Frame Size (H x L): 20.5” x 24.5”  
Flag Size (H x L): 9.5” x 13”

Offered is an outstanding nine-star antique flag.  It is a homemade example and visually striking in every respect.  Prior to the Civil War, the military did not regularly carry flags, and Americans did not typically display them for patriotic purposes.  Instead, most flags prior to the Civil War were used to mark ships and massive in scale.  The surge in small flags began with the election of Lincoln and the onset of the Civil War.  This was the first time in our history that private citizens and soldier at a personal level began purchasing, making, and displaying flags—and this is one such example.      

The stars are in a 3-3-3 rectilinear pattern, and they are canted in various, random directions.  They are made of cotton, sewn by hand, and double-appliquéd.  When applied in this manner, the stars are sewn to both sides of the canton.  Thus, on this flag, there are nine separate stars on the obverse and likewise nine separate stars on the reverse.  They are attractive and folksy. 

The First Flag Act of 1777 specified that the flag should have stars, stripes, and a canton.  However, it did not specify the proportions of the individual components, the proportions of the components relative to one another, the proportions of the overall height relative to the overall width, and the like.  Such proportions were not specified until 1912.  In the case of this flag, its stars are unusually large, and the overall length of the flag is relatively short (i.e., the flag looks slightly stocky). 

The First Flag Act also specified that the flag should be red, white, and blue, but it did not specify the shades of these colors.  The shades thereof were not specified until 1934.  Thus, flags made therebetween often exhibit unusual colors.  In the case of this flag, it red stripes and the blue canton are both particularly vibrant.

The stripes are made of cotton, while the canton appears to be made of fine merino wool.  The canton is handsewn to the stripes.  The white stripes are handsewn to the red stripes, in such a way that the white stripes are hemmed over on their tops and bottoms.  A cornflower blue fringe is handsewn to the top, left, and bottom of the flag, while a white ribbon is handsewn to the left, bottom, and right of the canton.  Both features are quite unusual and add considerable eye appeal. 

A small rope is hemmed into the stripes.  This flag was originally attached to wooden staff.  But even so, its size and construction suggest that this may have been a Bible flag or at least inspired by one. 

To the modern eye, this flag appears to be “backwards,” being that the canton is to the upper right.  However, in the 19th century, the canton could be placed in either upper corner.  The maker was free to choose.  As such, in the case of this flag, the placement of the canton was normal and acceptable. 

THE NINE STARS AND STRIPES
The number of stars on a flag is generally a function of how many states were in the Union at the time the flag was made.  In general, the star count is a reliable way to determine a flag’s age.  However, there are many exceptions to this general rule, including anticipatory flags, which are older than the official dates normally associated with their star counts; thirteen-star flags, common throughout our nation’s history; and flags with “extra stars” that were added at some point after their initial date of manufacture. 

In the case of this flag, counting the stars does not provide any clues as to its date of manufacture.  But fortunately, the top white stripe includes a reference to the year 1862, written in dip pen.  Absent this explicit reference, we would have estimated that this flag dated to between 1861 and 1865, as a function of its construction, materials, appearance—and further as a function of this time frame aligning with the Civil War and the corresponding surge in small flags.  But with this explicit reference, we are confident that this flag was indeed made in 1862. 

This flag has nine stripes rather than thirteen.  In some cases, a maker may use greater or fewer than thirteen stripes out of necessity, a misunderstanding, sloppiness, or combination thereof.  In the case of this flag, the stripe count is probably not a function of necessity, as it would not have taken any more material to make the stripes.  Rather, the maker likely could have cut the material into thirteen separate strips, instead of nine.  Further, the stripe count is probably not a function of a misunderstanding or unfamiliarity.  The maker was clearly aware of several nuanced conventions, including placing a red stripe on the top, placing a red stripe on the bottom, and placing a white stripe directly under the canton.  Still further, in this case of this flag, the maker was not being sloppy.  Rather, her work product is a carefully constructed folk art masterpiece. 

In other cases, the maker may use greater or fewer than thirteen stripes to symbolize something, which is the most likely explanation for the stripe count (and the star count).  The symbolism associated therewith will never be known with certainty; those nuanced details have been lost with time.  However, the construction of the flag in combination with the political tenor surrounding its date of manufacture provide us with clues.  And from these clues, we believe that there are three theories worth exploring that may explain what this flag was meant to symbolize.

