4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-10-90: Silk national ▪ Dimensions: 65”x 75” ▪ Silk Fringe: 3”
Description:
This flag is the regiment’s presentation flag, given to them by the ladies of Adrian in a ceremony on June 21, 1861. It is a thirty-four star national. The five-pointed stars are white fabric applique arranged in a rectangular pattern. Several of the stars are missing, but judging from the remaining stars and voids, they were arranged in six rows, with six stars in the first, third, fourth, and sixth row and five stars in the second and fifth rows. The motto, “THE LADIES OF ADRIAN/TO THE/4TH REGIMENT/Defend it” appears on four red stripes. The hollow block letter of “THE LADIES OF ADRIAN” are formed by a double line of gold braid sewn with a running stitch. The letters are filled by silver sequins, sewn on by hand. The letters of “4TH REGIMENT” are formed by hollow cursive letters with a single line of gold braid filled by sequins. The word “Defend” is in a cursive font. The flag has gold fringe on three sides, though it is likely that this fringe was added during conservation efforts during the 1960s as there is little loss and it does not appear to be consistent with the rest of the flag or with period fringe. Fabric on the hoist was fashioned into a sleeve for attachment to the staff.
The staff, which measures 100” long x 1.25” in diameter is intact and a gilt painted wooden ball serves as a finial. A silver presentation plaque on the staff reads, “The Old Fourth Mich. Infantry 1861-1864.” Numerous references indicate that the original staff was shattered, so the staff accompanying SC-10-90 is likely a replacement staff, acquired after the war to allow the flag to be carried and displayed at reunions.
No cords or tassels remain.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960s in an early attempt at conservation.
Adoption:
January 30, 1993 - 12th South Carolina/4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Inc.
March 8, 2012 - Chief Tecumseh Questers #1236
July 30, 2023 - Northwest Skirmish Association (North-South Skirmish Association Northwest Territory)
4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-11-90: Silk national ▪ Dimensions: 71.5”x 39.5+” ▪ Silk Fringe: 2.25”
Description:
The flag is very fragmentary. It is a national, but the canton is so fragmentary that there is no way of knowing whether this was an early war (34 star) or late war (35 star) flag. A small amount of gold fringe remains on the bottom of the flag. Fabric on the hoist was fashioned into a sleeve for attachment to the staff.
The staff, which measures 97.5” long x 1.5” in diameter, has a spade finial. A brass plaque on the staff reads, “4th Mich. Infantry,” indicating this flag was one of those returned to the state in 1866.
The flag has a blue and white twisted silk cord that measures 134” long and the two 2.25” tassels are formed on wooden cores.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960s in an early attempt at conservation.
Adoption:
November 2, 1996 - Jason Bertera
4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-12-90: Silk national ▪ Dimensions: 69”x72.5” ▪ Silk Fringe: 2.5”
Description:
The flag has five pointed painted stars arranged in two concentric ovals; however, there is too much loss in the canton to determine if this is an early war (34 star) or late war (35 star) flag. Flags with this oval pattern typically had an outer oval of twenty stars, an inner oval of ten stars, one star in each corner, and one in the middle for a 35-star flag. For a 34-star flag, the middle star is omitted. There is gold fringe on the outer edge of the flag, but the fringe on the fly edge appears to be a more recent replacement as it does not match the rest of the flag’s fringe. Fabric on the hoist was fashioned into a sleeve for attachment to the staff.
The staff measures 96” long x 1.25” in diameter. There is no plaque on the staff, but a penciled inscription, possibly reading “Tanners Flag,” appears halfway down the shaft in an area once covered by the sleeve. The finial and finial base are missing.
The flag has a blue and white twisted silk cord that measures 156” long and the two 2.5” tassels are formed on wooden cores.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960s in an early attempt at conservation.
Adoption:
November, 1995 - 12th South Carolina/4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Inc.
4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-13-90: Silk regimental ▪ Dimensions: 66.25”x 35+” ▪ Gold Bullion Fringe: 2”
Description:
Half of the flag is missing. The two-sided flag (a flag with decorations painted or sewn on both sides) is made of a single piece of silk. This is unusual as most two-sided flags were made of two pieces of silk so that painted or stitched decorations would not show on the opposite side. The flag features the Michigan coat-of-arms on the front. Under the coat of arms is part of a motto, “Be as brave”. The rest of the motto has been lost. The obverse features the federal coat-of-arms. Under the federal coat-of-arms is the regiment’s designation, though the only remaining word is “Infantry”. The flag has gold bullion fringe on three sides and the fabric on the hoist was fashioned into a sleeve for attachment to the staff.
The staff measures 98” long x 2” in diameter. A brass plaque on the staff reads, “4th Mich. Infantry New Organization,” indicating it is one of the two flags the Fourth returned to the state in 1866. The staff retains its slotted brass ferrule on the butt – it was not cut off to fit in the Capitol cases as were so many of the others staffs returned in 1866. A non-regulation spear finial surmounts the staff, and a narrow brass ring circles the staff near its lower end.
The flag has a green and gold twisted cord made of metal-wrapped cotton, measuring 82” long, and a single green and gold tassel formed on a wooden core.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960s in an early attempt at conservation.
Adoption:
November 13, 1993 - 12th South Carolina/4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Inc.