13 Star Flag - Small Boat Ensign.

 

CIVIL WAR ERA: 13-STAR SMALL BOAT ENSIGN FLAG 1865-1876

Rare 13 Star Small Naval Boat Ensign Flag, adopted by the US Navy around 1862 during the Civil War. Although the correct number of stars would have been 35 at the time, the Navy chose the simpler 13 Star, 3-2-3-2-3 Pattern so that they would not have to change the flag every time a new state was added to the Union. This flag proves rare, as few are found on the market today. The small amounts of flags of this stature typically are known to display hand -sewn stars and canton, using cotton as in this example. During the War, with the production of thousands of uniforms being made, wool became scarce creating an insufficient amount of wool available for flag making suggesting that flags would probable be repaired onsite whenever possible as likely displayed here.

Description:
Size 35” X 71.75”; thin wool, machine stitched stars 13 hand-sewn wool red and white stripes.

Condition:
Good for period and usage, fly was repaired by both hand and machine stitching sometime in the mid to late 19th century using available period fabric, several small areas of separation of fabric.

Unframed

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Item: 13-CW-CEN