Those Little Flags in the United States Army, 
1861 - 1865^*

The basic tactics of regimental deployment on the battlefield changed as the Civil War progressed. Small flags were used by many regiments to mark the ends of their formation battle lines. These small "marker" flags served two purposes. First, they kept the front ranks of the regimental battle line aligned by providing a "line up" marking line for the formation and for engagement. Second, these small flags used to delineated the limits of the regiment to the field/division/corps commander where offensive operations involved more than one regiment. 

Small flags were first used by regiments to mark the limits of their campsites. The small flags were added  to the impedimenta of many a locally-raised military unit with generous expressions of patriotic favor by local benefactors within large cities. Flags were among the forefront of the gifts presented to departing units. The source of these flags were either local or federal purveyors who interpreted vaguely written federal regulations to their own interests. Nowhere was this phenomenon more evident that in the presentation of small functional secondary flags that formed part of a military unit's "stand of colors" - the camp colors, the general guide flags, and flank marker flags that saw service in the Civil War.

Camp Colors
Of the three categories of secondary flags of a military unit, only "Camp Colors" had the official sanction during the Civil War. Revised Army Regulations of 1861 defined "Camp Colors" as follows: 

The camp colors are of bunting, eighteen inches square; white for infantry, red for artillery, with the number of the regiment on them. The pole eight feet long.

Camp Colors; 6th US Infantry 1848-1861 This one of white bunting (now discolored)  and 18 inches square, was probably first  used during the Mexican War.

Camp colors had their roots in the English Army where they were used to delineate the limits of a regiment's campsite. The regulations were reasonably clear and nine new infantry regiments were added to the regular US army in 1861 but no one anticipated that the new state volunteer regiments that merged with the regulars would use the same numbering system for their regiments. Hence, a camp color following the Regular Army's system with only the figures thereupon could conceivably indicate the campsite of the 18th U.S. Infantry, the 18th Ohio Infantry, the 18th Michigan Infantry, etc. To remedy this problem many states added a second line to their flags which had the state abbreviation. The 4th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry used a camp color which had a "4" appliquéd on its top line and a second line of "KY". Camp colors of state units often assumed more elaborate forms, depending on the whims of commanding officers. Silken camp colors, with gold lace and fringes, were not uncommon. The 55th New York Infantry started off its field service with two small French tricolors as campsite markers. Virtually all of the red and white camp colors of the Regular Army became obsolete by virtue of General Order No. 4, of January 1862. In part this order directed:

Under instructions from the Secretary of War, dated January 7, 1862, guidons and camp colors for the Army will be made like the United States flag, with stars and stripes. 

Camp Colors; 2nd US Artillery 1861.  Artillery camp colors were of red bunting  with white lettering. This example is  16 1/2 inches by 18 3/4 inches.

The new camp colors looked like small garrison flags and had their stars arranged in various pattern largely dependent upon the location of the manufacturer. Commonly, the flags were attached to a 96 1/2 inch ash staff with a wooden cylindro-conical wooden finial at the top and a 5 inch long brass ferrule that tapers to a point at the base (see below). 

The new colors were used by regiments to perform probably unintended functions. In addition to using the small stars and striped flags as camp colors, they evolved into General Guide flags and Flank Marker flags as French tactical manuals were translated and adopted by the US military. These flags were used during marching and engagement with the enemy to mark points of wheeling and were used at markers in troop evolutions. Usually these flags were located at the edges of the lead company or division as troops engagements. Their function was to keep the rank of file closers straight and the two general guide flags formed a line upon which a unit could dress upon.  

General Guide Flags

General guide sergeants and general guide flags  1st New York Veteran Zouaves, 1865 (Right) and 23rd  Massachusetts Infantry, 1862 (Left).

In the French service, the "general guides" had been furnished with small colorful flags that were mounted on short staffs that could be inserted into the muzzles of muskets carried by these guides. The small flags made them more visible to the commanding officers in the center of the unit line. There were two general guides selected in each regiment. These were selected by the regimental commander and were usually sergeants as were most members of the color guard. 

Prior to the Civil War, the volunteer militia movement was particularly active in Massachusetts and New York and with the French participation in the Crimean War and the French victories over Austria in 1859, French fashion became predominant in volunteer militia circles. French attire was adopted (i.e. Zouaves) along with "General Guide flags".

The characteristic that distinguishes General Guide Flags from other marking flags of the regiment was the pole. The pole was shorter than other marker poles and was either turned or tapered on its lower end to fit into the bore of the sergeant's musket. A top the pole was a finial resembling the British Pattern 1791 pike spear-head, i.e., the diamond-shaped brass spear that was screwed into the top of a cross bar that made up the lower half of the finial. The overall length of these finials was usually 7 1/2 inches long. This is sometimes referred to as the "spontoon" head. By 1862, many state militia guide flags had incorporated the stars and stripes motif with script lettering identifying the unit's state affiliation and unit number but many retained the older motifs such as the state's coat-of arms.

Some newly equipped state regiments were supplied with up to four camp colors and up to three guide flags.

