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  34 STAR, AMERICAN, CIVIL WAR GUIDON OF THE 6th KENTUCKY CAVALRY (UNION), WITH A DOUBLE-WREATH MEDALLION CONFIGURATION OF STARS, MADE circa 1861-1863, HANDED DOWN THROUGH THE FAMILY OF LT. COL. JAMES MEAGHER, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS SHOULDER BARS AND DIARY

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 37.5" x 50"
Flag Size (H x L): 26" x 40"
Description....:
34 star, silk, Union Army, swallowtail format guidon, of the type issued to cavalry regiments beginning in 1862. Like most of its counterparts, the flag is made entirely of silk. The stars, applied in gilt paint, are configured in a double-wreath that consists of two rings of stars, with an open center, and a flanking star in each corner of the blue canton, outside the basic pattern. Though sometime issued to artillery and infantry units, when demand outweighed supply—these flags served as flank-markers, allowing officers to keep sight of their units. This was especially critical when multiple companies were engaged. Loved by both Civil War and flag collectors alike, few can deny the attraction of their unique, forked profile and striking presentation.

This particular guidon was handed down through the family of Lt. Col. James Meagher and was accompanied by his colonel's bars and his diary from the war’s closing year, 1865, with limited but very intriguing entries. The latter span the month of January, from the 1st through the 31st, skipping February, but picking up again in March through early April. Some of these were written during engagements. In the back of the diary, inscribed in the same hand, is a ledger section where such things as "shirts, collars, and parrish [sic] books" were recorded. He became a minister after the war.

James R. Meagher was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on March 1st, 1839. When he was of suitable age, he followed work steam-boating on the St. Lawrence and Hudson Rivers. He pursued this for about 3 years, then went to sea for two, followed by work on the railroad. He was engaged for the latter from 1855 to 1860, before enlisting in the Union Army in Kentucky at the rank of Private on March 14, 1861. In October of that year he was assigned to the First Battalion of the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, led by Major Reuben Munday. Meagher was initially engaged in scouting through Kentucky, parts of Tennessee, and Georgia. In April he was with Munday at the Battle of Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh). In August of 1862, while scouting, he was captured and made prisoner at Columbus, KY by the rebel guerrilla, General John Hunt Morgan. He was held only a short time before escaping to Union forces. The rebels wanted Meagher so badly that they offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who could recapture him. Though no one ever succeeded, his friends, knowing the above facts, were Capt. Brooks, Senator Cook and Tom Alexander, who were with him at the time the above reward was offered.

Meagher received a commission as Brevet Second Lieutenant and was commissioned as First Lieutenant on August 25th, 1862. He was later promoted to Adjutant, then Major, and finally to Lieutenant Colonel. Participating in many engagements, he mustered out at Louisville on October 18th, 1865, long after Lee’s surrender the preceding April. Travelling extensively post-war, from Washington, D.C., to Buffalo, to Colorado, to the Wyoming Territory, apparently as a minister, he appears to have found found supplemental employment of various sorts, some of it in government employ, before accepting a position as agent for the Union Pacific Railroad in Julesburg, CO. Transferring to Nebraska, he was elected Mayor of the Town of Columbus in that state in the Spring of 1881. At some point, date unknown, he married a woman named Margaret (Nov. 21st, 1847 – July 31st, 1921). James Meagher passed on March 7th, 1915. According to his grave, the couple had children, but he was buried in New Jersey and the obituary was notably void of information.

Military issued, Union Army, Civil War battle colors are loved the flag collecting world. For several, simple reasons, few have survived in private hands. Post war, many were presented to state governments as the units returned, often at special ceremonies. Most were silk, rapidly becoming fragile with age, regardless of the degree of wartime use. Many were no-doubt discarded, with the soldier who possessed them long deceased, and their stories forgotten. It’s common for these fragile textiles to be brittle, found in many pieces, falling apart, and with the fabric literally turning to dust. Among those that survived, a significant portion were eventually donated to museums and historical societies, military establishments, battlefields, and large collections both state and federally controlled, away from private hands.

