Exhibits


Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.
Exhibition Copy The Autry National Center of the American West, Los Angeles, CA

Buffalo Bill Historic Center, Cody, Wyoming.

First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC0489)
GENERAL GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTERS THIRD PERSONAL CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS GUIDON

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - Gallery III
(ZFC0489)
General George A. Custers Third Personal Cavalry Headquarters Guidon


Exhibition History Private Showing
11 November 2008
Tiger 21 Meeting, Muir Room
Four Seasons Hotel, San Francisco, CA


Exhibition History
First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC0489)
GENERAL GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTERS THIRD PERSONAL CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS GUIDON
Date: 1864
Media: Wool bunting with cotton crossed sabers; all hand sewn
Comment: Shortly after Custer received his commission as a Brigadier-General and closely following the battle of Gettysburg, George Armstrong Custer caused to be made a swallowtail guidon, divided horizontally, red over blue, with white sabers crossing, as his personal guidon to mark his location in the field of battle and in camp. The first made was crude, but it was replaced in the Winter of 1863-1864 by an elaborate flag of the same design but made of silk, fringed, and decorated with battle honors from Custers 1863 service. In June of 1864, this second personal flag was nearly captured and was saved only by tearing it from its staff. As it was too damaged in the process for further use, in the summer of 1864, Custer commissioned yet a third example of his personal flag. This is that flag. Custers third personal flag was carried by him through the remaining campaigns of 1864, including the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, where Custer was photographed with it (and his 3rd Division guidon) in front of his headquarters. It also started with him on the spring, 1865 campaign south of Petersburg, and was only replaced by another fine silk example crafted by his wife, Libbie as Custer began the final battles on April 1st, 1865 that culminated at Appomattox Court House in April 9th, 1865.
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0489) in 1995 from the descendants of G. A. Custer through auction by Butterfield & Butterfield Auction House of San Francisco, CA.


Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - Gallery III
(ZFC0489)
General George A. Custers Third Personal Cavalry Headquarters Guidon

Date: 1864
Media: Wool bunting with cotton crossed sabers; all hand-sewn
Comment: Shortly after receiving his commission as a brigadier-general and closely following the Battle of Gettysburg, George Armstrong Custer caused to be made a swallowtailed guidon, divided horizontally red over blue with white crossed sabers. This served as his personal guidon to mark his location in the field of battle and in camp. The first one was crude, but it was replaced in the Winter of 1863-1864 by an elaborate flag of the same design made of silk, fringed, and decorated with battle honors from Custers 1863 service. In June 1864 this second personal flag was nearly captured; it was saved only by tearing it from its staff. As it was too damaged in the process for further use, in the Summer of 1864 Custer commissioned yet a third example of his personal flag. This is that very flag. Custers third personal flag was carried by him through the remaining campaigns of 1864, including the Shenandoah Valley campaign, where Custer was photographed with it (and his 3rd Division guidon) in front of his headquarters. It also started with him on the Spring 1865 campaign south of Petersburg and was only replaced by another fine silk example crafted by his wife, Libbie, as Custer began the final battles on April 1, 1865, that culminated at Appomattox Court House in April 9, 1865.

Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0489) in 1995 from the descendants of G. A. Custer through auction by Butterfield & Butterfield Auction House of San Francisco, CA.

Exhibition History Private Showing
11 November 2008
Tiger 21 Meeting, Muir Room
Four Seasons Hotel, San Francisco, CA


University of California - Santa Cruz
Board of Councilors Meeting, 7 June 2012

Rare Flags Exhibit

Santa Cruz, CA, June 7, 2012: The Zaricor Flag Collection exhibited 34 flags and artifacts at the University of California Santa Cruz Campus for the Board of Councilors Meeting.
General George A. Custer's
Third Personal
Cavalry Headquarters Guidon

Date: 1864

Media: Wool bunting with cotton crossed sabers; all hand-sewn.

Comment: Shortly after receiving his commission as a brigadier-general and
closely following the Battle of Gettysburg, George Armstrong Custer caused to
be made a swallow-tailed guidon, divided horizontally red over blue with white
crossed sabers. This served as his personal guidon to mark his location in the field
of battle and in camp. The first one was crude, but it was replaced in the winter
of 1863-1864 by an elaborate flag of the same design made of silk, fringed, and
decorated with battle honors from Custer's 1863 service. In June 1864 this second
personal flag was nearly captured; it was saved only by tearing it from its staff. As
it was too damaged in the process for further use, in the summer of 1864 Custer
commissioned yet a third example of his personal flag. This is that very flag.
Custer's third personal flag was carried by him through the remaining
campaigns of 1864, including the Shenandoah Valley campaign, where Custer was
photographed with it (and his 3rd Division guidon) in front of his headquarters.
It also started with him on the spring 1865 campaign south of Petersburg and was
only replaced by another fine silk example crafted by his wife, Libbie, as Custer
began the final battles on April 1, 1865, that culminated at Appomattox Court
House in April 9, 1865.

Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0489) in 1995 from
the descendants of G. A. Custer through auction by Butterfield & Butterfield
Auction House of San Francisco, CA. www.FlagCollection.com

PDF for Publications
Custer in Photographs
Custer Story
Echoes of Glory - Union - Flags
Robb Report June 2014
US Army Designating Flags 1887

Publications


Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.
Publication Copy Publication History:
Katz, D. Mark, Custer in Photographs, New York, Bonanza Books, 1985. P. 35

Woodhead, Henry, Editor, Howard Michael Madaus, Civil War Flag Authority Echoes of Glory: Arms and Equipment of The Union - Flags. Alexandria, Time-Life Books, 1998. P. 289. (See Images below).

Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 86-87.

General George A. Custers Third Personal Cavalry Headquarters Guidon

Shortly after receiving his commission as a brigadier general and closely following the Battle of Gettysburg, George Armstrong Custer caused to be made a swallowtailed
guidon, divided horizontally red over blue with white crossed sabers. This served as his personal guidon to mark his location in the field of battle and in camp. The first one was crude, but it was replaced in the Winter of 1863 1864 by an elaborate flag of
the same design made of silk, fringed, and decorated with battle honors from Custers 1863 service. In June 1864 this second personal flag was nearly captured; it was saved only by tearing it from its staff. As it was too damaged in the process for further use, in the Summer of 1864 Custers wife made yet a third personal flag, which was his most famous.
This is that very flag. Custers third personal flag was carried by him through the remaining campaigns of 1864, including the Shenandoah Valley campaign, where Custer was photographed with it, and his 3rd Division guidon, in front of his headquarters. It also started with him on the Spring 1865 campaign south of Petersburg and was only replaced by another fine silk example, crafted by his wife, Libbie, as Custer began the final battles on April 1, 1865, that culminated at Appomattox Court House in April 9, 1865.

Date: 1864
Size: 32" hoist x 73" fly
Media: Wool bunting with cotton crossed sabers; all hand-sewn
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1995 from the descendants of G. A. Custer,
through Butterfield & Butterfield Auction House of San Francisco, CA.
ZFC0489
Publication Images
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C

Frontispiece datail

Frontispiece datail

Frontispiece

Frontispiece

P. 140

P. 140

P. 141

P. 141

P. 146

P. 146

P. 147

P. 147


Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.