Physical Description:
Wool bunting pennant flag. Blue field with red stripe on hoist edge; white sphere applique in center of blue field. Hoist is unbleached cotton canvas. Machine-stitched flat fell panel seams and turned under hems on the top and bottom of the flag. Hand-stitched flat fell seam on single layer central motif inset and on cord casing in hoist. Machine- and hand-stitched hoist. Cord is still in casing on the hoist end. Inscription on hoist: 1 ARMY CORPS 2 Div Brig HORSTMANN/PHILADELPHIA
Stamped on hoist.
General Description:
First Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
The flags of 1862 represent specific commands and served as tactical signals. They usually had an ensign designed by the commanders themselves which came to be the symbol for the division. In the spring of 1863, the Army of the Potomac issued badges for its entire corps, and on March 21, 1863, the 1st Army Corps, under General Joseph Hooker, issued an announcement designating the sphere as its emblem. This remained the emblem for the corps until they merged with the 5th Army Corps in March of 1864.
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