ZFC Item Section - U.S. 35 Star Flag - Maj. Gen George Thomas

Exhibits Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.
Exhibition Copy	First Presidio Exhibit (ZFC0142) 35-Star United States Flag, (Associated With General George H. Thomas) Date: 1864-1865 Media: Wool bunting with cotton stars; all hand sewn Comment: This large 35-star U.S. flag is thought to have flown over the headquarters building of Major General George H. Thomas during the 1864 siege of Nashville. Thomas was nicknamed the Rock of Chickamauga for his stubborn defense in that battle. On 15-16 December that year General Thomas forces soundly routed the remains of the Confederate Army of Tennessee in the hills surrounding the railroad and supply center at Nashville, just as General Grant was preparing to replace him for acting too slowly. Thomas victory cemented his command over the middle theater of the Union armies. This flag bears General Thomas name on at least one of its stars. The post-War owner of this flag claimed that it also had flown at Appomattox Court House after General Lee surrendered. However, since General Thomas was still in command of the Department of the Cumberland in Nashville when the surrender took place, that claim makes it likely Thomas signed this flag after the war for some reason. Other names (too faded to read clearly) are also on the stars, therefore the claim of Appomattox may be valid since the star was signed by at least one former Civil War General. Though there is no evidence of any U.S. flag having been present at the McLean House where Lees surrender took place, it seems likely given the number of troop presents, but no record exist other than this claim. It is possible this flag was raised at the Court House or nearby area some hours or days after the surrender. Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - Gallery III (ZFC0142) 35-Star United States Flag Associated with General George H. Thomas Date: 1864-1865 35 Stars: July 4, 1863-July 3, 1865 (West Virginia statehood June 20, 1863) Media: Wool bunting with cotton stars; all hand-sewn Comment: This large 35-star U.S. flag is thought to have flown over the headquarters building of Major General George H. Thomas during the 1864 siege of Nashville. (Thomas had gained the nickname the Rock of Chickamauga for his stubborn defense in that September 1863 battle.) A little more than a year later, on December 15-16, 1864, General Thomas forces soundly routed the remains of the Confederate Army of Tennessee in the hills surrounding the railroad and supply center at Nashville. Thomas victory cemented his command over the middle theater of the Union armies. This flag bears General Thomas name on at least one of its stars. The post-War owner of this flag claimed that it also had flown at Appomattox Court House after General Lee surrendered. However, since General Thomas was still in command of the Department of the Cumberland in Nashville when the surrender took place, that claim makes it likely that Thomas signed this flag after the war. Though there is no evidence of any U.S. flag having been present at the McLean House where Lees surrender took place, it seems likely, given the number of troops present, that a large camp flag would also have been present at one of the camps occupied by the Union forces. Presidential Debate Washington University at St. Louis October, 2004 (ZFC0142) 35-Star United States Flag The General Thomas Flag (18631865) This large 35-star U.S. flag is thought to have flown over the headquarters building of Major General George H. Thomas during the 1864 siege of Nashville. Thomas had gained the nickname the Rock of Chickamauga for his stubborn defense in that September 1863 battle. The flag bears General Thomas name on at least one of its stars. The post-War owner of the flag claimed that it also had flown at Appomattox Courthouse after General Lee surrendered. However, since General Thomas was still in command of the Department of the Cumberland in Nashville when the surrender took place, that claim makes it likely that Thomas signed this flag after the war. Though there is no evidence of any U.S. flag having been present at the McLean House where Lees surrender took place, it seems likely, given the number of troops present, that a large camp flag would also have been present at one of the camps occupied by the Union forces. Marking "George Thomas" 2 tags, 3 stamps 3 pieces machine stitched stripes Donor to Flag House claims: "This flag is said to have flown at Appomattox, VA at the time of Gen. Lee's surrender - Civil War," identified as regimental flag - Original owner Francis Gilbert, New Jersey (Bride Veteran - Civil War(Bridgeton) Regimental Size Civil War Era Flag Charles Scarlett from Norton Asnes - dealer

Exhibits

Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.

Exhibition Copy

First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC0142)
35-Star United States Flag, (Associated With General George H. Thomas) Date: 1864-1865
Media: Wool bunting with cotton stars; all hand sewn
Comment: This large 35-star U.S. flag is thought to have flown over the headquarters building of Major General George H. Thomas during the 1864 siege of Nashville. Thomas was nicknamed the Rock of Chickamauga for his stubborn defense in that battle. On 15-16 December that year General Thomas forces soundly routed the remains of the Confederate Army of Tennessee in the hills surrounding the railroad and supply center at Nashville, just as General Grant was preparing to replace him for acting too slowly. Thomas victory cemented his command over the middle theater of the Union armies. This flag bears General Thomas name on at least one of its stars. The post-War owner of this flag claimed that it also had flown at Appomattox Court House after General Lee surrendered. However, since General Thomas was still in command of the Department of the Cumberland in Nashville when the surrender took place, that claim makes it likely Thomas signed this flag after the war for some reason. Other names (too faded to read clearly) are also on the stars, therefore the claim of Appomattox may be valid since the star was signed by at least one former Civil War General. Though there is no evidence of any U.S. flag having been present at the McLean House where Lees surrender took place, it seems likely given the number of troop presents, but no record exist other than this claim. It is possible this flag was raised at the Court House or nearby area some hours or days after the surrender.

