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contents. All of the civil war items was known to fly in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and
were in the attic of the farmhouse the American Civil War.
they had purchased. The grouping I was privileged to move this flag to a friend who I knew would
was stored in the attic of the farm conserve and display it. The conservator took over 1 full year to
until passed down to the son and his properly conserve this flag.
wife. The owner stated that the
grouping had been in her attic since No.3
they obtained them. The progression
from A.O. Marshall to the owner
was documented signed by the owner
and notarized so the provenance
could be documented.

To Review: The Marshall Grouping
The contents of the grouping
were numerous reunion and political
activism ribbons and medals. A
AO Marshall's Hand-Written handwritten, very well documented The third favorite item was an 1832 Mounted Infantry saber with
Manuscript for the book Army Life, diary of Albert O. Marshall as a its original intact leather scabbard, documented to have belonged to a
above
Private in the 33rd Illinois Infantry Private of the 1st Regiment 2nd Brigade of Illinois Volunteers in the
Marshall’s 33rd Illinois Volunteer Company A and copies of the best- Thomas B Ross Company in the 1832 Black Hawk War. The Black
Infantry reunion ribbon, below selling 1880s book Army Life about Hawk War was a short war between the United States and Black Hawk
a soldier's life in the 33rd Illinois – a Native American Sauk Chief and his band of Sauks, Meskwakis,
Volunteer Infantry. In it, Marshall tells of the and Kickapoos. This band of
battles he participated in, camp life with his friends Portrait Native Americans was known as
and comrades, and activities of his regiment of Black the British Band. They crossed
through the battle of Vicksburg, Missouri, Hawk by the Mississippi River from Iowa
Arkansas, and Texas. John Indian Territory into the US
The grouping also included the handwritten Wesley State of Illinois. This caused
manuscript of the book Army Life and a Senate Jarvis the U.S. Government to raise
Journal from his time in the 1870s as a US (1780- volunteer companies to fight
Senator. There were also many tintypes and other 1840) the insurrection. The Black
papers pertaining to Marshall’s post-civil war life, Hawk War resulted in the
as well as A.O. Marshall and his wife’s involve- deaths of 77 white settlers,
ment in the GAR (Grand Army of the republic) militiamen, and soldiers. It has
organization and Women’s Relief Corps. been stated that out of the
After the purchase and assessment, my associate 1,100 British Band Native
asked if I would find the right home for this Americans that followed Black
historic grouping. It was my pleasure to find the Hawk in 1832, an estimated number of 400 to 600 were killed. Black
right person to conserve and preserve all of these Hawk eventually surrendered to the US and was imprisoned.
items as a grouping. The previous owner, my This saber and scabbard are in very good condition with the name
associate, and I all felt that this was a treasure that needed to be in the of the soldier impressed into the leather scabbard and above the
right hands, number one, to keep the grouping together and then soldier’s name is impressed “Black Hawk.” This was purchased from
number two, to give the grouping the conservation and care needed to the original family
preserve this wonderful American history. as it was passed
down from the
No.2 Soldier. Provenance
The second favorite was written and
item that I had a hand signed. It now rests
in finding a home for in a fine collection
came to me when I was of Americana and
attending a Prehistoric is being displayed
Artifact show in south- and enjoyed.
ern Illinois. I was called
to look at a Civil War- In Closing
era U.S. Flag. The For every antique I purchase sell or appraise my personal interest is
person could only tell not only in the item or its history, but its preservation also.
me that it was found in an attic and that it was a Civil War-era flag. I have written this article not only to answer the question; “In every-
When I met with the seller and we unfolded the flag, my heart raced thing antique that has passed through your hands; what has been your
as I knew I was looking at a wonderful rare piece of American history favorite item?” but to let you know that great pieces of history are still
– the flag that, at that time in history, the Union was shedding blood out there! Never give up on your dream of owning that antique or
to preserve. collectible you desire.
The 34-star US flag was flown from January 1861 until West Keep searching, purchase what you enjoy, and the better pieces you
Virginia became the 35th state in 1863. The first shot of the American never thought you could or would own may come your way.
Civil war was fired under a 34-star flag. Not only was it a Civil War-
era U.S. 34-star flag, but is known as a “Blood Flag” or “Blood Stripe
Flag.” A Blood Flag is a U.S. flag whose blue canton (the flag canton is David Moore is part of the “Ask the Experts” appraising team for
the blue background in that the stars are located) rests on a red stripe. the Asheford Institute of Antiques where he is an Honors graduate
Usually a common US flag is a flag whose blue canton rests on a white and a Certified Asheford Institute of Antiques Appraiser.
Mr. Moore has been buying, researching and selling the rare and
stripe. Folk-Lore suggests that a Blood Flag or Blood Stripe Flag sym- unusual in antiques for over 50 years. David is currently the owner
bolizes American blood being shed on American soil. The blood flag of D.L. Moore, CAA, an antiques appraisal business.

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