Frame Size (H x L): 20” x 27”
Flag Size (H x L): 11” x 18”

Offered is a thirty-seven star flag featuring a Grant-Colfax campaign overprint. It is made of silk, and it is extraordinary for at least the following reasons:

First, campaign flags are the most desirable of all flags—particularly those featuring legendary leaders, such as Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ulysses S. Grant. The first campaign flags were made in 1840 and were associated with the William Henry Harrison campaign. In 1890, a bill was introduced that attempted to prevent the desecration of the flag by printing, painting, or advertising for public display or private gain. The bill failed. In 1895, a similar bill was introduced, but also failed. But finally, in 1905, a bill passed outlawing the use of marks and portraits on the flag, coat of arms, and other insignia of the United States. With this background in mind, campaign flags are especially difficult to acquire, because they were only made between 1840 and 1905. And in reality, most examples that surface are from a narrower time frame between 1860 and 1890.

Second, it has an outstanding canton, featuring a portrait of Grant and a medallion of stars encircling him. The portrait is based on a photograph taken by Gutekunst, and it was engraved by J.C. Buttre when Grant was a lieutenant general. Portrait flags are exceptionally striking, rare, and desirable. And the fact that this flag features Grant—and that he is so visually recognizable and iconic—makes it one of very best political textiles in existence. The medallion encircling him includes an inner ring of stars, an outer ring of stars, and four flanking stars. The medallion complements Grant and adds yet further to this visual appeal of this flag.

Third, this flag is small enough to frame, handle, and display, yet just big enough to make a statement. In contrast, most campaign flags are either smaller or significantly bigger than this one. The smaller campaign flags are less dramatic and easier to find. The bigger campaign flags—such as handmade or machine sewn examples—are often much too large to display indoors, as they were designed to be hung from porches, buildings, and storefronts. The flag offered herein is the perfect size, adding considerably to its desirability to collectors and statement seekers.

An example of this flag is documented in the Threads of History, written by Herbert Ridgeway Collins (i.e., see item number 345). The documented example was held in the private collection, and it is the only other example that we have encountered. Mr. Collins was the curator of the Division of Political History at the Smithsonian Institute. His book is the best reference available for political textile collectors and includes over fifteen-hundred examples, dating from 1775 to 1979. In writing his book, Mr. Collins sent thousands of letters to collectors, museums, and universities, and requested their assistance in his quest to document every known political textile. And while we do encounter textiles that are undocumented, they are rare—highlighting how successful Mr. Collins was in his endeavor.

GRANT’S RISE AND ELECTION
Grant was born, in 1822 to Hannah Simpson and Jesse Root Grant, a tanner. As a child, Grant detested chores related to the tannery, and instead gravitated towards working the family farm and handling horses. Because Grant was uninterested in the primary family business, his father arranged for Grant to attend the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.

Despite Grant’s enrolling as Hiram Ulysses Grant, he was mistakenly listed as Ulysses S. Grant in West Point’s records, the basis for the “S” being a typographical error related to the first letter of his mother’s maiden name, Simpson. Grant did not protest the error and, thus, from thereon was referred to as Ulysses S. Grant; U.S. Grant; Uncle Sam Grant; or per his classmates and for simplicity’s sake, Sam. At West Point, Grant showed considerable aptitude related to horsemanship and mathematics, so much so that he considered becoming a math professor. Apart these strengths, he was only modestly successful, finishing 21st in his class of 39 students.

In 1843, following his graduation, Grant was assigned as a brevet second lieutenant to the 4th US Infantry, stationed at Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis, Missouri. Grant saw action in the Mexican-American War, fighting under the command of General Zachary Taylor and later under General Winfield Scott. From this, Grant learned the ins-and-outs of a successful campaign, and his gallantry begin to shine. By 1847, Grant was promoted to first lieutenant, even though he was uninterested in action and even admitted later in life, “I had not moral courage enough to resign.”

In 1848, Grant returned to Missouri and married Julia Dent, the sister of his roommate at West Point and the daughter of a merchant and farmer. Thereafter, Grant went on to be assigned to Fort Vancouver in the Oregon Territory, and then went on to be promoted to Captain and assigned to Fort Humboldt in California. He resigned the following year, in 1864—perhaps, in part, due to his fondness for alcohol and to avoid potential disciplinary action related thereto. He again returned to Missouri, and he farmed 80 acres and dabbled in real estate. Both ventures were failures. Soon thereafter, at his professional rock bottom, he sold firewood in St. Louis as a street vendor. In 1860, in yet another attempt at success or at least a living, Grant moved to Galena, Illinois and joined his father’s tannery business, no doubt a humbling experience, as he was a clerk under the supervision of his two younger brothers.

Grant’s fate would soon change. In 1861, Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter. As a result of the rebellion and a corresponding, simultaneous a surge in Grant’s patriotism, he again volunteered to serve in the military. His offers of service were initially rejected, but he was eventually appointed to command the 21st Illinois volunteer regiment. Though initially unruly, Grant’s leadership and experience had the regiment ready for service by September of 1861.

Grant and his volunteers initially took the town of Paducah, Kentucky, and then—in combination with the US Navy—took Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, the two earliest, significant Union victories in the Civil War, the latter alone resulting in the surrender of 15,000 Confederate troops. At Fort Donelson, in response to General Simon B. Buckner’s request for terms, Grant said, “No terms except unconditional surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works.” From this famous quote and victory, Grant earned the nickname “Unconditional Surrender Grant” and a promotion to major general.