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - Gallery III
(ZFC0142)
35-Star United States Flag Associated with General George H. Thomas
Date: 1864-1865 35 Stars: July 4, 1863-July 3, 1865 (West Virginia statehood June 20, 1863)
Media: Wool bunting with cotton stars; all hand-sewn
Comment: This large 35-star U.S. flag is thought to have flown over the headquarters building of Major General George H. Thomas during the 1864 siege of Nashville. (Thomas had gained the nickname the Rock of Chickamauga for his stubborn defense in that September 1863 battle.) A little more than a year later, on December 15-16, 1864, General Thomas forces soundly routed the remains of the Confederate Army of Tennessee in the hills surrounding the railroad and supply center at Nashville. Thomas victory cemented his command over the middle theater of the Union armies. This flag bears General Thomas name on at least one of its stars. The post-War owner of this flag claimed that it also had flown at Appomattox Court House after General Lee surrendered. However, since General Thomas was still in command of the Department of the Cumberland in Nashville when the surrender took place, that claim makes it likely that Thomas signed this flag after the war. Though there is no evidence of any U.S. flag having been present at the McLean House where Lees surrender took place, it seems likely, given the number of troops present, that a large camp flag would also have been present at one of the camps occupied by the Union forces.

Presidential Debate
Washington University at St. Louis
October, 2004
(ZFC0142)
35-Star United States Flag The General Thomas Flag (18631865)
This large 35-star U.S. flag is thought to have flown over the headquarters building of Major General George H. Thomas during the 1864 siege of Nashville. Thomas had gained the nickname the Rock of Chickamauga for his stubborn defense in that September 1863 battle. The flag bears General Thomas name on at least one of its stars. The post-War owner of the flag claimed that it also had flown at Appomattox Courthouse after General Lee surrendered. However, since General Thomas was still in command of the Department of the Cumberland in Nashville when the surrender took place, that claim makes it likely that Thomas signed this flag after the war. Though there is no evidence of any U.S. flag having been present at the McLean House where Lees surrender took place, it seems likely, given the number of troops present, that a large camp flag would also have been present at one of the camps occupied by the Union forces.
Marking "George Thomas" 2 tags, 3 stamps
3 pieces machine stitched stripes
Donor to Flag House claims: "This flag is said to have flown at Appomattox, VA at the time of Gen. Lee's surrender - Civil War," identified as regimental flag - Original owner Francis Gilbert, New Jersey (Bride Veteran - Civil War(Bridgeton)
Regimental Size
Civil War Era Flag
Charles Scarlett
from Norton Asnes - dealer

Publications Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.
Publication Copy	35-Star United States Flag Associated with General George H. Thomas This large 35-star U.S. flag is thought to have flown over the headquarters building of Major General George H. Thomas during the siege of Nashville on December 15 â€“ 16, 1864. At Nashville, General Thomas forces soundly routed the remains of the Confederate Army of Tennessee in the hills surrounding the important railroad and supply center. Thomas victory cemented his command over the middle theater of the Union armies. This flag bears General Thomas name on at least one of its stars (right). The post-War owner of this flag claimed that it also had flown at Appomattox Court House after General Lee surrendered. However, since General Thomas was still in command of the Department of the Cumberland in Nashville when the surrender took place, that claim makes it likely that Thomas signed this flag after the war. Though evidence is lacking concerning a U.S. flag having been present at the McLean House where Lees surrender took place, it seems likely, given the number of troops present, that a large camp flag would also have been present at one of the camps occupied by the Union forces. Date: 1864 1865 Size: 84" hoist x 138" fly 35 Stars: July 4, 1863 July 3, 1865 (West Virginia statehood June 20, 1863) Media: Wool bunting with cotton stars; all hand-sewn

Publications

Publication Copy

35-Star United States Flag
Associated with General George H. Thomas

This large 35-star U.S. flag is thought to have flown over the headquarters building of Major General George H. Thomas during the siege of Nashville on December 15 â€“ 16, 1864. At Nashville, General Thomas forces soundly routed the remains of the Confederate Army of Tennessee in the hills surrounding the important railroad and supply center. Thomas victory cemented his command over the middle theater of the Union armies. This flag bears General Thomas name on at least one of its stars (right). The post-War owner of this flag claimed that it also had flown at Appomattox Court House after General Lee surrendered. However, since General Thomas was still in command of the Department of the Cumberland in Nashville when the surrender took place, that claim makes it likely that
Thomas signed this flag after the war. Though evidence is lacking concerning a U.S. flag having been present at the McLean House where Lees surrender took place, it seems likely, given the number of troops present, that a large camp flag would also have been present at one of the camps occupied by the Union forces.

Date: 1864 1865
Size: 84" hoist x 138" fly
35 Stars: July 4, 1863 July 3, 1865 (West Virginia statehood June 20, 1863)
Media: Wool bunting with cotton stars; all hand-sewn