American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Federal regulation cavalry silken standard, approx. 25 in. high x 30 in. wide, edged with yellow silk fringe (some areas of separation in silk throughout some areas of loss and small holes, which do not detract from the flag's overall appearance; wear/loss to fringe along right and bottom edges of flag). The standard is embroidered and hand painted on a blue ground, and features a spread-winged eagle grasping an olive branch in one talon and a clutch of arrows in the other. A red riband is held in the eagle's beak and a national red, white, and blue shield is on the chest. Thirteen gold stars are painted above, and a larger riband is painted below, with no number and name of regiment included (some of the threads have come loose, but most embroidery is intact). The standard is partially mounted with thumbtacks along each edge to a 26 x 27 1/2 in. wooden board, with a 2 in. section of the hoist end mounted on the reverse side of the board. An intricate, net-like pattern covers the standard, indicating that it was previously conserved using the Fowler method of flag conservation, which was meant to strengthen the flag. The standard offered here, which conforms to the 1861 US Army regulations, served as the primary battle flag for the cavalry throughout the Civil War and during the late Indian Wars, until larger flags on a yellow ground came into use in 1887. Provenance: Descended directly in the family of General Nelson Appleton Miles (1839-1925), Civil War hero, Medal of Honor recipient, leader of major US Army operations during the Indian Wars of the 1870s-1890s, and last Commanding General of the United States Army. 

Recognized as one of the most accomplished and capable soldiers ever to serve in the US Army, General Nelson A. Miles was also known for relentless ambition. Miles's military career began humbly as a volunteer infantryman at the onset of the Civil War. From there his courage and leadership would fuel a meteoric rise through the ranks to Major General of Volunteers in October 1865. In July 1866, the Army was reorganized and Miles received the rank of colonel of the new 40th US Infantry (Colored Troops). He was later transferred to the 5th US Infantry and promoted to brigadier general in 1880 and in 1890 again to major general. By 1895 he became General In Chief of the US Army and was promoted to lieutenant general in 1901.

Although the cavalry standard's construction indicates that it may have been made during the Civil War-period, Miles did not serve with the cavalry from 1861-1865 suggesting that the flag was given to and/or used by Miles during the Indian Wars. Although he was still not a cavalryman, Miles commanded infantry and had cavalry attached in a number of campaigns, including the 1874-1875 campaign, which had the 4th, 6th, and 8th Cavalry Regiments attached. In the following campaign, Miles commanded his 5th Infantry under General John Gibbon. While fighting against the Nez Perce, Miles still commanded the 5th Infantry, with some of the 2nd Cavalry attached. The 7th Cavalry was attached later. When considering the high esteem with which Miles was regarded among his fellow officers throughout his military career, it is possible that the standard was a gift from one of the cavalry regiments referenced above. Alternatively, Miles may have secured the standard to be used by his four mounted companies of his 5th Infantry. If this standard was indeed used by Mile's mounted battalion of four companies that might explain why it bears no unit designation on the riband; it was of a temporary nature.

Apart from the Miles family line of ownership, no further provenance or documentation is available to confirm the flag's origin. See Cowan's, 19 November 2020, Lot 322, "Lieutenant General Nelson A. Miles, Extensive Archive Incl. Personal Correspondence with his Wife, 1863-1900s, Featuring Detailed Letters Discussing Indian Wars Campaigns and Interactions with Sitting Bull and Chief Joseph," which was consigned by the same Miles family descendant.

Our sincere thanks to Greg Biggs for his detailed analysis of the flag.