Post by Robert Braun on Jun 26, 2002 10:39:24 GMT -5
This new thread is a carry-over from the discussion of the same topic that evolved in the "Illinois Militia" topic threads.
Several points of discussion have been raised regarding the infantry colors, and the dimensions thereof, for U. S. Regular Infantry regiments.
According to work done by Rene Chartrand in Uniforms and Equipment of United States Forces in the War of 1812, pp. 111-113, National Standards were to be “six feet on the hoist by 7 ½ feet on the fly.” Regimental flags, following the 1808 standards, were to be “five feet on the hoist by six feet on the fly.” The effect of these dimensions would be to produce a flag that is perceptively rectangular and not square as I had previously asserted. My examination of the United States Military Magazine (1840) sketch of the battle shattered regimental color of the 25th U. S. likewise confirms the perceptively rectangular shape.
Analysis of common widths of bolts of cloth during the antebellum period provided by several knowledgeable persons confirmed that cloth known as "¾" for “three-quarters of a yard” was common. The width of this material ranged from an arithmetic 27 inches, to 28 ½ inches as measured from the selvedge edges.
Analysis of three existing regimental colors (9th, 13th, and 14th Infantry) in the West Point Museum, United States Military Academy at West Point, NY confirmed the apparent construction technique: a center seam in the middle of the lengthwise (or fly) plane of the flag clearly indicates the use of two pieces of material stitched lengthwise along the fly dimension. Therefore, the use of two pieces of silk fabric 27 – 28 ½ inches wide by a bit more than six feet in length would indeed produce a flag in approximate dimensions to the requirements of the 1808 standards… as previously indicated by "Roger" in the initial discussion.
I have consulted references for colors used for the War of 1812. Whether or not later, post War of 1812 regulations (and corresponding flag construction done in compliance with these newer regulations) had any impact on the dimensions of regimental colors will be a task for other researchers to elucidate.
Several points of discussion have been raised regarding the infantry colors, and the dimensions thereof, for U. S. Regular Infantry regiments.
According to work done by Rene Chartrand in Uniforms and Equipment of United States Forces in the War of 1812, pp. 111-113, National Standards were to be “six feet on the hoist by 7 ½ feet on the fly.” Regimental flags, following the 1808 standards, were to be “five feet on the hoist by six feet on the fly.” The effect of these dimensions would be to produce a flag that is perceptively rectangular and not square as I had previously asserted. My examination of the United States Military Magazine (1840) sketch of the battle shattered regimental color of the 25th U. S. likewise confirms the perceptively rectangular shape.
Analysis of common widths of bolts of cloth during the antebellum period provided by several knowledgeable persons confirmed that cloth known as "¾" for “three-quarters of a yard” was common. The width of this material ranged from an arithmetic 27 inches, to 28 ½ inches as measured from the selvedge edges.
Analysis of three existing regimental colors (9th, 13th, and 14th Infantry) in the West Point Museum, United States Military Academy at West Point, NY confirmed the apparent construction technique: a center seam in the middle of the lengthwise (or fly) plane of the flag clearly indicates the use of two pieces of material stitched lengthwise along the fly dimension. Therefore, the use of two pieces of silk fabric 27 – 28 ½ inches wide by a bit more than six feet in length would indeed produce a flag in approximate dimensions to the requirements of the 1808 standards… as previously indicated by "Roger" in the initial discussion.
I have consulted references for colors used for the War of 1812. Whether or not later, post War of 1812 regulations (and corresponding flag construction done in compliance with these newer regulations) had any impact on the dimensions of regimental colors will be a task for other researchers to elucidate.
