Frame Size (H x L): 25.75” x 21.75”
Flag Size (H x L): 6.5” x 9.25” and Affixed to a 14.25” Staff

Offered is a thirty-eight star parade flag and a former highlight of the Pierce Collection of American Parade Flags.  It was featured in “The Stars & Stripes: Fabric of the American Spirit.”  It is printed on silk and includes the following outstanding overprint:

TWENTIETH REUNION,
12TH N. H. VOLS.,
GILMANTON IRON WORKS, N. H.,
FRIDAY, SEPT. 25TH, 1885.  

“12TH N. H. VOLS.” is a reference to the 12th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment, which served in the Union Army during the Civil War.  It was organized in Concord, New Hampshire.  It mustered in for a three-year enlistment on September 10th, 1862 and mustered out of service on June 21st, 1865.  It fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, and the Battle of Gettysburg, among several others.  In the Battle of Chancellorsville, it was the last regiment under Gieneral Sickles’ command to leave the field.  Of the 580 men engaged on behalf of the 12th Regiment therein, 69 were killed and 250 were wounded.  In the Battle of Gettysburg, the 12th Regiment held its ground north of the Klingel Farm, while attacked by the Alabama Brigade, until it was ordered to retreat.  Of the 224 men engaged on behalf of the 12th Regiment therein, 26 were killed in battle, 73 were wounded, and 6 of the wounded died while in treatment.      

The reference to the “TWENTIETH REUNION” indicates that the 12th Regiment began reuniting in 1866 on an annual basis.  It is unclear as to when the 12th Regiment met for the last time.  Overprinted flags with references to veteran reunions typically surface via “GAR” overprints in reference to the Grand Army of the Republic.  The GAR was a fraternal organization for the veterans of the Union Army, Union Navy, and Marines who served in the Civil War.  GAR members provided support to one another and also remembered those who had fallen in battle.  It was founded in 1866, peaked in 1890 with almost 500,000 members, and dissolved in 1956 when its last member died.  The flag offered herein is quite unique in that it does not reference a GAR reunion.  Rather, it references the reunion of a specific regiment.  Further, the flag offered herein is unique because it is older than most reunion flags, in that it dates to 1885.  In contrast, most reunion flags—such as the GAR flags just discussed—date to the early 1900s.    

Gilmanton Iron Works is a community within the town of Gilmanton in Belknap Country, New Hampshire.  It is located near the eastern boundary of Gilmanton, specifically along a stretch of the Suncook River, south of the outlet of Crystal Lake.  Gilmanton Iron Works was once the home of an iron-mining industry. 

The stars of the flag offered herein are arranged in a "Great Star" pattern—a configuration that is as rare as it is interesting.  This particular Great Star includes twenty-five stars in its outline, five stars inside of the outline, four stars surrounding the outline, and four corner flanking stars.  The presence of only four stars surrounding the outline—rather than five, so as to fill each opening between the arms—suggests that the maker left an open slot for a newly admitted state.  The flanking stars are canted and slightly larger than the others. 

US Naval Captain Samuel Reid is credited with designing the Great Star pattern in 1818.  Captain Reid was an officer in the US Navy and commanded the privateer General Armstrong during the War of 1812.  Andrew Jackson credited Captain Reid's heroism in delaying the British Squadron in the Battle of Fayal, and aiding in General Jackson's defense of New Orleans.  Captain Reid and his crew were greeted as heroes.

The Second Flag Act, passed in 1794, stated that the flag would have fifteen stars and fifteen stripes, in response to Vermont and Kentucky being added to the Union.  Knowing that this approach would not be sustainable, with Captain Reid's help, Congress passed the Flag Act of 1818, specifying that the flag should only have thirteen stripes, but should have a star for each state admitted to the Union.  It further specified that the addition of each star should be on the Fourth of July following its respective state's admission. 

Captain Reid played a significant role in the Flag Act of 1818.  He recommended a basic design of thirteen horizontal alternating stripes in honor of the thirteen colonies and a star in honor of each state.  He further recommended several potential star patterns, including twenty stars in the shape of a larger star for general use.  Reid suggested this pattern to make the flag consistent and easily identifiable, particularly at long distances and at sea.  His star pattern recommendation was not ultimately included in the Act, nor was any star pattern, but Captain Reid is universally credited with designing the Great Star pattern.  Its use peaked in the 1840s, but it was also used during the Civil War and occasionally during Centennial Celebrations.  Its last known commercial use was on a thirty-eight star flag.  

The flag offered herein is still affixed to a thick staff via a pair of red silk ribbons.  Interestingly, some other flags of the same form have surfaced with blue silk ribbons.  This slight distinction would have added visual interest to the overall batch of flags.  The staff has a fine, dark lacquered finish and a turned ball finial.  In contrast, virtually all other antique flags are affixed to a staff in the form of an unfinished dowel.    

A flag identical to the one offered herein was recently discovered in its original shipping tube.  The shipping tube included a two-cent stamp and the following overprint:

From
R.W. MUSGROVE,
Book and Job Printer. 

R.W. Musgrove fought in the Civil War and was a well-known editor and publisher of the Bristol Enterprise.  He made the flag offered herein.  Knowing the maker of a nineteenth century parade flag is extremely unusual, adding even further to an already outstanding variety of flags. 

The thirty-eight star flag represents the inclusion of Colorado to the Union.  Colorado was admitted on August 1st, 1876 and this flag became official on July 4th, 1877.  Presidents Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, and Harrison all served under this flag.  Colorado became known as the “Centennial State,” a result of becoming official just twenty-eight days after the centennial.  The official star count for US flags in 1876 was the thirty-seven star flag.  However, it was common for flag makers to produce anticipatory flags in advance of their official date, making the thirty-eight star flag—and for historical reasons, the thirteen star flag—the most common flags flown during the centennial celebrations of 1876.      

The nation’s centennial in 1876 inspired patriotism across the county and reunited its citizens.  Cities of all sizes hosted parades and celebrations, and buildings and homes were canvased in red, white, and blue with flags being the primary symbol of national pride.  The most notable celebration was the Centennial International Exposition in Philadelphia.  In just six months, the Exhibition hosted nearly 10 million visitors, and included many extraordinary exhibits, including the introduction of the Corliss Steam Engine and Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone.

The thirty-eight star flag was official until July 4th, 1890, the time at which the forty-three star flag became official and began to represent the inclusion of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, and Idaho to the Union.

Conservation Process: This flag was professionally conserved.  It is fastened to silk and positioned behind Optium Museum Acrylic. 

Frame: The frame dates to approximately 1890.  It is multi-tiered and made of mahogany, oak, and maple.  It is a frame of the highest quality.

Condition Report: There is light, scattered spotting across the flag.  There are a few small holes, including a few along the edges.  The colors are still bright.  

Collectability Level: The Extraordinary – Museum Quality Offerings
Date of Origin: 1885
Number of Stars: 38  
Associated War: The Indian Wars (1860-1890)  
Associated State: Colorado