"Union Flag Field Guide" Topic

The following is a short summary of the National and Regimental Colours carried by Federal Infantry regiments. I originally wrote this in 2008 as a background to a four page "Flag Field Guide" that I used as a quick reference when visiting flag collections in various state capitals. Since then a large number of states have put up images of their flag collections online, which admittedly does make research much easier.

At the end of the summary are links to the four pages of the "Field Guide" I've put up on my Fotki account.

Federal Regimental Flags

Most Federal units got their flags through the Quartermaster system of depots by the spring on 1862. QM officers at the regimental level sent in a requisition to their brigade QM which in turn forwarded to request up to the department QM. The proper forms then were sent to one of the depots. It was the depot QM officer who let the contracts to the different flag manufacturers.

Some units could, and did, order flags on their own with funds raised for that purpose, but this became less and less common as the war went on. Some special presentation flags were ordered, but these were exceptions and not the rule.
The Quartermaster Department obtained flags through three depots located in New York, Philadelphia and Cincinnati. These depots each utilized their own pattern for both the national and regimental flags. These patterns were in turn further modified by the various sub-contractors that the depots used for the actual manufacturing of the flags.
The New York Depot's suppliers were the firm of Alexander and William Brandon and the company owned by William Scheible. While both of these companies produced an identical pattern of regimental flag their national colours were different.

The Philadelphia Depot obtained flags from four sources. Samuel Brewer had been the primary pre-war contractor and continued to supply a limited number of flags. Brewer was rapidly superseded by Horstmann Bros. and by the company of Evans & Hassall. The latter two companies produced identical national colours, but had noticeable variations in their regimental flags. William Scheible also manufactured an almost identical national flag but is not believed to have made any regimental colours.

The primary sub-contractors working for the Cincinnati Depot were Longly & Bro. and John Shiletto. Note that it appears that the former made more flags than did the latter. The national flags these two companies made were identical but the regimental flags differed. It should be noted, however, that the Cincinnati Depot also distributed a number of flags originally obtained via the Philadelphia Depot (made by either Horstmann Bros. or Evans & Hassell) or the New York Depot (made by Alexander Brandon and others).

Flags were also purchased by both individual states as well as by private organizations. Both Horstmann Bros. and Evans & Hassall supplied a number of flags to these purchasers, very often of a pattern only slightly modified from the flags they supplied to the Philadelphia Depot. Tiffany and Co. provided a number of beautifully embroidered national and regimental flags as did the New York company of Paton. In New England the Boston firm of Charles Eaton supplied national and regimental flags of a distinct pattern (with a number of variations) to Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. In the west Gilbert Hubbard of Chicago and Hugh Wilkins of Louisville provided their own patterns of both national and regimental colours to a number of mid-western regiments.

For the most part each of the different patterns and/or suppliers of flags can be recognized by the flags iconography. But bear in mind that when looking at any collection of Federal flags there are always a good number of flags that do not fall into these categories. As well, even within the established patterns, there is a wealth of subtle variations.

New York and Philadelphia Depots
link

Cincinnati Depot
link

Eastern Contractors
link

Western Contractors
link

Thanks for sharing Ryan.

Nice.

Thanks, Ryan. Very informative.

Jim

Well all I can say is that my 28mm Irishmen and I are bitterly disappointed at Tiffany & Co not being included as New York suppliers! 😉

Tiffany & Co. did act as a supplier to New York State. The separate "contractors" often supplied flags to different States or to individual purchasers that wanted to present a flag to a certain unit. The three Federal QM Depots purchased flags from their preferred suppliers.

But thank you for the kind words, gentlemen. Over the years I've amassed about 1500 images of Union flags, most of them done the old way of buying books and visiting state collections. Once I retire (23 more working days) I will start seeing what I can all find online to fill out this list.

Fortunately many of the northern states have put at least part of their collections online. The one state I have found the least information on is Indiana. Their web site posts images of the flags of only 5 regiments and when I did make a visit years ago I was not allowed to inspect any flags and any photos I wanted were something like $5.00 USD apiece. That might work if you are researching a specific regiment, but for 270 odd flags – ouch.

You'd think they could at least have agreed on which way the eagle should face!

Tiffany & Co. did act as a supplier to New York State.

Yes we know, that's why we are disappointed! 😄😄