A RARE COLLECTION OF CIVIL WAR FLAG RELICS FROM SUMTER TO GETTYSBURG, COLLECTED BY GENERAL PAUL AMBROSE OLIVER

Collection of four (4) important flag specimens acquired by brevet Brigadier General Paul Ambrose Oliver. Presented and housed in modern custom folios and slipcase. Fragments include: 

1. Fragment of U.S. Flag From Fort Sumter, Charlestown [sic] S. Carolina. Red woven flag fragment. Approx. 4 3/4 x 7/8 in. Encased in glass.

2. 36th Fredericksburg Heights May 1863. Red silk fragment with small fragments of white, machine-stitched. Approx. 5 5/8 x 2 1/2 in. WITH period envelope with autograph note by Oliver reading: "36th / Fredericksburg Heights / May 1863." 

3. Bible Flag, Gettysburg, July 3. 1863. Blue cotton flag fragment with remnants of handstitching. Approx. 3 x 1 3/4 in. WITH period envelope with autograph note signed by Oliver reading: "Rebel Flag / Gettysburg / July 3. 1863 / Paul Oliver".

4. Ringgold Dec 1863. Red fragment approx. 1 3/8 x 1 7/8 in. PINNED TO period drawing showing flags, numbered, including "13th Ala." and "Perryville". 4 7/8 x 3 7/8 in. WITH small period envelope with autograph note by Oliver reading: "Ringgold / Dec 1863"

A significant and important group of Civil War flag fragments originally collected and assembled by brevet Brigadier General Paul Ambrose Oliver (1831-1912). Together these represent a significant and exceedingly rare assemblage of battle-collected flag relics, each preserved in its original envelope and docketed in Oliver’s own hand.

Paul Ambrose Oliver began the war as a second lieutenant in the 12th New York Infantry, but his talents as an explosives and munitions expert soon brought him into the orbit of senior command. Serving successively under Generals Daniel Butterfield, George Meade, Joseph Hooker, and Gouverneur K. Warren, Oliver played a critical role in ordnance and engineering operations. Although offered advancement, he declined in order to remain in his specialized role, and was brevetted brigadier general at war’s end. Present at Gettysburg and other major campaigns, Oliver preserved fragments of flags as personal mementos of significant moments in the conflict.

Provenanced Civil War flag relics are scarce, and ephemera from the opening shots at Fort Sumter and the Battle of Gettysburg are highly-prized. 

This collection represents an exceptional survival and a rare opportunity to acquire battlefield-collected Civil War flag relics with impeccable provenance.

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