U.S. Guidon, 11th Cavalry, General Henry Lawton.

U.S. Army "Model 1885" Cavalry Guidon; 11th Cavalry, Second Squadron, Troop F.
The red over white swallow tailed guidon has been used by the United States Cavalry since at least 1834 (although it was not issued from 1862 to 1885). The regimental number and troop letter typically appear in reverse coloration for easy identification. Guidons inspired pride in the troop that bore it, but also they also allowed each cavalry member to know where his unit was heading on the trail or in battle.

This particular guidon was carried during the American-Philippine War, and is associated with Major General Lawton, to whom the Apache, Geronimo, had surrendered the previous decade. General Lawton, of the US Army Volunteers was killed at Station San Mateo in Manila on December 19, 1899, during the "Philippine Insurrection". His escort was troop F of the 11th Volunteer Calvary, who later conveyed his body to Manila, and then presumably on to San Francisco, California for an elaborate memorial service prior to the departure of his remains for burial.

The guidon of his unit was then presented to a Red Cross benefit held in San Francisco at the Palace Hotel early in World War I. The $100 realized by its auction on June 27, 1917, was donated to the Red Cross. The flag was then donated to the city of San Francisco three days later by George Rolph and eventually was added to the collection of the De Young Museum.

The wool bunting field is cut swallow-tailed and is composed of 2 horizontal bars, each about 13.5 inches wide. The top bar is red, bottom bar is white. The upper bar bears the block figures "11" in red cotton; the lower bar bears the block letter "F" in red (now faded to a shade of orange). The flag is hand stitched with cotton thread.

Exhibition History:

First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC0210)
United States Army Model 1885 Cavalry Guidon, Troop F, 11th U.S. Cavalry

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY VI
(ZFC0210)
United States Army Model 1885 Cavalry Guidon, Troop F, 11th U.S. Cavalry

War & Dissent
The US in the Philippines 1898 - 1915
October 22, 2008 to February 22, 2009

Publication History:
Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 109.

Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0210) in 1997 from the De Young Museum Collection through Butterfield & Butterfield Auctions of San Francisco, CA.
Deaccessed Heritage Auctions - 13 November 2023 - Auction 6276


ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed

Provenance:
• 11th U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, Troop f., 1899.
• Acquired by S. & G. ((Solomon & Gustav) Gump (store) San Francisco, CA, until 1917.
• Sole via Red Cross Benefit Auction, Palace Hotel, San Francisco to George Rolph, 27 June 1917.
• Mr. George Rolph ( The brother of S.F. mayor James Rolph), 1917.
• Gifted to de Young Museum, 30 June 1917.
• Sold via Butterfield & Butterfield Auctions, SF, CA, to the Zaricor Flag Collection, 1997


Sources:

---

Madaus, Howard M.- Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict, VZ Publications, Santa Cruz, 2006.

Quartermaster General US Army, U.S. Army Uniforms and Equipment, 1889, reprint, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, 1986.

Henry Ware Lawton, Wikipedia, 25 October 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Ware_Lawton

Dumindin, Arnaldo, Dec. 19, 1899: General Henry Lawton dies at San Mateo, Philippine American War, 1899-1902, 25 October 2011, from:
http://philippineamericanwar.webs.com/genlawtondies1899.htm

Maj. Gen. Henry W. Lawton, "General Walton", 1843-1899, Annie Fellows Johnston and the Little Colonel Stories, 25 October 2011, from: http://www.littlecolonel.com/People/Waltons/General_Walton.htm

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Articles and Documents on General Lawton, The Samuel Culbertson Mansion, 26 October 2011, from: http://culbertsonmansion.net/Lawton_Bio.htm

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	27
Length of Fly	41

Stars
Are there stars on obverse?	no
Are there stars on reverse?	no

Stripes
Number of Stripes	2
Color of Top Stripe	Red
Color of Bottom Stripe	White
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Fabric
Fabric	Wool
Comments on Fabric	Bunting