Most of the silk used in the manufacture of Union Army battle flags was treated with agents such as mineral salts, to make the fabric heavier for merchants who sold it by the pound. For this reason, in spite of how often they were carried, even those among the holdings of well-funded institutions are typically in deplorable condition. The fact that these were often neglected, due to ignorance about proper care, military code (some could not be unfurled after their placement in special sleeves and cases), or budgetary restrictions, most slipped into a state of disrepair not easily managed by an average person, and with the costs of professional conservation beyond the reach of those with average means.

Another reason for the desirability of Civil War guidons is their small size. At just 26 x 40 inches, this is one of the smallest types of flags with pieced-and-sewn construction that was made prior to the 1890’s. In early America, such flags were typically eight feet long and larger. This is because they were important in their function as signals, meaning that they needed to be seen and recognized from great distance. A flag that was six feet in length was considered small and production of flags smaller than this was extremely limited. Even infantry battle flags were approximately six by six-and-one-half feet and thus practically the size of an average quilt of the same period. Many collectors prefer smaller flags because they are more practical to frame and display.

Kansas was admitted into the Union as the 34th state on January 29th, 1861, about 2 ½ months before the Confederate assault on Fort Sumter that marked the beginning of the Civil War. The 34th star was officially added on July 4th of that year, but most flag makers would have added a 34th star with the addition of Kansas in January. The star count remained official until July 4th, 1863, and 34 star flags would have been produced until the addition of West Virginia in June of that year, just before the Battle of Gettysburg.

Construction: Made of plain weave silk with the stars stenciled in gold gilt. The canton and stripes of the flag are pieced and joined with treadle stitching, typical of many swallowtail guidons. The sleeve was created by folding back a section of the stripes and canton, which was bound so that a staff would slip directly through this open portion of the hoist.

Mounting: This is a pressure mount between 100% cotton twill, black in color, and U.V. protective acrylic. The black fabric was washed to reduce excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose. The mount was placed in a dark brown painted molding with a grain like mahogany and a deep, shadowbox-style, rectangular profile, to which a gold molding was added as a cap.

Condition: Extensive wear from obvious use in the field. Please inquire for a detailed description.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The large pastel portraits of Meagher and his wife are not included. These are privately owned and I was lucky enough to acquire images of them. Consolidated Histories of the 6th KY Cavalry

Sixth Cavalry
KENTUCKY
(3-YEARS)

Sixth Cavalry. -- Cols., Dennisi. Halisy, Louis D. Watkins, Lieut.Cols., Reuben Munday, William . Roper, Majs., Lewis A. Gratz, William H. Fidler, Walter F. Stafford.

The 1st battalion of this regiment Cos. A, B. C, D and E, was organized at Lexington during the month of Oct., 1861, under Mail Reuben Munday, and for a considerable time served independently, being known as Munday's battalion.

It was mustered into service at Camp Irvine, near Louisville, by Maj. W. H. Sidell, and was immediately assigned to the division of the Army of the Ohio, commanded by Gen. George W. Morgan. In Feb., 1862, that command made its way near to the Cumberland gap and Munday's cavalry made an attack on the enemy at the gap, inflicting loss and taking some prisoners. Then, cooperating with Gen. Morgan's other forces, Cumberland gap was taken in June.

From Cumberland gap the march was across the country and Munday's battalion, after accompanying the infantry nearly to the Ohio River was sent toward Richmond, reaching Big Hill and Rogersville before the enemy, participated in the fighting at those places, and materially aided in the retreat of Metcalfe's 7th Ky. cavalry and other troops to Lexington, thence to Louisville.

During the summer of 1862 the other battalions of the regiment were organized in the central part of Kentucky under Col. Halisy. In September, Cos. F, G, H, I, K, L and M were nominally consolidated with Munday's battalion, thus making the 6th cavalry. At that time the 1st battalion, under Maj. Fidler, was sent to Leitchfield, Ky. and skirmished with the cavalry of Bragg's army.

