6th Michigan Volunteer Infantry / 6th Michigan Heavy Artillery
SC-24-90: Silk regimental ▪ Dimensions: 71.5”x 77.5” ▪ Silk Fringe: 2”
Description:
The white silk flag is a one-sided flag constructed from two pieces of silk sewn together to achieve the desired height. The sew line is horizontal running through the center of the flag. The painted design features crossed cannons in the center of the flag. Ribbons are also painted on the above and below the cannons. The top ribbon reads “U.S.” On the bottom ribbon, there is a space that was not painted in for the regimental designation. “Regiment” and “Artillery” are painted into the other two spaces on the ribbon. There is some fracturing in the paint on the cannons. The fly end of the silk has some damage, and there is a fairly large area of loss near the top ribbon. A gold-colored silk fringe is attached on top, bottom, and fly end of the flag and is relatively intact. The hoist end was fashioned into a sleeve for attachment to a staff.
The flag does not have an original accompanying staff, finial or cords.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960’s as an early attempt at conservation.
Adoption:
6th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-37-90: Silk national ▪ Dimensions: 70”x 73” ▪ Cotton Fringe: 2.5”
Description:
The flag is a one-sided, 34-star, silk national flag. The gold painted stars are arranged in the canton in six curved rows around the words “Do Your Duty.” The first row contains five stars; the second, six; the third, seven; the fourth, five; the fifth, six; and the sixth, five. The flag is decorated with battle honors on the red stripes. The honors start on the second red stripe with “BATON ROUGE”, however, most of the word Rouge is missing due to the paint making the silk more rigid and falling out. On the third strip is the words “Aug. 5th. 1862”. The fourth red stripe bears the regimental designation “6th REGT MICHIGAN INFANTRY”. The fifth red stripe reads “COTTEN, Jan’y 14th, 1863.” The fifth red stripe reads “PORT HUDSON”. The last red strip reads “May 27th, June 14th, July 7th, 1863”, however, the last two digits of the number are missing. There is significant loss along the fly end of the flag. The hoist end of the flag was folded to form a sleeve attachment. Golden colored fringe has been attached to the top, bottom and fly end of the flag.
The staff, which measures 86 5/8” long x 1 7/16” in diameter has twenty nail holes along the length. Five of these holes contain nails. There is one large hole that goes through the staff located at the base of the 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. There is no brass plaque on this staff. The staff is topped with a spade finial. The finial measures 10 1/8” x nearly 2” at the widest point is attached to the staff with a screw.
The flag is accompanied by a blue and white cord measuring 104” and two blue and white tassels measuring 8”.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960’s as an early attempt at conservation.
Adoption:
June 9, 2018 - Southwest Michigan Civil War Roundtable
6th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-38-90: Silk national ▪ Dimensions: 70”x 74.5” ▪ Cotton Fringe: 2”
Description:
The flag is a one-piece, 35-star silk national. The gold painted stars are arranged in a grid pattern with five rows of seven stars each. The regimental designation is painted on the fourth red stripe and reads “6th. REGt. MICHIGAN HEAVY ARTILLERY”. Battle honors are painted on the bottom three red stripes. The fifth red stripe reads “BATON ROUGE, COTTEN, PORT HUDSON” The sixth red stripe reads “PONCHATOULA, FORTS SPANISH” The last red stripe reads “HUGAR AND TRACY, MOBILE ALA.” There is some loss in the white stripes along the fly end of the flag. The hoist end was folded to form a sleeve attachment. A golden colored fringed is attached on the top, bottom and fly end of the flag.
The staff, which measures 87 7/8” long x 2” in diameter appears varnished and has six nail holes consistent to where the flag 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 plaque reads in Spencerian script “6th Heavy Artillery”. At some point the staff was shortened (probably to get it to fit in the display cases at the capitol). The staff is topped with a spade finial. The finial measures 8 1/8” x 3 7/8” at the widest point and is attached with a screw.
The flag is accompanied by a gold-colored cord measuring 138” and two gold-colored tassels measuring 7”.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960’s as an early attempt at conservation.
Adoption:
August 17, 1996 - Michigan Regimental Roundtable