5th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-22-90: Silk national coat-of-arms ▪ Dimensions: 28”x 6+” ▪ Cotton Fringe: 2.25”
Description:
The remains of what appears to be a blue silk flag that initially bore the national coat of arms. The flag was painted and what appears to be the wing of an eagle is visible on the right edge of the remaining fragment. The fabric on the hoist end was fashioned into a sleeve for attachment to the flagstaff. Remnants of gold colored fringe remain on the top and bottom of the flag. The fly end is completely gone.
The staff measures 8’2” by 1 ¼” in diameter and is topped by the base of a finial. The finial is missing. The remaining portion of the base measures 3 1/8” by 1/16”. The staff of flags returned to the state in the 1866 Detroit ceremony marking the end of the war all bear identical brass plaques. The plaque reads in Spencerian script, “5th Mich. Infantry”.
The flag has a 9’10” blue and white cord with a blue and white tassel. The tassel was built over a wooden core and is 2” in diameter.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960s in an early attempt at conservation.
Adoption:
5th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-23-90: Silk national ▪ Dimensions: 73” x 74” ▪ Cotton Fringe: 2.5”
Description:
National flag appearing to have 34 stars arranged in two concentric ovals with twenty stars in the outer oval, nine stars in the inner oval, one star in the center, and one in each corner. The stars on the outer oval, top right, and top left of the canton are missing. There is also loss on the fly end of the flag. The hoist end of the flag was fashioned into a sleeve for attachment to the staff. Remnants of gold colored cotton fringe run along the top and bottom of the flag.
The staff measures 8’½” by 1 ¼” in diameter and is topped by the base of a finial. The finial is missing. The remaining portion of the base measures 3 1/8” by 1 1/16”. The staff of flags returned to the state in the 1866 Detroit ceremony marking the end of the war all bear identical brass plaques. The plaque reads in Spencerian script, “5th Mich. Infantry”.
The flag has a 6’ gold bullion cord with a gold bullion tassel. The tassel measures 7” in length.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960s in an early attempt at conservation.
Adoption:
July 30, 2017 - North-South Skirmish Association Northwest Territory
5th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-27-90: Silk national guidon ▪ Dimensions: 25.5” x 33.25+”
Description:
A swallowtail national guidon with thirty visible stars. The stars are painted in two concentric circles with stars in each corner. Due to loss in the canton, it is impossible to determine the number of stars the flag had originally. The flag has a sleeve, but ties were added at some point, most likely for display purposes.
The staff measures 7’7½” by 1 ¼” in diameter. There is no finial. The staff of flags returned to the state in the 1866 Detroit ceremony marking the end of the war all bear identical brass plaques. The plaque reads in Spencerian script, “5th Mich. Infantry”.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960s in an early attempt at conservation.
Adoption:
5th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-39-90: Silk national ▪ Dimensions: 70.5” x 61+” ▪ Cotton Fringe: 2.5”
Description:
National flag with painted stars. Due to loss, it is impossible to determine the original number of stars on the flag, but remaining stars suggest the stars on the flag were arranged in two concentric circles with stars in each corner of the canton. There is a significant amount of loss on the fly end of the flag. The hoist end of the flag was fashioned into a sleeve for attachment to the staff. Remnants of gold colored cotton fringe remain attached to the top and bottom of the flag.
The staff measures 7’ 6” by 1 1/8” in diameter and is topped by a finial. The finial is a wooden spear shaped finial carved into the staff and painted gold. It measures 7 1/16” by 1” at the widest point. The staff has three holes running vertically near the top of the staff. These are most likely from nails used to attach the flag to the staff. The staff of flags returned to the state in the 1866 Detroit ceremony marking the end of the war all bear identical brass plaques. The plaque reads in Spencerian script, “5th Mich. Infantry”.
The flag has a 5’ 1” gold bullion cord with a gold bullion tassel. The tassel measures 7” in length.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960s in an early attempt at conservation.
Adoption:
5th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-40-90: Silk national ▪ Dimensions: 73” x 77” ▪ Gold Bullion Fringe: 3”
Description:
A national flag with thirty-four peek-a-boo stars. Peek-a-boo stars are stars that are sewed onto one side of the flag and the canton is cut away on the reverse, so the star is visible on both sides. Since the flag has thirty-four stars it is most likely an early war flag created before West Virginia became a state in 1863. The flag is mostly intact, though there is some loss along the fly end. Gold bullion is attached on three sides. There is some question to the method used to attach this flag to the staff as there is no visible sleeve. Ties were added sometime after the war, most likely to facilitate the display of the flag.
The staff measures 8’ by 1 ¼” in diameter and appears to be hand whittled, not machine cut. The top of the staff was whittled into a peg to allow for a finial, however the finial is missing. The base of the staff was whittled to a point. The staff is slightly discolored where the flag would have been attached. It appears the discoloration may be from the blue dye of the canton. Also in this area is written, “Front of Flag – Sand down”. The letters HSV are carved into the staff approximately 41 inches from the top. The staff of flags returned to the state in the 1866 Detroit ceremony marking the end of the war all bear identical brass plaques. The plaque reads in Spencerian script, “5th Mich. Infantry”.
The flag has a 5’ 6” gold bullion cord with gold bullion tassels. The tassels measure 7” in length.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960s in an early attempt at conservation.
Adoption:
April 3, 1993 - George W. Lee Civil War Roundtable
September 19, 1998 - Descendents of Walter Lewis Mundell
October 10, 1999 - Barry County Historical Society