FIRST THEORY | EXCLUSIONARY-UNIONIST FLAG
The fist theory is that this exclusionary-unionist flag.

An exclusionary flag is one that is meant to exclude a portion of the United States, and that includes fewer than the official number of stars for a given time period.  Despite President Lincoln’s pleas to avoid such a practice, there were Northern flags that excluded the stars representing the Southern states, and there were Southern flags that excluded the stars representing the Northern States.  These latter flags can be delineated further into exclusionary unionist-flags and exclusionary-secessionist flags.

When Lincoln was elected president in 1860, the South Carolina legislature perceived him as a threat, knowing that he was an opponent to slavery and particularly its expansion.  In response, delegates voted to remove South Carolina from the Union.  Following its secession, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas followed suit, in this order, in a first wave.  Shortly thereafter, following the Confederacy’s’ attack on Fort Sumter, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina also followed suit, in this order, in a second wave.  These waves occurred in sudden fashion.  South Carolina’s secession occurred on December 20th, 1860; Arkansas’s secession occurred on May 6th, 1861; and North Carolina’s secession occurred on May 20th, 1861.    

In most of the Confederate states, there were pockets of Unionist resistance.  In Arkansas, such pockets were often located in hilly, mountainous, or remote regions, in which farms were small, slaves were few, and citizen were independent.  Some of them were morally opposed to slavery, some were disillusioned by the Confederate Army’s conscription practices, and some were poor and unwilling to protect the interests of wealthy slaveholders.

Most Arkansans supported secession and fought proudly for the Confederacy, but they did not do so universally.  In the mountainous northwest, many Arkansans remained loyal to the United States and a subset thereof formed the Arkansas Peace Society, a secret organization focused on resisting the Confederacy and providing protection to its members, including protection from enlistment, impressment, and damage to property.  The Peace Society was most active in Searcy, Marion, Carrol, Izard, Fulton, and Van Buren Counties, and it had approximately 1700 members. 

Members recognized one another via codes.  As one example, a member would say to a suspected member, “It’s a dark night.”  To confirm his membership, the suspected member would then say in response thereto, “Not so dark as it will be before morning.”  As a second example, a member could signal his affiliation via a yellow ribbon attached to a fence post.       

If left alone, the Peace Society would have been an island of passive resistance, but in the context of the Civil War, the Confederacy did not tolerate passivity.  As such, in December of 1861, Confederate authorities arrested 78 alleged members of the Peace Society.  The authorities branded them as traitors and marched them to Little Rock.  There, they could choose between (1) being tried for treason or (2) joining the Confederate Army. 

Few chose the former option, as it was thought to be akin to certain imprisonment or possible death.  Most chose the latter option, but they were unable to gain the trust of the officers.  In fact, officers often distrusted Arkansans across the board, one even going so far as to tell his “regular troops” that if “they” try to join the Union Army, shoot them; if they try to fall back, shoot them; and if they ty to desert, shoot them.  The officers had a basis for this mistrust, in that approximately 10,000 Arkansans fought for the Union Army, including one in every seven men of military age.  Of the states the seceded, Tennessee was the only state to provide more native sons to the Union Army than Arkansas.

Arkansans served in the Union Army via eleven infantry regiments, two artillery batteries, and six cavalry regiments, including the 1st Arkansas Union Cavalry.  It played a unique role in the Civil War.  It was made entirely of Southern Unionists, who protected their home turf in Northwest Arkansas.  It was formed in July of 1862 in Springfield, Missouri.  It moved immediately to the mountains of Arkansas and fought Confederate guerrillas therein.  Later, it fought in the Battle of Prairie Grove and saw action at Fayetteville.  After that, it returned to fighting guerrillas, but it also provided escorts for wagon trains and kept piece amongst divided neighbors.  It disbanded in August of 1865.

For at least three significant reasons, we believe that this flag is an exclusionary-unionist flag and that the stars and stripes symbolize Arkansas. 

First, it surfaced in Arkansas City, Kansas, located only 180 miles from the Northwest Arkansas border.  Due to this general proximity and the passage of time, it is possible that this flag was made in Arkansas or, more specifically, Northwest Arkansas, and that it later traveled to Kansas as a memento. 

