Riverboat flag?

[archieclement]

I recently posted a jazz video in fav songs that included images of riverboats. One of the images was of a riverboat named Lookout. Investigating found it elsewhere labeled transport Lookout on the Tennessee River 1861-65. In the image what is the flag on the bow, also the boat behind it seems to have one as well.

It's fairly sharp image other then the flag blurring. Any idea what the flag was? Flotilla/squadron/fleet flag?

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

The flag at the bow has the transport's name LOOKOUT on it and the flag at the stern is the US Stars & Stripes.

 

[JerryD]

It has a mirror image "Lookout" on it.

 

[archieclement]

Still what's the significance of the flag, its striped and swallowtailed, the boat aft its bow flag is far more obscure, but seems to have same striping?

 

[John Hartwell]

Possibly the company colors of the firm that owned/leased both vessels.

 

[John Hartwell]

Transport steamer "Wauhatchee"
National Archives' Local Identifier: 111-B-667
Photographer: Brady, Mathew, 1823 (ca.) - 1896

 

[JerryD]

Still what's the significance of the flag, its striped and swallowtailed, the boat aft its bow flag is far more obscure, but seems to have same striping?

To let people know what boat it is as its approaching, instead of having to read the name from the side or the stern? Based on John Hartwell's photo of the Wauhatchee, its seems these flags were standardized.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

An aside: I had no idea gangplanks could be so narrow. No wonder so many folks tumbled into the water when trying to board. Being loaded down with all your equipment and trying to balance on that would be a challenge.

 

[archieclement]

To let people know what boat it is as its approaching, instead of having to read the name from the side or the stern? Based on John Hartwell's photo of the Wauhatchee, its seems these flags were standardized.

Would make little sense as flag is generally going to stream backwards when underway, it would only be visible from side......same as the name printed on the side even more clearly.

 

[danny]

I recently posted a jazz video in fav songs that included images of riverboats. One of the images was of a riverboat named Lookout. Investigating found it elsewhere labeled transport Lookout on the Tennessee River 1861-65. In the image what is the flag on the bow, also the boat behind it seems to have one as well.

View attachment 477525

It's fairly sharp image other then the flag blurring. Any idea what the flag was? Flotilla/squadron/fleet flag?

BLM

 

[Johnny Shafto]

Looking at that bow canon the name "Lookout" takes on additional meaning!

 

[JerryD]

Would make little sense as flag is generally going to stream backwards when underway, it would only be visible from side......same as the name printed on the side even more clearly.

But flags do flap. Seems as a good a reason as any I can think of.

 

[Rhea Cole]

I recently posted a jazz video in fav songs that included images of riverboats. One of the images was of a riverboat named Lookout. Investigating found it elsewhere labeled transport Lookout on the Tennessee River 1861-65. In the image what is the flag on the bow, also the boat behind it seems to have one as well.

View attachment 477525

It's fairly sharp image other then the flag blurring. Any idea what the flag was? Flotilla/squadron/fleet flag?

On the left hand margin of this image the bow of another steamer is barely visible. It is flying a flag of the same design as the Lookout. Two flags with the same format argues for an organizational connection of some nature.

Further supporting the company flag thesis is the image of the Wahachie. It is the bow of a different boat in the Lookout image. That makes three Tennessee River boats flying the same flag design. I believe we can agree that settles any questions about the nature of the flags.

Steamboat companies flew an owner's flag. Towboats on American rivers do that today. The three bow flags in these images are, most likely, just that.

In order to fly properly, flags were made of very light material, typically silk. The lettering was only on one side because light passing through would make two sided lettering impossible to read. The same is true today.

 

[archieclement]

On the left hand margin of this image the bow of another steamer is barely visible. It is flying a flag of the same design as the Lookout. Two flags with the same format argues for an organizational connection of some nature.

Further supporting the company flag thesis is the image of the Wahachie. It is the bow of a different boat in the Lookout image. That makes three Tennessee River boats flying the same flag design. I believe we can agree that settles any questions about the nature of the flags.

Steamboat companies flew an owner's flag. Towboats on American rivers do that today. The three bow flags in these images are, most likely, just that.

In order to fly properly, flags were made of very light material, typically silk. The lettering was only on one side because light passing through would make two sided lettering impossible to read. The same is true today.

That would be my guess, some type of fleet/flotilla/squadron flag. The swallowtail guidon part made me think that as well.

 

[John Hartwell]

Were these transports owned, or simply leased by the government? If the flags were "official" there should be some sort of order directing their use. I suspect their origin was civilian, but continued under government contract.

 

[John Hartwell]

Here are four with the same flag:

Federal transports in the Tennessee River
Library of Congress Control Number: 2012647172

 

[archieclement]

Were these transports owned, or simply leased by the government? If the flags were "official" there should be some sort of order directing their use. I suspect their origin was civilian, but continued under government contract.

Don't think I've ever seen anything similar on civilian peacetime boats.

Would guess the oversized nature was effort to distinguish friendly to shore batteries or patrols.

 

[archieclement]

Here are four with the same flag:
View attachment 477640
Federal transports in the Tennessee River
Library of Congress Control Number: 2012647172

Tends to support flotilla/squadron flags as every image is in same region and river, as well as wartime.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Were these transports owned, or simply leased by the government? If the flags were "official" there should be some sort of order directing their use. I suspect their origin was civilian, but continued under government contract.

There were a few USQM steamers on the Tennessee. Several were constructed by the Army of the Cumberland to open the 'Crackerline.' General Rosecrans had Ohio Riverboats, perfect for navigating the Tennessee, prefabricated & shipped to Muscle Shoals.

The majority of cargo steamers were leased.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Don't think I've ever seen anything similar on civilian peacetime boats.

Would guess the oversized nature was effort to distinguish friendly to shore batteries or patrols.

You might want to do some more image searches. Large company banners were very common on the rivers.