Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Flag |
Catalog Number |
0985.06.00127 |
Date |
1861 |
Description |
Pattern: Army of Northern Virginia battle flag; silk. "Constance Cary" embroidered on upper left arm of cross. Stars: Five remaining on obverse, eight on reverse (of original 12). Gold-painted, 5-pointed. No center star. Border: 1 1/2 inch gold metalllic fringe originally on 3 sides; 1 inch gold silk on hoist edge. Attachment: Eyelets. Unit Designation: None. Battle Honors: None. |
Material |
textile (silk); paint |
Dimensions |
H-29 W-32 inches |
Owned |
Constance Cary; Earl Van Dorn |
Made |
Constance Cary, Alexandria, Virginia |
Provenance |
This is one of three special silk battle flags in the Army of Northern Virginia pattern that were made in late 1861. (These flags were previously thought to be the prototypes of this flag pattern, but recent research indicates they were based upon a preexisting prototype made by Mary Henry Lyon Jones of Richmond, Virginia.) Miss Constance Cary made this flag by hand, and lamented that "the only red [fabric] of the shade desired was, to our sorrow, of so thin a textile as to need interlining, hence my flag had to be patched repeatedly [as the war progressed], obscuring some of the stars." Upon its completion in November 1861, she sent it to Gen. Earl Van Dorn. He used it as his headquarters flag until his death in May 1863, at which time it was returned to Constance. |
People |
Harrison, Constance Cary [Mrs. Burton] Cary, Constance Van Dorn, Earl |
Subjects |
women civilians |