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1858 State Regulations   |   1861 Army Revised Regulations  |   General Order No. Four

1858 State Regulations

Article XXXIV.
FLAGS, COLORS, STANDARDS, GUIDONS—NATIONAL FLAG.

717. The national flag is made of bunting, thirty-six feet fly, and twenty feet hoist, in thirteen horizontal stripes of equal breadth, alternately red and white, beginning with the red. In the upper quarter, next the staff, is the Union composed of a number of white stars, equal to the number of States, on a blue field, one-third the length of the flag, extending to the lower edge of the fourth red stripe from the top. The storm flag is twenty feet by ten feet. The state flag is made of white bunting, twelve feet fly by ten feet hoist, bearing in the center the arms of the State of New-York.

COLORS OF ARTILLERY REGIMENTS.

718. Each regiment of Artillery shall have two colors. The first, or national color, of stars and stripes, as described for the national flag, and may be either of silk or bunting, with red cord and tassels. The second or regimental color, to be of yellow silk, with the arms of the State of New-York embroidered in silk on the center, over two cannons crossing, with the number of the regiment above and the letters N.Y.S.M. below their intersection. The cannons regimental number and letters to be in gold embroidery, fringe gold or yellow silk four inches deep. Each color to be six feet six inches fly, and six feet deep on the pike. The pike, including the eagle and ferule, to be nine feet ten inches in length. Cords and tassels, red and yellow silk intermixed.

COLORS OF INFANTRY AND RIFLE REGIMENTS.

719. Each regiment of infantry or rifles shall have two colors. The first, or national color, of stars and stripes, as described for the national flag, and may be either of silk or bunting, with red cord and tassels. The second, or regimental color, to be of blue silk, with the arms of the State of New-York embroidered in silk on the centre. The number and name of the regiment, and the letters N.Y.S.M., in gold embroidery underneath the arms. The size of each color to be six feet six inches fly, and six feet deep on the pike. The length of the pike, including the eagle and ferrule, to be nine feet ten inches. The fringe gold or yellow silk, four inches deep; cord and tassels; blue and white silk intermixed.

CAMP COLORS.

720. The camp colors are of silk or bunting, eighteen inches square; white for infantry or rifles, and red for artillery, with the number of the regiment on them. The pole eight feet long.

STANDARDS AND GUIDONS OF MOUNTED REGIMENTS.

721. Each regiment will have a silken standard, and each company a silken guidon. The standard to bear the arms of the State of New-York, embroidered in silk on a blue ground, with the number and name of the regiment, and the letters N.Y.S.M. in gold embroidery underneath the arms. The flag of the standard to be two feet five inches wide, and two feet three inches on the lance, and to be edged with gold or yellow silk fringe.

722. The flag of the guidon is swallow-tailed, three feet five inches from the lance to the end of the swallow-tail; fifteen inches to the fork of the swallow-tail, and two feet three inches on the lance. To be half red and half white, dividing at the fork, the red above. On the red, the letters N.Y.S.M. in white; and on the white, the letter of the company in red. The lance of the standards and the guidons to be nine feet long, including the spear and ferule.

723. Every pike-pole of staff to which the flags, standards, guidons or colors above provided are to be attached, will be surmounted with a gilt eagle.

SOURCE: General Regulations for the Military Forces of the State of New York, 1858 (Albany: Weed, Parsons & Co., 1858), pp. 128-130, par. 717-723.

1861 Army Revised Regulations

ARTICLE L.
FLAGS, COLORS, STAMDARDS, GUIDONS.

GARRISON FLAG.

1436. Each garrison flag is the national flag. It is made of bunting, thirty-six feet fly, and twenty feet hoist, in thirteen horizontal stripes of equal breadth, alternately red and white, beginning with the red. In the upper quarter, next the staff, is the Union, composed of a number of white stars, equal to the number of the States, on a blue field, one-third the length of the flag, extending to the lower edge of the fourth red stripe from the top. The storm flag is twenty feet by ten feet; the recruiting flag, nine feet nine inches by four feet four inches.

COLORS OF ARTILLERY REGIMENTS.

1437. Each regiment of Artillery shall have two silken colors. The first, or the national color, of stars and stripes, as described for the garrison flag. The number and name of the regiment to be embroidered with gold on the centre stripe. The second, or regimental color, to be yellow, of the same dimensions as the first, bearing in the centre two cannon crossing, with the letters U.S. above, and the number of the regiment below; fringe, yellow. Each color to be six feet six inches fly, and six feet deep on the pike. The pike, including the spear and ferrule, to be nine feet ten inches in length. Cords and tassels, red and yellow silk, intermixed.

COLORS OF INFANTRY REGIMENTS.

1438. Each regiment of Infantry shall have two silken colors. The first, or the national color, of stars and stripes, as described for the garrison flag; the number and name of the regiment to be embroidered with silver on the centre stripe. The second, or regimental color, to be blue, with the arms of the United States embroidered in silk on the centre. The name of the regiment in a scroll, underneath the eagle. The size of each color to be six feet six inches fly, and six feet deep on the pike. The length of the pike, including the spear and ferrule, to be nine feet ten inches in length. The fringe yellow, cords and tassels, blue and white silk intermixed.

CAMP COLORS.

1439. The camp colors are of bunting, eighteen inches square; white for infantry, and red for artillery, with the number of the regiment on them. The pole eight feet long.

STANDARDS AND GUIDONS OF MOUNTED REGIMENTS.

1440. Each regiment will have a silken standard, and each company a silken guidon. The standard to bear the arms of the United States, embroidered in silk, on a blue ground, with the number and name of the regiment, in a scroll underneath the eagle. The flag of the standard to be two feet five inches wide, and two feet three inches on the lance, and to be edged with yellow silk fringe.

1441. The flag of the guidon is swallow-tailed, three feet five inches from the lance to the end of the swallow-tail; fifteen inches to the fork of the swallow-tail, and two feet three inches on the lance. To be half red and half white, dividing at the fork, the red above. On the red, the letters U.S. in white; and on the white, the letter of the company in red. The lance of the standards and guidons to be nine feet long, including spear and ferrule.

SOURCE: Revised Regulations for the Army of the United States, 1861 (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., [1861]), pp. 475-476, par. 1436-1441.

General Order No. Four - January, 1862

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 4
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT-GENERAL’S OFFICE,
Washington, January 18, 1862.

I. Under instructions from the Secretary of War, dated January 7, 1862, guidons and camp colors for the Army will be made like the United States flag, with stars and stripes.
II. Inspectors-general, while on their tours, will inspect the bands of all regiments, and discharge all men mustered therewith who are not musicians.

By command of Major-General McClellan:
L. THOMAS,
Adjutant General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (Washington: GPO, 1880-1901), series III, 1:803.

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