U.S. National Flag (34 stars), New Jersey state contract (made by Yard), used by the 7th New Jersey Infantry, Captain Hopkins.
This 34-star U.S. flag was made under contract to the State of New Jersey by William J. Yard of Trenton as part of a group of flags for use by recruiters endeavoring to fill the ranks of New Jersey's volunteer forces during the Civil War. The inked inscription on the canvas heading indicates that this particular flag was used by Captain Frank J. Hopkins of the 7th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry in his effort to recruit volunteers for that regiment in 1862 and 1863. During the American Civil War the brass grommet, patented a decade before, found major use among flag-makers for the first time. Until the mass production of the brass grommet began, ties were run through button hole eyelets whip-stitched by hand into the canvas or linen headings along the hoist edge of a flag or a rope with toggle and loop were sewn directly into the heading. Although the brass grommet was a superior method of affixing halyards to flags, it was not universally adopted for another 25 years and it was not available in the South during the Civil War.

The field of this flag is composed of thirteen alternating red and white wool/bunting stripes, the topmost stripe is red as is the bottom-most, they are all joined horizontally by hand. Inset into the upper, hoist corner, and extending through seven stripes from the top, is a dark blue wool/bunting union/canton measuring 38.5 inches (w) x 26.5 inches (h), formed from two sections of bunting joined by hand horizontally. The canton bears 34 white, cotton, 5-pointed stars which each measure 3.5 inches across. They are sewn by hand onto both the obverse and reverse sides in five horizontal rows: 7-7-6-7-7. A white canvas twill weave heading, 2 inches wide, finishes the hoist edge. Four brass grommets are set, equally spaced, into this heading for ties to secure this flag to a halyard or pole. Inscribed on the heading in ink is: "Capt. Frank J. Hopkins, 7th N.J. Vols. 1862." which records its use by Captain Hopkins whilst he was on recruiting service for his regiment in 1862-1863.


Exhibition History:
First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC1088)
34-Star United States Recruiting Flag, 7th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry.

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - Gallery III
(ZFC1088)
34-Star United States Recruiting Flag, 7th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry


Bullock, Hugh, Sixty Years, Calvin Bullock, New York, 1954.P.32.

Provenance:

• Made by William Yard, Trenton, NJ, 1861-1862.
• Captain Frank J. Hopkins, 7th NJ Vol. Inf., 1862-1863.
• Acquired by Calvin Bullock, circa. 1930s.
• Calvin Bullock Collection, until passing, 1944.
• Hugh Bullock, until passing. 1966.
• By descent in Bullock family to daughter of Hugh Bullock, until 1997
• Purchased for the Zaricor Flag Collection by private treaty from the estate of Calvin Bullock, New York City, 1997.
Deaccessed Bonhams Americana Auction - 31 January 2025 - Lot 10




ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed

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