The 2nd battalion, under Col. Halisy, went to Bardstown and there encountered Morgan's Confederate cavalry. The 3d, under Maj. Gratz, went to Stanford and was instrumental in capturing prisoners from Bragg's army. Thus the regiment in the first part of its service operated by battalions and the 1st engaged in a number of severe fights, among them Tazewell Tenn., Cumberland gap and Richmond.

At New Market a fight occurred in which Col. Halisy was killed. On Jan. 30, 1863, the regiment was ordered to join the Army of the Cumberland at Nashville. In March, about 6 miles from Brentwood, Gen. Green Clay Smith encountered a large force and an engagement took place lasting an hour and a half. Three charges were made on the 6th Ky. and 2nd Mich., but all were repulsed, when Gen. Smith, finding he was outnumbered, fell back, taking what he had captured.

The regiment then aided in driving the enemy beyond Thompson's station and in the month of April it marched from Brentwood to Franklin, where it attacked some Texas troops capturing the camp with its horses, wagons and 120 men. On June 4 it was at Triune, whence, proceeding in a gallop with the 2nd Mich. it reached Franklin in time to assist the 4th and 7th Ky. cavalry and altogether succeeded in gaining a decided victory.

On July 5, Gen Sheridan sent Col. Watkins in the direction of Stevenson, on a reconnaissance. He says in his report: "This reconnaissance was very handsomely executed by Col. Watkins, who drove the enemy about 3 miles, inflicting loss." Col. Watkins, in his report, says he made a reconnaissance toward University, where he encountered the enemy, losing Lieut. William Murphy and 4 men killed, and Lieut. Kimbrough and 4 men wounded.

On Sept. 19 the regiment, with Col. Watkins' other regiments, was desperately engaged at Crawfish springs, part of the battle of Chickamauga. The regiment lost Lieut. Mead and 6 men killed 1 officer wounded, and 120 men wounded or missing. In the first part of Jan., 1864, the regiment reenlisted at Rossville, GA, and the men were granted 30 days furlough.

In the Atlanta campaign it was engaged in a severe fight at Pigeon Mountain, Adairsville and Calhoun. On June 24 detachments of the 4th, 6th and 7th Ky. cavalry were at Lafayette, GA, under Col. Watkins and were attacked by Gen. Pillow with 2,000 men. Of the 6th, 4 men were killed and 6 wounded.

In November the regiment was ordered to Louisville, Ky., to equip, and was in camp for a short time on the Bardstown road. It afterward took part in Wilson's cavalry raid through Alabama and in June returned to Nashville.

It then went into camp at Edgefield, where it was mustered out July 14, 1865.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 350

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DECEMBER 12.1863.--Skirmish at La Fayette, Ga

Report of Col. Louis D. Watkins, Sixth Kentucky Cavalry.

HDQRS. THIRD BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION CAVALRY,
Rossville, Ga., December 14, 1863.

GEN.: I have the honor to report that on Saturday morning, December 12, at 8 a.m., with a force of 200 men from the Fourth and Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, I left this post on a scout in the direction of Dalton. At 4 p.m., 12th instant, I charged into the town of La Fayette, capturing 18 prisoners, 6 of whom were officers of the rebel signal corps, and some 30 animals. Two hours before we arrived at La Fayette the Second Kentucky (rebel) Cavalry had left the town, greatly to the regret of myself and all my command.



After camping for the night on Pigeon Ridge, 5 miles from La Fayette, we crossed the Chickamauga at a bridge 3 miles above Crawfish Spring, and scouting through McLemore's Cove without discovering any enemy we returned to camp.

We found on the route forage only sufficient for the use of the command while out.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

LOUIS D. WATKINS,
Col., Cmdg. Brigade.

Brig. Gen. W. D. WHIPPLE,
Chief of Staff.

Source: Official Records, p. 604-54 KY., SW. VA., TENN., MISS., N. ALA., AND N. GA. [CHAP. XLIII.] [Series I. Vol. 31. Part I, Reports and Union Correspondence. Serial No. 54.]

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Report of Maj. William H. Fidler, Sixth Kentucky Cavalry.

HDQRS. SIXTH KENTUCKY CAVALRY,
Calhoun, Ga., September 5, 1864.

