January 1931. Union Army veteran Orlando Learned sits with his great-grandson Edward Hudgins, age 2, showing the boy a 36-starred flag he carried into battle during the Civil War. Learned had obtained the flag during celebrations marking the fall of Vicksburg in 1863 and kept it for nearly seven decades. A battle wound had kept him from marching in the Union Army's triumphal entry into Washington at the war's end, and his January 1931 visit to the capital was long overdue. The 36-star flag was the official U.S. flag from 1865 to 1867, reflecting Nevada's admission to the Union in 1864.
Dedication Exercises
On October 23, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt stood at a flag-draped platform to deliver remarks at a public dedication ceremony. The elevated stage was packed with dignitaries and officials while a brass band occupied the rear. Below, crowds of citizens filled the streets, nearly all wearing the dark suits and hats typical of the Edwardian era.
Three Unidentified Soldiers in Union Uniforms
Three Union soldiers sit closely together in their uniforms during the Civil War, their caps and buttoned coats marking them as members of the Federal army between 1861 and 1865. Their steady expressions and informal pose suggest a moment taken away from the demands of camp or campaign, when soldiers often visited photographers to create keepsakes for family and friends. Images like this served as personal records in a time of uncertainty, when many who enlisted did not return home.