"Sheridan's Ride", Thulstrup de Thures

"Sheridan's Ride" Print, by Thulstrup de Thures, published by Louis Prang, 1887.
A striking print of an artists depiction of General Sheridan running the lines of Union troops in 1864.
This print is labelled as Sheridan's Ride from Winchester to Cedar Creek. It is not. Rather it portrays Sheridan three hours after he had returned and rode along his battle line to rally the troops. When Sheridan saw it, he thought that he looked like "a damned fool" in the portrayal because it was so far from reality. Sheridan said there was no flag, just him and a single staff officer riding along the lines.

A Loius Prang print of Thulstrup de Thures painting, this was published towards the end of the 19th Century as Prang & Co. responded to a nostalgic revival of interest in the Civil War by printing depictions famous battles and events, often favouring images of those historical figures who were still alive at the time.

Exhibitions

University of California - Santa Cruz
Board of Councilors Meeting, Rare Flags Exhibit
Santa Cruz, CA
7 June 2012


Publication History:
Portion of print shown on page 78 of The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict.
Framed 22.25" x 27.75"

ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed

Sources:

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

Louis Prang, Wikipedia, 20 November 2011, from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Prang

Holzer, Harold, editor, Prang's Civil War pictures: the complete battle chromos of Louis Prang, New York, Fordham University Press, 2001

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	23.5
Length of Fly	17.5

Frame
Is it framed?	yes
Frame Height	22.25
Frame Length	27.75
Comments on Frame	Black aluminum

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

Stripes
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Crest/Emblem
Description of Crest/Emblem	Chromlithograph

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Fabric
Fabric	Paper

Applica
Applique Sides	Single Sided = Design on one side only

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

Condition
Condition	Good
Damage	used
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	circa 1886

Exhibits

Exhibition Copy

University of California - Santa Cruz Board of Councilors Meeting, 7 June 2012 Rare Flags Exhibit Santa Cruz, CA, June 7, 2012: The Zaricor Flag Collection exhibited 34 flags and artifacts at the University of California Santa Cruz Campus for the Board of Councilors Meeting. "Sheridan's Ride" Battle of Cedar Creek Date: 1886 Media: Chromolithograph on paper. Comment: This striking print of an artist's imagined image of Major General Philip Sheridan galloping along lines of Union troops to rally them carrying his personal battle flag. Entitled "Sheridan's Ride," it is a reference to Sheridan's heroic ride along his battle line to rally the troops, with his battle flag ZFC2576, before his counter attack at the Battle of Cedar Creek, 19 October 1864. These events became an American Civil War legend, an epic poem by Thomas Buchanan Read, and ultimately an iconic image as envisioned by the Swedish born, historical military artist, Thulstrup de Thures, acclaimed by his contemporaries as "the foremost military artist in America." The image was printed for distribution by the renowned publisher Louis Prang, and it clearly shows, General Sheridan's Personal Guidon (See ZFC2576) being used to turn the tide of battle. It was published towards the end of the 19th Century as Prang & Co. responded to a nostalgic revival of interest in the Civil War by printing depictions of famous battles and events, often favoring images of those historical figures and famous personages like General Sheridan. Patriotic chromolithographic prints like this were a common feature in American parlors, classrooms, and public spaces at the end of the 19th century. Provenance: Acquired at auction by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0311) in 1996 from Cowan's Auctions, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio. www.FlagCollection.com