Second, the reference to 1862 aligns with the formation of the 1st Arkansas Union Cavalry, but does not align with the secession of Arkansas, which occurred early in 1861. 

Third, this flag would be the perfect vehicle for promoting Unionist’s views.  Its overall traditional layout shows support for the Union and the stars-and-stripes.  At the same time, its star and stripe count shows support for Arkansas.  Additionally, as discussed, Arkansas had mixed loyalties, and subtle symbolism via flags was sometimes used as a means of communication in such states.  On at least some occasions, unusual flags were made to mark secret meeting locations or to signal that aid is available with respect to a cause.  This would be particularly likely in Northwest Arkansas, where the Peace Society communicated via signals and codes.    

SECOND THEORY | EXCLUSIONARY-SECESSIONIST FLAG    
The second theory is that this an exclusionary-secessionist flag with a star count that represents Arkansas, the ninth state to join the Confederacy.    

Slavery had existed in Arkansas since the French and Spanish colonial eras, but it grew considerably following Arkansas’s statehood and admission to the Union on June 15th, 1836.  Cotton and other cash crops were shipped via rivers, and because of this, plantation style agriculture and the evils of slavery were the most common in areas bordering waterways, including the Mississippi, Arkansas, White, Saline, and Ouachita Rivers.  Passionate secessionists were common in these counties; they owned the most slaves and had the most to lose.  In view of this backdrop, this flag may have been made to show support to Arkansas, to secession, and to the Confederacy.  The traditional format of this flag does not preclude this theory. 

THIRD THEORY | COMMEMORATIVE FLAG 
The third theory is that this is a commemorative flag with a star count that represents New Hampshire, the ninth state to join the Union.

In 1776, New Hampshire became the first of the British North American colonies to establish a government independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain’s authority and the first to establish its own state constitution.  Later that same year, it signed the Declaration of Independence, along with the other of the original thirteen colonies.  In 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state, and it was the ninth state to ratify the United States Constitution.  New Hampshire’s ratification was particularly important, in that Article Seven of the Constitution stated that it would go into effect upon the ninth state to ratify it.        

With this backdrop in mind, in the case of this flag, its star count suggests that it may commemorate New Hampshire.  But for at least two reasons, we believe that this is the least likely of the theories presented herein.  First, this flag was made during the heart of the Civil War, and thus it would presumably be an unlikely time to commemorate New Hampshire’s admission in 1788.  And second, New Hampshire’s role in the Civil War was relatively insignificant, comparatively speaking.  Ultimately, we believe that this third theory is worth addressing in the spirit of a complete analysis, but we also believe that it is unlikely to be true (i.e., 5% chance or less to be true).  

FINAL NOTES
Regardless of which of the above theories is correct, finding nineteenth century nine-star flags is exceedingly difficult.  This is the first one we have handled.  It is hard to imagine an example much better than the one offered herein.  It is extraordinary in every respect.

Conservation Process: This flag was hand sewn to cotton fabric, and both were hand sewn to a mounting board.  To prevent the black dye in the cotton fabric from seeping into the flag, it was first washed in a standard wash and then in a dye setting wash.  The flag is positioned behind Optium Museum Acrylic.

Frame: This flag is in an American mahogany frame.  More specifically, it is made of crotchwood mahogany, meaning that the wood came from the part of the tree where the trunk splits into two or more branches.  Mahogany is a highly desirable wood in any form, but crotchwood mahogany is in a special category of its own due to its rarity and striking appearance.  It dates to the 1840s and is arguably the best frame that we have ever handled.   

Condition Report: There is minor soiling throughout its surface.  The most significant of which is vertically oriented near the fly end (i.e., the 30% closest thereto).  This flag was likely rolled and placed into storage.  Over time, the outermost portion of the roll was damaged, while the innermost portion was protected.  Such damage is encountered in many antique flags because they were easiest to store in this fashion, particularly those of which that were attached to a staff.  There are minor losses to the blue fringe, though they are minimal.  Overall, the fringe is in excellent condition.  There are minor losses across the top of the canton.  We masked the losses and they are now practically invisible.  In total, its appearance is age appropriate and attractive.      

Collectability Level: The Extraordinary – Museum Quality Offerings  
Date of Origin: 1862  
Number of Stars: 9  
Associated War: Civil War (1861-1865)
Associated State: Arkansas or New Hampshire