Signal Corps Flags

[cjdaley]

I'm not sure if I've ever published these photos or not:

Here are some pics of a set of signal Corps flags in the National CW Museum in Harrisburg:

There were 4 flags in the set. Two white with a red center and two red with a white center. All were made from cotton bunting and are labeled "National Flag/1863/Depot NY"

The regs call for a total of 7 flags in various sizes and colors to be used by the signal corps. The smallest of the flags was supposed to be 48"x48", but these flags measured 43X43, 44X45, 48X47 and 49X 50. All are machine sewn and have various signs of wear.

There appears to be a hand drawn 19th Corps Badge in the center of one set of flags.

[TheSignalCorpsGuy]

Sir,

The members of Signal Corps Association - Reenactors Division (www.civilwarsignals.org) would LOVE to get hold of your pictures - and any other information you have.

The size of these flags obvsiously varies - as most things back then did. It's just neet to see them.

Question - on the 4x4's was there a horizontal seem through the middle?

Also - were the inner squares sewn on each side - or was there only one (with french type seams)?? (let me know) (it appears a square was sewn onto each side from what I can see).

The "Hoist" end: Was there white bunting going down it - or was it the same material as the flag?

The Ties: Were they the same color and material as the flag itself?


There are many many variations of Signal Flags in the US army - albeit they were pretty darn close.

The Signal "KIT" consisted of seven flags.
6' square: One black flag with white square, one white flag with red square
4' square: One black flag with white square, one white flag with red square, one red flag with white square
2' square: one white flag with red square, one red flag with white square


I'd LOVE to get more information from you on this!

[rick35ovi]

Sir,I was wondering if you have seen our unit? we have some great info on the flying telegraph and other subjects also http://www.civilwarsignal.org/

[cjdaley]

Sir,

The members of Signal Corps Association - Reenactors Division (www.civilwarsignals.org) would LOVE to get hold of your pictures - and any other information you have.

The size of these flags obvsiously varies - as most things back then did. It's just neet to see them.

Question - on the 4x4's was there a horizontal seem through the middle?

Also - were the inner squares sewn on each side - or was there only one (with french type seams)?? (let me know) (it appears a square was sewn onto each side from what I can see).

The "Hoist" end: Was there white bunting going down it - or was it the same material as the flag?

The Ties: Were they the same color and material as the flag itself?


There are many many variations of Signal Flags in the US army - albeit they were pretty darn close.

The Signal "KIT" consisted of seven flags.
6' square: One black flag with white square, one white flag with red square
4' square: One black flag with white square, one white flag with red square, one red flag with white square
2' square: one white flag with red square, one red flag with white square


I'd LOVE to get more information from you on this!

I do have more photos, but for some reason I was only allowed to post 4 of them here. Drop me an e-mail and I'll send you the rest of the pics.

[Provost]

I thought these images and the information you related deserved a wider audience. The "flags" in the other forum title refers more to controversial issues of flag usage and/or preservation.

Thank you for your post.

Provost

[Jas. Cox]

Thank you for sharing your photos. It is very useful to included the measurements and the ruler. You might want to consider in the future for such images to include something like the GretagMacbeth ColorChecker. It's a card with colors on it that are a standard so printers can tell the exact colors of an image. Of course these flags would have faded over time and thus aren't the "true" colors, but it does give a starting point. You may not want to go through the expense of purchasing one or the trouble of using one, but it's just something to consider for future reproduction use photographs.

In any event, it was good of you to share them with those that are interested in such things.

[3rd_PA_Artillery]

Whoa, I didn't know they had a pair of those in Harrisburg. I'm surprised old Mayor Reed didn't sell it already. Anyway, I've been out to the museum there before. I saw Pickett's cap from Gettysburg, Lee's personal Bible, and even a picture of my ancestor hanging on the wall, but I never knew they had Signal Corps flags.

[Lightningslinger]

B.T.

Some time ago I was asked, by the then National Civil War Museum curator, the late Howie Madeus, to inspect some of their newly acquired signal flags. During that visit I inquired if their museum had accessioned an 1860'd Beardslee electro-magneto telegraph machine that was known to be up for grabs within the community. He smiled, questioned my leads, then wheeled it out for my inspection.

Now you know that the NCWM in Harrisburg has, beside signal flags mentioned above, an original early 1860's self-contained US army dial telegraph and even at least one prototype US Army signals corps cardboard cypher disk of the detachable tabs variety.

Walt Mathers
~~~~``30``~~~~~

[rick35ovi]

This year we will have our Beardslees in action at
Ft. McCallister Ga. March 8-9
Stones River Tenn. May 3-4 Special park ranger training event!
Dayton, Ohio Va center May23-26
Glendower mansion Lebanon, Ohio Aug. 2-3
Gettysburg, Oct. 18-19

Anyone who would ike to see these wonderful machines in action is welcome to come visit us!!

[Lightningslinger]

This year we will have our Beardslees in action... Anyone who would like to see these wonderful machines in action is welcome to come visit us!!

Hi Rick, Glad to see that your group is out there sharing knowledge of such an 1860's technological breakthrough, helping to usher in the birth of modern military telecommunication. What sort of battery voltage do your repro Beardslees run off of?

The original machines were constructed with big clunky circular banks of inner and outer magnets down inside of their innards rotated to produce their own electrical current. Do you have speakers inside of the boxes to replicate the sounds which would have been produced by the large brass cog teeth found revolving within the original machines?

I've seen images of the cabinetry Dave Harbin produced for the six machines and they are really great! First rate craftsmanship (including the exquisite photo engraved etchings) adorns these machines. Huzzahs to those who produced these interpretive beauties and also to those living historians who continue to operate them at presentantions around the countryside.

Walt Mathers
Signal Corps Association (1860-1865)
www.civilwarsignals.org (Your pards with an extra "s")