DOCUMENTED CIVIL WAR STARS‑AND‑STRIPES CAVALRY GUIDON OF COMPANY B, 1st WEST VIRGINIA CAVALRY, WITH FAMILY LETTER

United States, regulation pattern of January 1862; in service 1862–65. Silk swallow‑tailed guidon constructed in the regulation manner by doubling the canton and fly to form the sleeve; light‑blue canton painted with 35 stars arranged as twelve in an inner circle, nineteen in an outer ring, and one in each corner (traces of the original gilt now oxidized to dark blue); thirteen red and white stripes. Now presented glazed and framed with an early family letter of provenance. Frame 37 5/8 x 29 5/8 in. overall. 

A detailed family letter accompanies the flag, calling it a “quarter flag” and explains that Sgt. James B. Shaw of Company B, 1st West Virginia Cavalry, picked it up after its original bearer fell wounded. Fearing an inquiry over a missing color, he sent the guidon home to Mary Boyce of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, later his wife. Written soon after Shaw’s death in 1913, the letter outlines his service: enlistment in September 1861, four years and thirteen days in the ranks, duty under Custer and Sheridan, and participation in the Grand Review. While some dates and events are conflated, the genealogy is sound, and the flag itself matches precisely the January 1862 regulation for Stars‑and‑Stripes cavalry guidons.

Raised in the northwest counties of Virginia (loyal West Virginia), western Pennsylvania, and Ohio, the regiment fought from 1861 to 1865, early operations in western Virginia; Gettysburg with Farnsworth’s brigade; then, under Custer and Sheridan, the Valley Campaigns (Opequon, Fisher’s Hill, Cedar Creek) and the final pursuit to Five Forks, Sailor’s Creek, and Appomattox.

Civil War guidons with firm company attribution and period family provenance are markedly scarce. Conforming to regulation, bearing the correct 35‑star canton for West Virginia statehood, and linked to a named trooper of Company B, this guidon is an important artifact from a storied cavalry regiment.

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate]  [Relics, Militaria, Accouterment, Equipment, Uniforms] [Flags, Patriotic Textiles]