5th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry
93.88.1: Silk regimental ▪ Dimensions: 26” x 33” ▪ Fringe
Description:
This silk regimental flag is painted with the federal eagle in the center and thirteen painted stars above. A regimental designation is painted on a red painted ribbon below the eagle and reads “MICHIGAN 5th CAVALRY.” There is a split in the middle of the flag. A gold-colored fringe is attached to the top, bottom, and fly edge of the flag. The hoist edge was fashioned into a sleeve for attachment to the staff. This flag was purchased with privately raised funds in 1993 and the flag was originally owned by Medal of Honor Col. Smith Hastings.
Adoption:
May 21, 1997 - Quakertown Questers, Chapter 115
April 29, 2005 - Anchor Bay Middle School South
June 6, 2016 - Michigan Historical Center Docents
July 19, 2018 - Hannibal Farrell Daughters of the Union 1861-1865
July 12, 2019 - Maria Moore Questers #432
5th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry
93.88.2: Silk national guidon ▪ Dimensions: 28” x 35”
Description:
This swallowtail silk national has 35 gold painted stars arranged in two concentric circles with 12 stars in the inner circle, 19 in the outer circle, and a star in each corner of the canton. There is some loss on the fly edge of the flag. The hoist edge was fashioned into a sleeve for attachment to the staff. Three signatures are on the lower hoist edge in black ink “S. H. Hastings. S. H. Hastings. Mr. S. H. Hastings”. This flag was purchased with privately raised funds in 1993 and the flag was originally owned by Medal of Honor Col. Smith Hastings.
Adoption:
May 6, 2004 - Anchor Bay Middle School South
5th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry
SC-133-90: Silk national guidon ▪ Dimensions: 27” x 33”
Description:
This swallowtail silk national has 34 gold painted stars arranged in two concentric circles with 12 stars in the inner circle, 18 in the outer circle, and a star in each corner of the canton. There is a space where one of the stars is missing. The fly edge of the flag is very tattered are there are many splits in the silk. The hoist edge was fashioned into a sleeve for attachment to the staff.
The staff, which measures 89” by 1.25”, is carved to have a wooden spear-shaped finial on top. 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 “5th Mich. Cavalry”.
Adoption:
5th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry
2000.80.1: Silk regimental ▪ Dimensions: ?” x ?” ▪ Gold Bullion Fringe: 1.5”
Description:
This swallowtail silk flag is made of red silk on the top half and white silk on the bottom half. Embroidered in gold-colored thread on the red silk is “U.S.”. Embroidered in red thread on the white silk is “Co I. 1st Michigan Mounted Rifles.” The dye from this thread has discolored the silk around the embroidery. The 1st Michigan Mounted Rifles was a group from Allegan, Michigan that was part of the Fifth Michigan Volunteer Cavalry. Attached to the top, bottom, and fly edge of the flag is a gold bullion fringe. The flag was attached to the staff with three cloth ties.
Adoption:
May 17, 2001 - Allegan County Historical Society