34 Star Civil War Morning Flag of Vermont

 

34 Fanciful Stars in a Folk Presentation used during the Civil War as a mourning display. This homemade flag was lovingly created and hand sewn by the grandmother of one of the many fallen soldiers at that time.

This proud flag flew in Vermont at half-mast 1861-1865, was than passed down through the generations of the Botsford Family who resided in Vermont since the early 1600’s (several of which had family members who served throughout the Vermont Revolutionary War), and most recently acquired by J.T. Francis Collections.

The flag is extraordinary in that the entirely hand sewn canton displays a rarely seen double appliqued, triple wreath folk star pattern, flanked by 4 stars, utilizing several different materials to achieve the 34 star count. One of the more stunning characteristics of this flag is that it is partly constructed of blanket wool. Blanket wool and other unusual textiles were used when there was a lack of insufficient cloth available throughout the process of making flags throughout the Civil War era. This would explain why a large section of this flag (Stripes) was assembled in various materials. 


Mourning Flags represent the highest cost paid at wartime, the loss of human life. This powerful and reflective reminder that freedom is never free is clearly visible in this Mourning Flag’s condition and appearance.

Condition: The Flag has been conserved with authentic period material. The first red stripe appears to have been replaced during the Civil War. Some staining and other material loss does appear.

Provenance reads: "Maria (Grandma, The War of rebellion, flown at half mast? eath, Frank Botsford. (Vermont Flag) flown at half-mast for the soldiers who lost their lives during the War of Rebellion.

The image of the canton below outlines the pattern of the three wreaths medallion of this Vermont Civil War Flag.

Flag size: 34" x 56"
Frame size: 42" x 65"