CONFEDERATE 1ST NATIONAL (“STARS & BARS”) LANCE PENNON.

CONFEDERATE 1ST NATIONAL (“STARS & BARS”) LANCE PENNON. Due to the shortage of proper cavalry weapons (sabers, revolvers, and carbines) in the first year of the American Civil War, the Confederate War Department formed several regiments of mounted troops as “lancers”, whose sole arm was to be that weapon. Three regiments and several companies of Texans were so equipped, and it was intended to raise at least one regiment of lancers in Virginia as well. To equip this eastern regiment of lancers, the Confederate Q.M. Dept. contracted with a few ladies in Richmond to produce up to 1,000 small (12” hoist by 18” fly), swallowtail pennons to attach to these lances. The design chosen for these swallowtail pennons followed the basic pattern of the 1st National flag of the Confederacy, the “Stars & Bars”, and consisted of three horizontal bars (red-white-red) of equal width with a square blue canton in the upper hoist corner bearing eleven white stars. This pennon is one of those made for the Virginia lancers. Its field is all made from polished cotton, hand sewn and hand hemmed on all sides. The field measures 11-7/8” on its hoist by 16-3/4” to 17” to the points of the swallowtail and 11-3/4” to the cut of the swallowtail, and is composed of three horizontal 4” wide bars: red over white over red. The 7” square blue canton inset into the upper hoist corner, in common with other surviving pennons of this style bears eleven, white polished cotton stars of only four (4) points, hand sewn to each side of the canton. The pennon was intended to be nailed to its lance, and many of the dozen or so that survive bear rusty nail marks where they were affixed. In spite of their colorful appearance, the lances were rejected as a combat weapon in the eastern Confederacy and were sent to storage in Richmond, where most were found (and looted) by the occupying Union forces that took over that city on 3 April 1865. CONDITION: Very good, but fragile with some tears at the ends of the white and lower red bars. Otherwise totally intact. 4-57206 (10,000-15,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	3095	$11,500.00	CONFEDERATE 1ST NATIONAL (“STARS & BARS”) LANCE PENNON. Due to the shortage of proper cavalry weapons (sabers, revolvers, and carbines) in the first year of the American Civil War, the Confederate War Department formed several regiments of mounted troops as “lancers”, whose sole arm was to be that weapon. Three regiments and several companies of Texans were so equipped, and it was intended to raise at least one regiment of lancers in Virginia as well. To equip this eastern regiment of lancers, the Confederate Q.M. Dept. contracted with a few ladies in Richmond to produce up to 1,000 small (12” hoist by 18” fly), swallowtail pennons to attach to these lances. The design chosen for these swallowtail pennons followed the basic pattern of the 1st National flag of the Confederacy, the “Stars & Bars”, and consisted of three horizontal bars (red-white-red) of equal width with a square blue canton in the upper hoist corner bearing eleven white stars. This pennon is one of those made for the Virginia lancers. Its field is all made from polished cotton, hand sewn and hand hemmed on all sides. The field measures 11-7/8” on its hoist by 16-3/4” to 17” to the points of the swallowtail and 11-3/4” to the cut of the swallowtail, and is composed of three horizontal 4” wide bars: red over white over red. The 7” square blue canton inset into the upper hoist corner, in common with other surviving pennons of this style bears eleven, white polished cotton stars of only four (4) points, hand sewn to each side of the canton. The pennon was intended to be nailed to its lance, and many of the dozen or so that survive bear rusty nail marks where they were affixed. In spite of their colorful appearance, the lances were rejected as a combat weapon in the eastern Confederacy and were sent to storage in Richmond, where most were found (and looted) by the occupying Union forces that took over that city on 3 April 1865. CONDITION: Very good, but fragile with some tears at the ends of the white and lower red bars. Otherwise totally intact. 4-57206 (10,000-15,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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