U.S. Army & Navy Union - Gen R.S. MacKenzie Garrison #24
This colorful embroidered silk flag is a ceremonial Garrison color for the Army and Navy Union USA (ANU-USA), a veteran's organization from the late 19th Century. The double-faced color utilized a vertically striped red, white and blue field. The obverse features the badge of the organization and the Garrison designation, in this case, "Gen. R. S. MacKenzie Garrison No. 24" The reverse displays the arms of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which reflects the Boston, MA location of the Garrison.
Three Indian Wars veterans founded the Army and Navy Union USA in 1886. Their purpose was to create a permanent national organization for veterans and actives members of the service. The organization promoted its values of patriotism and fraternity by holding meetings and social affairs, as well as offering general aid and funerary services. Unlike other organizations for veterans at the time, the ANU-USA did not limit membership to a specific war conflict. Their values of inclusion, and the services provided were popular with veterans, and helped many reintegrate into civilian life.
Garrison #24 of Boston, MA was named for General Ranald Slidell Mackenzie, a West Point graduate and army officer. During his career, R.S. Mackenzie served with the Corps of Engineers. He commanded the 2nd Connecticut Artillery, a brigade at Cedar Creek, and the Cavalry Division of the Army of the James. During the Indian wars he commanded the African-American 24th Infantry and the 4th U.S. Cavalry at the Dull Knife battle. After the battle, he recovered one of Custer's guidons from the Little Big Horn. Mackenzie retired on disability and died in 1889, the year Garrison 24 was established.
Despite the fact that the ANU-USA is the oldest veteran's organization in the U.S. ANU-USA embroidered flags from the 19th century are rare. Veteran organizations were a relatively new conception at this time. These flags embody the values of early fraternal veteran organizations.
Provenance:
• Made for R.S. Mackenzie,Garrison #24, Army & Navy Union, Boston, MA, 1889.
• Acquired by Thomas C. Schultz, Wilton, NH, 2000.
• Purchase on Internet Auction by Louise Veninga Zaricor for Zaricor Flag Collection, 1999.
Sources:
The Army and Navy Union USA, Togetherweserved.com Inc, 21 June 2013, from: http://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=PublicAssociationProfile&type=Association&ID=76
Army & Navy Union, INC., Department of Ohio, , 21 June 2013, from: http://armyandnavyunion.org/Department%20of%20Ohio%20-%20main.html
Ranald Slidell Mackenzie, Wikipedia, 21 June 2013, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranald_S._Mackenzie
Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC) Archives, 2013.
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