LIEUT.: I have the honor to report the following as a complete account of the operations of the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry from May 3, 1864, to September 1, 1864:

On 3d of May, while encamped near Chattanooga, I received an order from Col. Watkins, commanding brigade, to proceed without delay to Wauhatchie Station, to which point the other regiments of the brigade had been ordered. Upon arrival I occupied by order a deserted infantry camp, and immediately commenced the building of stables, and to use every other exertion that would tend to recruit the horses recently drawn from corrals near Chattanooga.

While in this locality the duties of the regiment were very light, having but little scouting to do and, receiving a tolerably good supply of forage, the horses recruited as rapidly as could be expected.

On 10th of June, in compliance with orders, Capt. McCook with 100 men accompanied Col. Watkins to Broomtown Valley, and from thence to LaFayette, Ga., returning on the 16th. On 18th the effective mounted force of the regiment, 250 men, myself in command, marched to La Fayette with portions of the Fourth and Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, all under command of Col. Watkins. The country surrounding La Fayette being so infested with scattering bands of rebels, our mounted duties began at once to be heavier. Forage reached us from Chattanooga in limited quantities, and the opportunities for grazing were lessened in consequence of the necessary increase of labor. By reason of this the convalescent horses upon which the regiment was mounted failed to recruit as rapidly as was anticipated, many of them being diseased when drawn, and many permanently disabled, failing to receive the required rest, died in camp or were left exhausted on marches. On 21st of June Capt. J. H. Coffman, Company B, with sixty men, was ordered to scout in the direction of Gaylesville; he returned on 23d, having captured a mail. On the morning of 24th, about 3 o'clock, the enemy having attacked several picket posts leading westward from the town, by order of the commanding officer of the brigade my command was mounted and, under his personal guidance, charged out on the Chattanooga road to meet the enemy, the locality in which the most firing was heard. After a brisk hand-to-hand encounter we were forced to retire toward the public square, taking with us several prisoners. I was then ordered to dismount my force, and with part, about 100, to occupy the jail, a corner brick building, and an adjacent house, the rest the court-house. Throughout the engagement, which lasted about six hours, my men and officers, without exception, behaved handsomely, and that we inflicted severe loss on the enemy their killed and wounded in our locality will attest.

On 8th of July Maj. W. F. Stafford, with the entire regimental train and all the men left at Wauhatchie Station, arrived at La Fayette. On 27th, five companies A, E, F, [G]: and M, under Capt. P. G. Lanham, Company F, were ordered to Gordon's Mills. From there Companies G and M, Capt. Brentlinger, Company M, commanding, were sent to Nickajack Gap. These companies remained in above localities until 4th of August, when the regiment received orders to march to Calhoun, Ga. On the march Companies B and C, both mounted, were left at Resaca, at which place they have remained since that time.

From August 6 till September 1 the regiment was engaged in scouting the country surrounding Calhoun, Resaca, and Adairsville; some unimportant skirmishes were had by detachments of the regiment with parties of Wheeler's command, as it passed northward some eighteen miles eastward of Calhoun. In these encounters the regiment sustained no loss. I found it utterly impossible to recruit horses from the time the regiment left Wauhatchie Station. Indeed, had it not been for horses taken from citizens to replace those broken down while scouting, the regiment would be entirely dismounted. As it is I have in the regiment 298 horses, and of that number only 82 are serviceable.

The entire loss of the regiment during the campaign foots up as follows: Killed, 5 men; wounded, 1 officer (Capt. Cook) and 17 men; captured, 19 men.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant.

W. H. FIDLER,
Maj., Cmdg. Sixth Kentucky Cavalry.

Lieut. H. B. KELLY,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Brig., First Cav. Div.

Source: Official Records PAGE 798-73 THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. [CHAP. L.] [Series I. Vol. 38. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 73.]
Collector Level: Flags for the truest Patriots. My best offerings
Flag Type:
Star Count: 34
Earliest Date of Origin: 1861
Latest Date of Origin: 1863
State/Affiliation: Kentucky
War Association: 1861-1865 Civil War
Price: SOLD
 

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