Stitching
Stitching	Hand

Thread
Thread Material	Cotton

Attachment
Comments on Method of Attachmen	Sleeve

Documentation
Documents
Drawings
Research Documents
Public Copy & Signs

Condition
Condition	Bad
Damage	Ragged on edges (red + tan at stams, tears and bottom losses)
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1898

Exhibits

Exhibition Copy

First Presidio Exhibit (ZFC0210) UNITED STATES ARMY MODEL 1885 CAVALRY GUIDON, TROOP F, 11TH U.S. CAVALRY Date: About 1898 Media: Wool bunting with cotton inscriptions; machine sewn Comment: In 1885, the U.S. Army changed the pattern of the guidon that was carried by the companies (troops) of cavalry regiments. The new pattern reverted to the basic design used by the mounted forces of the Army between 1833 and 1862 and consisted of a swallow-tailed field divided horizontally, red over white. The upper bar bore the cavalry regiments seniority number, while the lower bar bore the troop letter. At first provided only in silk, in 1890, a field guidon of more durable bunting was provided. This particular guidon was carried during the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection following the occupation of the Philippines by United States forces. Company F, 11th U.S. Cavalry was serving as the headquarters escort to General Lawton when he was killed at Station San Mateo in Manila on December 19th,1899. This guidon was subsequently sent to San Francisco, where it was auctioned by the Red Cross on June 27th, 1917 to raise funds to aid American soldiers destined for France during World War I. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0210) in 1997 from the De Young Museum Collection through Butterfield & Butterfield Auctions of San Francisco, CA. Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY VI (ZFC0210) United States Army Model 1885 Cavalry Guidon, Troop F, 11th U.S. Cavalry Date: About 1898 Media: Wool bunting with cotton inscriptions; machine sewn Comment: In 1885, the U.S. Army changed the pattern of the guidon that was carried by the companies (troops) of cavalry regiments. The new pattern reverted to the basic design used by the mounted forces of the Army between 1833 and 1862 and consisted of a swallow-tailed field divided horizontally, red over white. The upper bar bore the cavalry regiments seniority number, while the lower bar bore the troop letter. At first provided only in silk, in 1890, a field guidon of more durable bunting was provided. This particular guidon was carried during the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection following the occupation of the Philippines by United States forces. Company F, 11th U.S. Cavalry was serving as the headquarters escort to General Lawton when he was killed at Station San Mateo in Manila on December 19th, 1899. This guidon was subsequently sent to San Francisco, where it was auctioned by the Red Cross on June 27th, 1917 to raise funds in support of American soldiers destined for France during World War I. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0210) in 1997 from the De Young Museum Collection through Butterfield & Butterfield Auctions of San Francisco, CA. War & Dissent The US in the Philippines 1898 - 1915 October 22, 2008 to February 22, 2009 At the Presidio of San Francisco, Officers Club Exhibition Hall 50 Moraga Ave, San Francisco, CA 4.e ZFC0210 framed 27 x 37

Publications

Publication Copy

Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 109. United States Army Model 1885 Cavalry Guidon Troop F, 11th U.S. Cavalry In 1885, the U.S. Army changed the pattern of the guidon that was carried by cavalry regiments. The new pattern reverted to the basic design used by the mounted forces of the Army between 1833 and 1862 and consisted of a swallow-tailed field divided horizontally, red over white. The upper bar bore the cavalry regiments seniority number, while the lower bar bore the troop letter. At first provided only in silk, in 1890 a field guidon of more durable bunting was provided. This particular guidon was carried during the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection following the occupation of the Philippines by U. S. forces. Company F, 11th U.S. Cavalry, was serving as the headquarters escort to General Henry Ware Lawton when he was killed at Station San Mateo in Manila on December 19th, 1899. This guidon was subsequently sent to California, where it was auctioned to support the Red Cross on June 27th, 1917 in San Francisco, to raise funds to aid American soldiers destined for France during World War I. Date: About 1898 Size: 27" hoist x 37" fly Media: Wool bunting with cotton inscriptions; machine sewn Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1997 from the De Young Museum San Francisco CA Collection through Butterfield & Butterfield Auctions of San Francisco, CA. ZFC0210