Flank Marker Flags
As an alternative to the General Guide flag, some regiments adopted flags that could be best described as "flank markers". Each regiment used two Flank Marker flags which were carried by the Sergeants serving as general guides on each flank of the regiment. The main difference between these "flank marker flags" and the "general guide flags" was that they were attached to a full sized 8-foot staff rather than a short staff tapered to fit into the muzzle of a musket. A number of regiments either requisitioned or were issued only two camp colors and, invariably, these flags were put to use by the general guide sergeants rather than to mark the boundaries of a campsite.

Camp colors used as flank markers in company drill wherein the camp colors served as markers for wheeling, about 1863. Note the wooden cylindro-conical finial at the top of the staff.

A second photograph from the Civil War shows the officers of the Treasury Guard, Washington D.C. with camp colors used as flank markers. Notice that privates are carrying the camp colors. Washington Monument, still under construction, can be seen in background.

Camp colors being used as flank markers by Treasury Guard, Washington D.C. 1864 . Note rounded wooden finials at top of staff (see figure below).

Camp Colors of 1st New York Infantry,  1862, showing rounded wooden grooved finial and 5-inch long brass ferrule at base.

Presentation flank markers were used sporadically during the War In the absence of regulations specifically directing their use, flank markers tended to enter a regiment's repertoire as part of presentations from areas that had experienced the avant guard "traditions" of the French army. New York and particularly New York City was in the forefront in this regard.

While most states made some provisions to furnish their volunteer units with stands of colors in 1861 and early 1862. New York relied instead on regimental benefactors to equip the state's regiments with their colors. This challenge was usually met by local communities or counties in which the majority of the regiment was raised. Nearly every regiment raised in New York City was presented with a set of colors that included a regimental flag bearing the arms of the City of New York on one side and the arms of the state of New Your on the other side Although such flags were initially presented as they left for the seat of war, the practice continued throughout the war, so that when units became veteranized, new sets of colors were provided as well.

The flank markers presented by the City of New York exhibited several common features. Most of these flags were probably made by Tiffany and Company. All were made of blue silk with a deep gold silk fringe. Early flags had the letters "N,Y.S.V." and veteran volunteer units had "N. Y. S. V. V." as the top row. In the center was a simple oval with the unit number inside and Veteran Volunteer flags usually had an elaborate rococo elliptical border around the unit number. Service branch was indicated on the third line as "Artillery", "Cavalry", "Engineers" or "Regiment". The flag poles were 8 feet tall. The finials were 8 3/4 inches high, of tinned brass, in the form of a diamond spear point emanating from a bulbous globe above the collar (see figure below). At the base was a 3 7/8 inch long pointed brass ferrule. 

Rectangular presentation flank marker flag made by Tiffany and Co. Presented to the 69th New York Infantry in 1861 by was captured at Fredericksburg, Virginia  by South Carolina forces in December, 1862. The original marker was white (now discolored to a shade of buff) measured 17 by 20 1/2 inches and had a fringe of twisted metallic gold wire.

The photograph below (taken in 1863 or later) shows the officers and color guard of the 69th New York Infantry. Note that the presentation flank marker flags are not the ones originally presented to the regiment which were captured at Fredericksburg in 1862.  Finials are the diamond-shaped spear emanating from the bulbous globe.

Officers and color guard of the 69th New York Infantry taken sometime during or after 1863 as indicated by the sprig of holly on the regimental flag. Note that the flank markers are not of the original design issued to the regiment in 1861 and lost at Fredericksburg in December 1862. One can also barely make out the flank marker finials in the form of a diamond spear point emanating from a bulbous globe above the collar. Closer examination of the photograph shows that several of the officers are displaying the Corp badge (the trefoil or three-leaf clover) of the 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. These were ordered for the Corp in March of 1863 by General Joseph Hooker.

By 1864, as many as 25% of infantry regiments were using swallowtail US cavalry guidons as flank markers. This movement mimicked the movement to use swallowtail Army Corp flags during the period from 1863 to 1865. Cavalry guidons were approximately 18 inches by 23 inches. They were of the stars and stripes motif but had the stars arranged in various circular patterns in the field of blue. Some state presentation swallowtail flank markers of this period were made narrower on the hoist (13 1/2 as opposed to the regulation 18 inches) and they tapered down to 9 1/2 inches at the point of the swallowtail. These were also 17 3/4 in the fly direction. New Hampshire had the most regiments with cavalry guidons used as flank markers. The photograph below shows the officers and color guard of the 12th New Hampshire Infantry, taken near Chapin's Farm, Virginia during the winter of 1864-1865. Flanking the national colors of the regiment are two US pattern silk cavalry guidons.

12th New Hampshire Infantry, 1864, displaying national colors and a pair of US cavalry guidons used as flank marker flags.

The staffs of the flank marker flags were slightly small than those of national colors and the finial  at the end of the staff is referred to as a "spear". Such finials were partially shaped like a heart but were small than the spear finial on the staff of the national colors.

