U.S. Army "Forty Rounds", 1865 Flag Staff.

U.S. Pierced Halberd Finial & Flag Staff 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 15th Corps.
This halberd finial and 93" one piece, hardwood pole with bottom ferrule was used to carry the designating flag of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division of the 15th Army Corps of the Union Army of the Tennessee at the close of the American Civil War. While many Civil War designating flags can be found, very few are still complete with their flag staff and finial. Examples such as this one with an unbroken chain of possession are quite rare.

Civil War flags were generally carried on hardwood staffs, most of which were topped with spears or eagles. It is this pole's halberd finial which is it most interesting feature. The halberd was a weapon from the middle ages which devolved over years into a sign of rank. By the 1600s they were carried by senior sergeants and junior officers and were still in use as such during the American Revolutionary War.

By the 19th century they were no longer used to indicate rank, but survived in both the US Army and Navy as a finial for a staff. This ceremonial example is pierced for decorative purposes, rendering it useless as a weapon. This flag, staff, and finial were carried in the Grand Review of the Armies in Washington DC, 23-24 May 1865.

Companion Piece to ZFC0424 - US Army Designating Flag, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 15th Corps, "Forty Rounds"

Provenance:
• Made under open market agreement with Horstmann Bros. & Co. of Philadelphia, May 1865
• Paraded at the Grand Review of the Armies of the U.S., May 24-26, 1865.
• Retained as a memento of service by Colonel John Eaton Tourtellotte commanding 4th Minnesota Infantry, 1865
• By descent in the Tourtellotte Family.
• Acquired by Tim Prize from the descendants of Colonel John Eaton Tourtellotte.
• Acquired by Howard Madaus through internet auction from Tim Prize, 2004.
• Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection from the Madaus Flag Collection, 2004

ZFC Significant Flag

Sources:

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Wright, Major General Horatio, Designating Flags of the United States Army, 1861-1865, Burk & McFetridge, Philadelphia, 1887.

Military Finials (U.S.), Flags of the World, 6 October 2011, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us%5Efin.html

Grand Review of the Armies, Wikipedia, 6 October 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Review_of_the_Armies

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

(Formerly in the Howard M. Madaus - Civil War & 19th Century Military Collection.)

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	1
Length of Fly	115

Frame
Is it framed?	no

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

Stripes
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Documentation
Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Drawings	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Research Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Public Copy & Signs	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.

Condition
Condition	Good
Damage	Good
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1865