18th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-64-90: Silk regimental ▪ Dimensions: 70”x 74.5” ▪ Cotton Fringe: 2.25”
Description:
This silk regimental flag is painted with the federal eagle in the middle with two arcing rows of stars above. There are twenty-one stars in the top arc and thirteen in the bottom one. A regimental designation is painted on a red painted ribbon below the eagle. It reads “18th REG’T MICHIGAN INFANTRY.” There is a small amount of loss in the silk along the fly edge and in the wing of the eagle. A gold-colored fringe is attached to the top, bottom, and fly edge of the flag. The hoist end was fashioned into a sleeve for attachment to the staff.
The staff, which measures 93.25” by 1.25”, is missing a finial, but has a flange where a finial would have been attached. 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 “18th Mich. Infantry”.
The flag has a 130.5” blue and whited twisted silk cord and two 1.75” blue and white silk tassels. The tassels are formed over a wooden core.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960s in an early attempt at conservation.
Adoption:
18th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-74-90: Silk national ▪ Dimensions: 69”x 71” ▪ Gold Bullion Fringe
Description:
This 34-star silk national flag has white embroidered stars arranged in a 6-6-5-5-6-6 pattern. Two of the stars are missing and appear to have been cut out. An embroidered regimental designation is on the fourth red stripe. It reads “18th Michigan Infantry.” There is some loss along the top fly edge and bottom hoist edge. There is also fracturing in the white stripes. A gold bullion fringe is attached to the top and bottom of the flag. There is no sleeve.
The staff measures 97” by 1.25” and lacks a 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 “18th Mich. Infantry”.
Not tassels or cords remain.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960s in an early attempt at conservation. At this time, modern ties were added to the hoist edge.
Adoption: