Description:

This silk regimental flag is painted with the federal eagle in the center and two arcing rows of stars above.  There is some loss, particularly in the silk below and to the fly edge of the eagle and in the starry area above.  Only ten stars remain visible, though it appears there were originally thirteen stars.  Below the eagle is a painted red ribbon with the regimental designation.  Only the word “FIRST” remains of this designation.  A gold-colored silk fringe is attached to the top, bottom, and fly edge of the flag.  The hoist end was fashioned into a pole sleeve for attachment to the staff.  The sleeve was reinforced with cotton material.

The staff, which measures 89” by 1.25”, is carved at the top into a wooden spear-shaped finial.  The staffs of flags returned to the state at the 1866 Detroit ceremony marking the end of the war all bear identical brass plaques.  The brass plaque reads in Spencerian script “1st Mich. Cavalry”. 

In 2004, the flag was conserved by Textile Preservation Associates.  The flag was carefully cleaned to remove dust.  It was then humidified to relax the fabric.  Painted areas had to be humidified using steam.  The flag was dried under glass weights to remove any wrinkles.  Textile Preservation Associates then contracted with Nancy Pollak, a paint conservator, who addressed areas where the paint was flaking.  Textile Preservation Associates then stabilized the flag by sewing it between two layers of Stabiltex.