United States Flag
MakerMade by
W. H. Horstmann & Sons
(American)
Date1864
MediumHand-stitched; silk, paint, silk fringe
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 76 1/2 x 81in. (194.3 x 205.7cm)
Other (canton height x width): 38 1/2 x 28in. (97.8 x 71.1cm)
Other (case dimensions): 79 1/2 x 83 x 1 1/2in. (201.9 x 210.8 x 3.8cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Dr. Robert M. Yergason
Object number1922.4.1
DescriptionAmerican flag, also known as the "Lincoln Flag", consisting of thirty-five stars and thirteen red and white stripes.
The thirteen alternating horizontal red and white stripes begin with a red stripe at the top and end with a red stripe at the bottom, with the canton resting on a white stripe. The stripes are individual pieces of silk that have been hand sewn together and to the canton. The canton consists of thirty-five pointed gold stars painted on both sides. Painted in the center of the front side of the canton is a seated female figure representing Liberty. In her right hand she is grasping an oval shield that contains three red and three white vertical stripes topped with a blue section. In her left hand she is holding a staff topped with a red liberty cap. She is wearing a crown of green laurel leaves and wearing a white and red robe. She is seated on top of and surrounded by a large cloud. There are seventeen gold stars above the design with two stars above the top banner. There are eighteen stars below the design with two stars below the bottom banner. The orientation of the points on all of the stars is random. At the top of the canton painted in gold block lettering on a dark blue banner is "TREASURY GUARD", and below the central image at the bottom of the canton on a dark blue banner is, also in gold painted block lettering "REGIMENT." The central image on the reverse side of the canton is that of an American bald eagle with its wings spread. The eagle is clutching a sheath of arrows in its left talon and a green olive branch in its right. The eagle is facing towards its right and grasping a pink banner in its beak. The banner runs behind the eagle and comes around the front from its left side. Painted on the banner is the phrase "E PLURIBUS UNUM" in a darker pink paint. In the center of the eagle's chest there is a shield containing seven red and six white vertical stripes topped with a blue section. The eagle is on a cloud background similar to the background of the front side of the canton. Inscribed in gold paint avoe the eagle on a dark blue banner: "Presented to Treasury Guard Regt." Inscribed in gold below the eagle also on a dark blue banner is the phrase "by the Ladies of the Treasury Dept. 1864". There are seventeen gold stars above the image of the eagle with two stars being above the banner. There are eighteen gold stars below the eagle with two stars being below the bottom banner. The orientation of the points on all of the stars is random. Painted very faintly at the bottom of the cloud directly below the arrows on the reverse side of the canton is "HORSTMANNS' PHILAD." The flag has an edging of gold silk fringe on all of the sides except on the hoist end. The hoist end of the flag is a sleeve that was made by folding the front side of the flag to the reverse side and reinforced with cotton inside of it.
The thirteen alternating horizontal red and white stripes begin with a red stripe at the top and end with a red stripe at the bottom, with the canton resting on a white stripe. The stripes are individual pieces of silk that have been hand sewn together and to the canton. The canton consists of thirty-five pointed gold stars painted on both sides. Painted in the center of the front side of the canton is a seated female figure representing Liberty. In her right hand she is grasping an oval shield that contains three red and three white vertical stripes topped with a blue section. In her left hand she is holding a staff topped with a red liberty cap. She is wearing a crown of green laurel leaves and wearing a white and red robe. She is seated on top of and surrounded by a large cloud. There are seventeen gold stars above the design with two stars above the top banner. There are eighteen stars below the design with two stars below the bottom banner. The orientation of the points on all of the stars is random. At the top of the canton painted in gold block lettering on a dark blue banner is "TREASURY GUARD", and below the central image at the bottom of the canton on a dark blue banner is, also in gold painted block lettering "REGIMENT." The central image on the reverse side of the canton is that of an American bald eagle with its wings spread. The eagle is clutching a sheath of arrows in its left talon and a green olive branch in its right. The eagle is facing towards its right and grasping a pink banner in its beak. The banner runs behind the eagle and comes around the front from its left side. Painted on the banner is the phrase "E PLURIBUS UNUM" in a darker pink paint. In the center of the eagle's chest there is a shield containing seven red and six white vertical stripes topped with a blue section. The eagle is on a cloud background similar to the background of the front side of the canton. Inscribed in gold paint avoe the eagle on a dark blue banner: "Presented to Treasury Guard Regt." Inscribed in gold below the eagle also on a dark blue banner is the phrase "by the Ladies of the Treasury Dept. 1864". There are seventeen gold stars above the image of the eagle with two stars being above the banner. There are eighteen gold stars below the eagle with two stars being below the bottom banner. The orientation of the points on all of the stars is random. Painted very faintly at the bottom of the cloud directly below the arrows on the reverse side of the canton is "HORSTMANNS' PHILAD." The flag has an edging of gold silk fringe on all of the sides except on the hoist end. The hoist end of the flag is a sleeve that was made by folding the front side of the flag to the reverse side and reinforced with cotton inside of it.
Label TextThe "Lincoln Flag" is one of five flags that decorated the Presidential box at Ford’s Theater on 14 April 1865. The theater had borrowed several flags for the occasion, including this one from the Treasury Department.
The Treasury Guard regiment was made up of employees of the Treasury Department, and according to its painted inscription, this silk flag was presented to the regiment by “the Ladies of the Treasury Dept.” in 1864. In addition to the standard thirteen red and white stripes, the flag has a painted blue canton with a white star for each of the 35 states in the Union at the time.
The flag was donated to the Connecticut Historical Society in 1922, but remained folded in a display box until it was rediscovered in 1998 during a reassessment of the CHS’s Civil War collection. The flag is mounted “backwards” to display its more decorative reverse side.
The Treasury Guard regiment was made up of employees of the Treasury Department, and according to its painted inscription, this silk flag was presented to the regiment by “the Ladies of the Treasury Dept.” in 1864. In addition to the standard thirteen red and white stripes, the flag has a painted blue canton with a white star for each of the 35 states in the Union at the time.
The flag was donated to the Connecticut Historical Society in 1922, but remained folded in a display box until it was rediscovered in 1998 during a reassessment of the CHS’s Civil War collection. The flag is mounted “backwards” to display its more decorative reverse side.
Status
Not on view
