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RARE, HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT U.S. NAVY BOAT ENS

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RARE, HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT U.S. NAVY BOAT ENS
RARE, HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT U.S. NAVY BOAT ENSIGN" CAPTURED AT BATTERY WAGNER ON MORRIS ISLAND IN 1863. On 10 July 1863, in a joint Army and Navy expedition, the reinforced Union Brigade of Gen. George C. Strong, of the Army landed on the southern tip of Morris Island near Charleston Harbor. Strong's brigade had been conveyed to their landing in fourteen small boats and launches from ships of the federal blockading squadron. These boats were under the command of U.S. Navy Lt. A.S. Mackenzie, supported by another group of small boats with Dahlgren howitzers under the command of Lt.-Comm. Francis M. Bunch. In his report of 12 July, Mackenzie noted: "... the first American flag was placed on Morris Island by Lieutenant H. B. Robeson of the New Ironsides, who, carrying Brigadier-General Strong in his boat, landed with him". Expedition met with initial success, sweeping north on Morris Island, capturing eight guns and three mortars, as well as five flags and 150 prisoners. Next morning, elements of five Union regiments attempted to take Battery (Fort) Wagner by storm but were repulsed with heavy losses. This flag shows evidence that it was lost at Battery Wagner on 11 July 1863. (This loss occurred a week before the more costly assault on Battery Wagner, led by the 54th MA. Inf. on 18 July 1863, made famous by the movie, "Glory").Flag is a U.S. Navy "Boat Ensign" (of the type flown on small boats, launches, and cutters of larger ships of the line by the Union Navy). Its size (43" on the hoist by 81-1/2" on the fly) conforms to the size prescribed in the 1863 "Tables and Allowances" for a "No. 12" U.S. Ensign (which was to be 3.70 ft. on its hoist by 7 ft. on its fly). Field is composed of thirteen horizontal, alternating red & white wool bunting stripes, conjoined by hand sewing. A 2-pc dark blue wool bunting canton is inset into the upper, hoist corner of the field, bearing a total of 13 white cotton, 5-pointed stars, appliquéd by hand to the obverse side but with the blue cut away on the reverse side and under-hemmed to expose the back of the white fabric on the obverse. Stars are arranged in five horizontal and staggered rows: 3-2-3-2-3, an arrangement that would continue for "boat ensigns" until the practice of utilizing "reduced" star count flags was eliminated in 1916. (Practice of reducing the number of stars on "boat ensigns" to enhance the stars' visibility on smaller flags had begun in the late 1850's, but the 13 star arrangement was not adopted until 1862). Flag was finished by hand sewing white twill weave cotton heading along the leading edge of the flag, bearing at each end a hand whipped "button hole" eyelet for ties. Faintly visible on the obverse side of the heading is the name "Chichester" in faded brown (oxidized black) ink, as well as other inscription, which are thought to include "Morris Island".The name "Chichester" on the heading refers to Capt. Charles E. Chichester, who commanded a company of independent South Carolina heavy artillery at Battery Wagner, nicknamed the "Gist Guard". While the "Gist Guard" participated in repelling both assaults (11th and 18th of July 1863) on Battery Wagner, it was most active in turning back the Union assault of the 11th. Referring to his company's participation, Captain Chichester recounted: "This Company was one of the two artillery companies forming the permanent garrison of Battery Wagner. On the 10th of July they checked the advancing columns of the enemy as they were pressing on victoriously from the south end of Morris Island, and on the morning of the 11th July the desperate assault on that Battery, the charge having been made on one of the guns manned by the Gist Guard, the Yankees having been mowed down by the terrific discharge of grape and canister. Twenty prisoners were taken on the superior slope in front of the gun". This flag is thought to have been among the trophies taken by Captain Chichester at the time. CONDITION: Field of the flag is much tattered and torn, in part from heavy shipboard usage, in part from age and mothing, and in part possibly from battle damage. Still, for its age and type, it is in good condition and will display well when properly conserved and framed. 4-56477 HMM (15,000-20,000)"