In April of 1862, Grant moved his forces into enemy territory, where they took a surprise attack in what became known as the Battle of Shiloh, which took place near Pittsburgh Landing, Tennessee. The two-day battle was one of the bloodiest of the Civil War. On the first day, both sides suffered terrible losses. Perhaps most notably, the Confederate Army lost General Albert S. Johnson, and the second-in-command, General P.G.T. Beauregard, had to take his post and make strategic decisions, including whether to attack Grant during the night between the first and second days. Beauregard mistakenly decided against such an attack. On the second day, Grant received reinforcements and had the resources to overwhelm the Confederate Army. Despite an eventual victory, 1,754 Union soldiers were killed; 8,408 were wounded; and 2,885 were captured or went missing. Grant had President Abraham Lincoln’s continued, unwavering support, but he received scathing criticism from almost everyone else, including Congress and military leadership, so much so that he was temporarily demoted.

In December of 1862, Grant moved his forces to Vicksburg, Mississippi, a Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. Per the Union’s strategy, controlling the Mississippi was critical to victory, as doing so would cut the Confederacy into two distinct parts. Grant took Vicksburg on July 4th, 1863 and other forces took Port Hudson—the last post on the Mississippi River—a few days later. The Confederacy was officially cut in half. Capturing Vicksburg was one of Grant’s greatest achievements, and in March of 1864, President Lincoln promoted Grant to lieutenant general and gave him command of the entire army. Grant led campaigns that wore down the Confederate army near the Confederate Capital of Richmond Virginia, while in parallel General William Tecumseh Sherman led campaigns headed southward through Georgia, and while also in parallel General Philip Sheridan led campaigns to take Virginia.

On April 9th of 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, effectively marking the end of the Civil War. Grant did not take Lee or his men as prisoners. Rather, as a gesture, he allowed them to leave, keep their horses, and ride to their homes.

Grant had two particularly interesting views with respect to the Civil War. First, Grant believed that taking down the Confederate Army was the key to winning the war, and he actively pursued Lee for over a year on this basis. In contrast, most other leaders in the Union Army believed—likely incorrectly—that capturing territories was the key. Second, Grant was saddened by the Confederacy’s defeat. In his personal memoirs, he noted that he felt, “sad and depressed… at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much for a cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for which people ever fought.”

In 1866, President Johnson promoted Grant to four-star general, the first in history, and Grant oversaw the military’s role in Reconstruction efforts. In 1868, in part because he was a war hero, the Republicans nominated Grant as their presidential candidate, and they nominated Schuyler Colfax as their vice-presidential candidate. Colfax founded the St. Joseph Valley Register in 1845 and was its editor for 18 years. Under his direction, it became on of the most influential papers in Indiana. His party affiliation varied over time, as he transitioned from the Whig Party to the Know-Nothing Party and finally to the Republican Party. He was elected to Congress in 1854, he was the speaker of the House of Representatives from 1863 to 1868, and he resigned in 1869. Between 1865 and 1877, Colfax was a leader of the Radical Republicans, a subset of the Republican Party that believed in enfranchising freed slaves and disenfranchising former leaders of the Confederacy.

Grant and Colfax ran against Democratic nominees Horatio Seymour and Francis Preston Blair. Seymour had served as the Governor of New York in 1853 and 1854 and again in 1863 and 1864, while Blair had represented Missouri in the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 1850s, 60s, and 70s.

Grant and Colfax won 214 electoral votes and 52.66% of the popular vote, while Seymour and Blair won 80 electoral votes and 47.34% of the popular vote. The contrast in the electoral votes was expected, but proximity of the popular vote was surprising—particularly given that newly enfranchised freedmen voted almost exclusively for Grant and Colfax, and further given that many Southern whites, who would have voted almost exclusively for Seymour and Blair, had been temporarily disenfranchised at the time of the election (i.e., those in Texas, Mississippi, and Virginia, the states that had not yet been restored to the Union). The leading explanation for the proximity of the popular vote is that whites—both Northern and Southern—must have voted for Seymour and Blair more often than had been expected prior to the election.

THIRTY-SEVEN STAR FLAGS GENERALLY
The thirty-seven star flag represents the inclusion of Nebraska to the Union. Nebraska was admitted on March 1st, 1867, and this flag became official on July 4th of the same year. The thirty-seven star flag was the official flag during a portion of the Reconstruction era, and a portion of the Indian Wars era. Presidents Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, and Rutherford B. Hayes all served under this flag.

Thirty-seven star flags are scarce, relative to thirty-six and thirty-eight star flags. This is because of a lack of major patriotic events following the Civil War and preceding the centennial. This is further because thirty-eight star flags were often used to celebrate the centennial, instead of thirty-seven star flags, even though thirty-seven was the official star count in 1876. It was common for flag makers to produce anticipatory flags in advance of their official date, making the thirty-eight star flag—and for historical reasons, the thirteen star flag—the most common flags flown during the centennial celebrations of 1876.

The thirty-seven star flag was official until July 4th 1877, the time at which the thirty-eight star flag became official and began to represent the inclusion of Colorado to the Union.

Conservation Process: This flag was professionally conserved, and it is positioned behind Optium Museum Acrylic. It is spaced apart therefrom via spacers.

Frame: The flag offered herein is in a modern black frame.

Condition Report: There are a few small tears, the most notable of which is to the left of Grant and running horizontally along the hoist strip. There is a sprinkling of small, light stains across the surface. The colors are bright and crisp. The silk is solid and stable. The overall condition of this flag is remarkably good for the era.

Collectability Level: The Extraordinary – Museum Quality Offerings
Date of Origin: 1868
Number of Stars: 37
Associated War: The Indian Wars (1860-1890)
Associated State: Nebraska