Conclusions

Camp colors had been an item of issue to the US Regular Army since its inception. Each regiment just prior to the Civil War was furnished with five camp colors. With the outbreak of the Civil War, numerous state volunteer units came into federal service bring with them their interpretations of regulations regarding flags. Not only did these interpretations relate to the design of camp colors but also to the number of flags to be issued and their actual use. Many European drill manuals of the day suggested that camp colors should be used as "markers". While one drill manual gave instructions for the use of three camp colors bearers to be used as "markers" in tactical maneuvers,  other commanding officers interpreted the manuals in a different manner. They detailed two sergeants as right and left "general guides". This was the pattern established among "avant-garde" militia units who based their drill on French tactical innovations.

Elaborate camp colors were presented by citizen groups to a number of regiments, particularly those of New York State, while in Massachusetts state regulation dictated the number and types of flags to be used in battle. Usually, these flags were carried on short staves which fit into the musket muzzles of two "general guide" sergeants. Flags of this type were used for "forming the line" and for fixing pivot points for wheeling of the line during battle. More frequently presentation camp colors were used as "flank markers". Unlike general guide flags, flank markers were carried into battle on 8 foot staves. Their overall function to the regiment was similar to that of the general guide flag.

The design of these presentation flags was left largely to the discretion of their manufacturers. Generally they were rectangular, of blue or white , bearing the regimental abbreviation on them. In 1862, General Orders changed the design of all camp colors and guidons to that of the stars and stripe motif of the national colors. Many regiments whom had not been presented camp colors accommodate to this change requisitioned a pair of US cavalry guidons to serve as flank markers. The Cavalry guidon was of the right size and already used the the US flag motif. This practice was in use by between 5% to 20% of the units recruited  for the Union Army.

The practice of using either camp colors, presentation or issue "general guide flags", or presentation or requisitioned surrogate flag markers for general guide sergeants was not universal during the Civil War. The percentage of units using either camp colors, general guide flags, or marker flags never probably exceeded 25% of all regiments and battalions of the US Army.

Artifacts

Finials and ferrules from these relatively rare flags have been excavated from many campsite and battlefield locations. The finials consisted of two parts which screwed together. The base was attached to the flag staff with four symmetrically-placed screws. The upper part of the finial was usually screwed into the lower half and is the part that is most frequently lost or broken in battle or during camping. 

Brass and tinned-brass spear or heart-shaped finials (Type C and Relic 1, below) came in two general sizes and were issued to Regular Army units. Larger finials fitted to regimental and national flags and were between 8 to 9 inches in total length with the upper spear portion being about 5 inches by 3 3/4 inches. Smaller spear finials were used on camp colors and flank markers by Regular Army units. They were about 7 1/2 inches in overall length with the upper spear portion being about 4 inches by 3 1/4 inches. 

Diamond-shaped spear point finials (Type A and B; Relics 2 and 3) also came in two sizes.  Type A is sometimes referred to as the "spontoon" head and is modeled after the British Pattern 1791 pike spear-head. Larger finials fitted to regimental and national flags and were between 9 to 10 inches in total length with the upper spear portion being about 7 1/2 inches by 3 inches and the crossbar being reduced to about 3 inches across (as seen in the picture of the 69th New York Infantry above).  A more diminutive larger spear point is also seen as Relic 3 below. This reached an overall length of 8 to 9 inches with the spear portion being 5 3/4 by 2 to 2 1/2 inches. In this case the crossbar portion extended beyond the edges of the spear as Type A below. 

Still smaller diamond-shaped spear points (Type A and B; Relic 2) were commonly used by the states as general guide flags (see pictures of Zouaves and 22 New York State Militia above).  The overall length of spontoon finials was about 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 inches which the spear point portion being about 3 3/4 inches by 2 inches. The other use for these spear points was as flank markers (Type B; see picture of 69th New York Infantry above). 

	Finial and ferrules found on campsites and battlefields. Type "A" is sometimes referred to as the "spontoon" head; Type "B" is referred to as "spear from globe"; Type "C" is partially shaped like a heart or "military spear" and was a common Regular Pattern and Type "D" is one of several eagle types (usually perched or flying) carried on the colors of state regiments. State units frequently used eagles, halberds, crosses and other devices on top of their colors. Also shown are several relics of these types.

In general, larger Finials were used with National and regimental flags and smaller finials were used with guide and flank marker flags. 

Ferrules (Relic 4 above) were used as part of the staffs of camp colors and flank markers and were about 4 inches long.

* WebMaster Note: The article is a highly condensed version of a much larger and more detailed four-part article on Camp Colors, General Guide Flags and Flank Markers by noted historian and firearms expert Howard Michael Madaus which appeared in four issues of the Journal of the Company of Military Historians beginning in the Fall of 1996 and ran through the Spring of 1997. Relic finial and ferrule illustrations are from Stanley Phillips'  Excavated Artifacts from Battlefields and Campsites of the Civil War (page 187) and Frederick P. Todd's American Military Equipage (page 300). Discussion of early tactics of the Civil War is from the Staff Ride Handbook for the Vicksburg Battlefield (US Army Command and General Staff College).