Rare 35 Star U.S. Jack & Presidential Signal, 1863 -1865.
This is a rare, hand sewn, wool, 35 star United States Jack, upon whose hoist is marked, 'American Jack'. Jacks bearing 35 stars were current from 4 July 1863 to 4 July 1865 and are extremely rare, despite the fact that the US Navy expanded greatly during the American Civil War, leading to a large increase in the manufacture of yard-made naval flags, ensigns, jacks, commission pennants, signal and designating flags.
The markings on this jack are very similar to and consistent with comparable markings found on flags fabricated at the US Navy Yard in Charleston, MA, near Boston. Such documented flags bear markings Boat Ensign and American Ensign and are known to have been made between 1857 and 1861.
Additionally, this jack is finished with two 7/8th inch brass grommets which were introduced as a finishing feature on flags during the American Civil War. Thus, the combination of construction, finishing and marking details make it highly likely that this is a yard-made 35 star United States Jack.
The jack of the United States is a special usage maritime flag representing United States nationality and generally flown on the jackstaff in the bow of vessels. However, in the 19th century the jack could be displayed at various locations on the ship as a special signal, such as at the mainmast to signify that the President of the United States was aboard or at the foremast to call for a pilot.
Between 1864 and 1865 President Abraham Lincoln was often aboard ships traveling between Washington Navy US positions in Virginia Fortress Monroe, Harrison's Landing and other coastland areas to confer with senior US generals. During these journeys his presence aboard ships was indicated by this special Presidential Signal of hoisting a jack like this to the main mast.
Finally, another use for the jack in this period would have been to place it in the bow of a small boat to indicate that the chief of a U.S. diplomatic mission is officially embarked in the waters of the country to which he was accredited, or when a governor general or governor commissioned by the President is embarked within the waters of the territory of which he or she is in charge.
Final details of the flag that are of note include the additional space on the fly end of the jack which would allow for both additional stars and for potentially necessary hemming repairs.
ZFC Significant Flag
Provenance:
• Sold via Cowan's Auction, Cincinnati, Ohio, to the Zaricor Flag Collection, 2009.
Sources:
Madaus, Howard M.- Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict, VZ Publications, Santa Cruz, 2006.
Preble, George Henry, The History of the Flag of the United States of America, Boston, Houghton, Mifflin & Co. 1894.
National Colors: Ensign, Jack, and Commission Pennant, Sea Flags, 14 November 2011, from: http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/Seaflags/ensign/Ensign.html
Jack of the United States, Wikipedia, 14 November 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_the_United_States
Union Flag, Wikipedia, 14 November 2011, from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Flag
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
