Custer flags

[major bill]

Not everyone can come visit me while I am a docent the Michigan History Museum. For those who can not visit here is one of the displays. Reflection on the glass, but still a couple nice Custer flags. What was the purpose of the smaller flag? it could not be seen very far away.

 

[KLSDAD]

LMK your schedule and I'll visit!

 

[tullock]

The smaller flag is a 'guidon'. Each company of a cavalry regiment carried one. Some had company letters in the center of the stars, but most didn't. Of the twelve guidons carried at the Little Big Horn only two survived, one of which recently sold at Sotheby's for $2.2 million.
Similar type flags were used by infantry regiments as 'flank markers' to keep a unit in formation while manoeuvring on a battlefield.

 

[major bill]

LMK your schedule and I'll visit!

Not just KLSDAD is welcome to visit while I am doing my docent thing so is everyone in the Michigan area. Docents at the Michigan History Museum do not have set hours. I usually go from 9 AM to noon on Wednesdays and sometimes on other days as well. If anyone is thinking of visiting, the first and second Wednesday would work out great because the GAR museum in Eaton Rapids is open then and we could drive down and see that as well

Being retired I am free most days and if anyone PMed me I could probably drive on over and meet them at the Michigan History Museum, it is only a mile from my house.

 

[Package4]

Not everyone can come visit me while I am a docent the Michigan History Museum. For those who can not visit here is one of the displays. Reflection on the glass, but still a couple nice Custer flags. What was the purpose of the smaller flag? it could not be seen very far away.

View attachment 172845

Are these actual flags or are they pictures of flags attached to a backing? Cavalry guidons were much larger than depicted in the case, in fact Custer's personal guidon, from Appomattox, sold about 15 years ago and measures 68" x 36":

 

[major bill]

They are actual flags. They are housed at the Michigan History Museum which has many other Civil War flags in storage. The Michigan History Museum gives them as :

Headquarter flag - c. 1860. From the Michigan Cavalry Brigade.
Cavalry guidon - c. 1860. From the Michigan Cavalry Brigade.

We all know that the c. 1860 is not exactly correct but most of the Civil War items are listed as c. 1860 and it appears the Museum did not want to do exact years for their Civil War artifacts.

 

[Garyjd]

The guidon looks extremely small

 

[major bill]

I am currently in Florida for the next couple weeks but could see if I can guess the size when I get home.