Black Horse Cavalry Battle flag with 13 stars   Save
Ohio History Connection Museum
Description: The now tattered Stars and Stripes has 13 stars organized in rows of 5-3-5. Thirteen star flags were carried by soldiers in both the Mexican War (1846-48) and the Civil War (1861-65) in remembrance of America's past colonial struggle for freedom. This wool battle flag was captured at Chancellorsville (May 1863) by the 4th Virginia Cavalry, also known as the Black Horse Cavalry. Though it originated as a militia in 1859, the Black Horse Cavalry mustered in Fauquier County, Virginia, and reportedly were escorts to General Stonewall Jackson. One of the officers of the 4th Virginia Cavalry gave the flag to a friend. Years later this lady friend married a Southern gentleman named Isaac Solomon. Years after the wedding, Solomon sold his plantation to Mr. Nelson Guenther. When they came across this flag in the household inventory Mr. Solomon said, "Guenther, you are a good Yankee, and I am going to give you this flag, with Mrs. Solomon's consent." [above narrated by Solomon] As part of Gen. Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, the Confederate Calvary was commanded by Major General J.E.B. Stuart. (Stuart's corps had only two brigades at Chancellorsville, those of Brigadier Generals Wade Hampton and William E. "Grumble" Jones were detached.) View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: H18378_001
Subjects: Textile--cotton; Communication artifact; textile--cotton ---wool; Civil War, 1861-1865; Chancellorsville, Battle of; 4th Virginia Cavalry; Black Horse Cavalry
Places: Chancellorsville (Virginia)