Wool bunting swallowtail flag. Blue field with a white heptagon applique in the center of the flag. The sides of the heptagon are concave. Painted in the center of the white applique is a US shield (with red and white stripes below; blue with white stars on top) surrounded by a laurel leaf in green paint. Radiating from the laurel leaf are seven painted black spears that extend to the seven angles of the heptagon. Reinforcement squares at both hoist corners. White cotton hoist with a metal grommet at either end. The inscription on the hoist reads "1ST VETERAN HEADQUARTERS." Machine-stitched seams.
Wool bunting tapered swallowtail flag. Blue field with two diagonally crossed white stripes. Each stripe runs from one end of the hoist to the opposite end of the fly; they cross at the fork in the swallowtail. In between the stripes is a number "1", most likely in red. White hoist with no grommets.
Rectangular wool bunting flag. White field with large red equilateral triangle in center of flag. Two small white squares of fabric; one on each corner next to the hoist. The white hoist has an inscription that reads "4TH ARMY/CORPS 1ST DIVISION."
Wool bunting pennant flag. White field with a blue circle in the center of the flag. White hoist with no grommets. Inscription on hoist reads "1st Brg. 3rd Div'n 1st Army Corps".
Rectangular wool bunting flag. Yellow field with a black cartridge box in the center of the flag. On the front flap of the cartridge box is a yellow oval with the letters "U.S" in the center. White stitching outlines the cartridge box. Above the cartridge box is the phrase "FORTY ROUNDS" written in an arc of black letters. White cotton hoist with no grommets. Stamped on the hoist is the inscription "4th Div 15 Army Corps." Machine-stitching. The letters on the flag are most likely painted on.
Rectangular wool bunting flag. White field with inset in the center of the flag. The inset is a red wool shield with a pigment-painted white anchor that is crossed with a pigment-painted blue or black cannon (the cannon surmounts the anchor). Unbleached cotton pole sleeve with cord inside. The inscription on the pole sleeve reads "1st Div. 9th Army Corps." Machine stitching with flat-felled panel seams.
Wool bunting pennant flag. Blue field with a red border on the hoist. In the center of the flag is a white diamond. White cotton canvas hoist is machine stitched and does not have grommets. Flag panels are machine-stitched with flat-felled seams. Red, gray, blue, white, and beige cotton threads used to sew flag. Inscription on hoist reads "2nd Brg. 2nd Div. 3rd Army Corps".
Wool bunting rectangular flag. Blue field with a large white cotton cross bottony in the center of the flag. White cotton hoist with a grommet at each end. The inscription on the hoist reads "18TH ARMY/CORPS 2ND DIVISION." Machine and hand stitching; flat-felled seams.
General Description:
Eighteenth Army Corps (24 December 1862 - 2 December 1864)
The Eighteenth Army Corps badge was issued in General Orders No. 108 on 25 August 1864, a cross with foliate sides. Prior to this order, the Eighteenth Corps had its own designating flag system, with headquarters flag 6' x 6', a red field bearing the white number "18".
The Eighteenth Corps was first to create a brigade strength African American unit. On December 3, 1864, the black soldiers of the Eighteenth and the soldiers of the Tenth Army Corps formed the new Twenty-Fifth Corps. The remaining soldiers in the Eighteenth joined those in the old fifth Army Corps to make up the new Twenty-Fourth Corps.
Wool bunting pennant flag. White field with a blue border on the hoist edge. There is a red six-point star inset in the center of the flag. White cotton hoist is machine-stitched and does not have grommets. Flag seams are flat-felled and machine-stitched. Inscription on hoist reads "2nd Brg. 1st Div. 8 Army Corps".
Wool bunting pennant flag. White field with red border around all three sides. Blue circle in the center of the flag. White hoist with no grommets. Inscription on hoist reads "3rd Div. 3rd Brg 1st Army Corps".
Wool bunting swallowtail flag. Blue field with white equilateral triangle in center of flag. Inside the triangle is a brown/dark red number "4". The inscription on the white heading reads "Head Quarters 4th Army Corps."
Wool bunting pennant flag. White field with red border around all three sides. In the center of the flag is a blue six-point star. White cotton hoist. Inscription on hoist reads "3rd Brg. 3rd Div. 8 Army Corps."
Wool bunting pennant flag. White field with blue corners; the edges of the corner triangles facing the center of the flag are convex. Red Maltese cross in the center of the flag. White hoist with no grommets. Inscriptions on hoist read "4th Brg. 1st Div'n 5 Army Corps" and "R.C. Toy No. 47 N. 9th Phila".
Wool bunting pennant flag. White field with a red border around all three sides. In the center of the flag is a blue square bastioned fort (the design is a square with diamond shapes on each corner). White hoist with an inscription which reads "3rd Brg 3rd Div 10 Army Corps."
Rectangular wool bunting flag. Blue field with a large white St. Andrew's cross in the center of the flag. White cotton hoist has a metal grommet at either end. Flag is machine-stitched. Previous repairs to the flag are hand-stitched. Inscription on hoist reads "6TH ARMY/CORPS 2ND DIVISION".
Wool bunting pennant flag. White field with red inverted crescent surrounding a red five-point star in the center of the flag. White hoist with an inscription that reads "1st Brg 1st Div 7th Army Corps."
Rectangular wool bunting flag. Blue field with white St. Andrew's cross in center of flag. White cotton hoist. Machine-stitched using brown threads (white threads used on cross). The inscription on the hoist reads "2nd Div. 6 Army Corps."
Pre-1863 design. Rectangular wool bunting flag. White field with red five-point star hand-stitched in the center of the flag. Reinforcement squares at both hoist corners. White cotton hoist with a grommet at either end. The inscription on the hoist reads "20TH ARMY/CORPS 1ST DIVISION." Flag panels have flat-felled seams that are both machine-stitched in white cotton thread and hand-stitched in red cotton thread.
Rectangular wool bunting flag. White field with a large red inverted crescent surrounding a red star in the center of the flag. The hoist corners are reinforced with small white squares of fabric. White cotton canvas hoist with a grommet a each end; an inscription on the hoist reads "7TH ARMY/CORPS 1ST DIVISION." Flag panes are machine-stitched with flat-felled seams using white threads. The crescent and star appliques are hand-stitched.
Coat of dark blue with gold-colored buttons. Sky-blue trim indicating an infantry musician. Blue wool cap with black brim. Musician's insignia on crown.
General History
Most army musicians used their talent to provide signals in battle or cadence on marches. However, music went further than just imparting order. It provided vigor to weary souls or comfort to the distraught.
General Philip H. Sheridan loved music and took a personal interest in bands. Performing under fire was commonplace for bands under his command. They performed at the front during battle playing the liveliest airs in their repertory. At Dinwiddie Court House, Sheridan massed all his musicians on the firing line with the order to “play the gayest tunes in their books. . . Play them loud and keep on playing them, and never mind if a bullet goes through a trombone, or even a trombonist, now and then.”