal to do so…until I'm told otherwise.

I'm confused, what about the "general guide markers"? So they were mounted on the rifles? Should my regiment have them or flank markers or both? What's the difference?

Same thing. Just different names for the same thing. They weren't mounted in rifles, like plug bayonets but carried on their own staff. If the bearer carried his rifle, it was slung over his back.

New York had a specific pattern for most of it's regiments. here's one of the markers from the 37th NY

link

Other states, like Maine, for example, adopted a swallow tail variant of the US National colors. here's an unknown from the 57th infantry, probably Oho, but I can't say for certain.

I also cannot recommend this site too much for all inquiries regarding Confederate flags.

link

Thank you TKindred for the info and links. So plug bayonets were not used at all? The movie Gettysburg had plenty of them but later reenactments seem to use staffs for flank markers.

Well, there were the odd regiments who used a smaller flank.guide marker which could slide over the shaft of a regular bayonet. These were normal socket bayonets, and the sleeve of the marker flag simply slid over the blade. That wat, the guide could march with his rifle musket at shoulder arms, and everyone could note the left and right guides.

But these were exceptions to the rule, and the normal useage was with a pole with a brass finial, usually about 8' long.

"Plug bayonets" went out of style with Marlborough :) Socket bayonets which allowed the weapon to be loaded and fired with bayonets fixed had been around for 150 years by the time of the ACW.

A few years back the Journal of the Company of Military Historians ran a couple good article about flank markers. I have seen an original staff that was wood with a wooden ball on top. The ball was painted gold.

Some of my flank markers carriers on the right, but forgot about the spear point…

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