Revised: 9/28/2014

Please note: Flag dimension are 68″ x 53″ including hoist and fringe. Also, according to information supplied by noted flag researcher and historian Greg Biggs, this is only the second Ft. Donelson captured flag to surface privately owned. Mr. Biggs can provide a report on all known Ft. Donelson flags in museum collections to prospective buyer.

CONFEDERATE FIRST NATIONAL FLAG CAPTURED AT BATTLE OF FORT DONELSON AND DESCENDED IN FAMILY OF CAPTAIN (LATER BREV. BRIG. GENERAL) HIRAM DEVOL 36TH OHIO INFANTRY.

SN NSN. This well provenanced flag is entirely hand sewn with great colors and patina which has a contemporary pinned ink note stating the capture at “Ft. Donaldson” (sic) February 16, 1862. There are several documented captured Confederate flags from this engagement and being such early war they often have interesting home spun elements and the same occurs here. No Donelson captured flags were ever turned in to the War Dept. Greg Biggs a leading American flag historian states there are accounts of a couple of flags being thrown into the Cumberland River and one being burned by Union veterans on their way to reunion as the mere sight of it upset them so. Flag is a mix of silk, cotton and wool with a fringe on the fly. The eleven stars are double appliqué. Each individually edged in silk. Stars are in an intriguing configuration of 7-stars in a circle and 4-stars on the lower inside quadrant. I have never seen this unique configuration before. This flag has an additional tag reiterating “Captured at Ft. Donelson” on a merchandise tag of “Hiram F. Devol, dealer in General Merchandise and Produce, Waterford, OH”, a business that Devol had late in life (circa 1900). Hiram Fosdick Devol had a stellar military career in the 36th Ohio Inf during the Civil War. Hiram enlisted August 13, 1861 serving the entire war mustering out in July of 1865 at Wheeling, WV as a Colonel and was Breveted Brigadier General July 30, 1865. From a regimental synopsis published online, “The 36th Ohio was a fighting regiment that saw significant action during the war. Regiment was organized at Marietta, from July 30 to Aug. 31, 1861, to serve for three years. It first saw service in western Virginia and remained there until the spring of 1862. At the battle of Lewisburg in May, 1862, the 36th and 44th, containing in the aggregate not more than 1,200 effective men, repelled the attack of the enemy and in 20 minutes the Confederates were driven back over the summit of the hill, utterly routed, with a loss of 60 killed and left upon the field, 175 prisoners, 4 pieces of artillery, and 300 stands of small arms, besides a very large number of wounded whom they hurriedly carried off the field. The 36th lost 7 killed, 44 wounded and 5 captured on picket. In the second battle of Bull Run the regiment was held in reserve and on the evening of that defeat performed signal service in arresting stragglers and fugitives from the battle, thus preventing thousands from hurrying back to Washington and creating a panic of dismay similar to that after the first battle of Bull Run. At Frederick, Md., in advance of the rest of the army, it had a brisk skirmish with Confederate cavalry, the rear-guard of Lee’s army. It was actively engaged in the battle of South Mountain, where with the brigade it made a memorable bayonet charge, by which the enemy was so scattered and routed that he never rallied on that part of the field again. It was actively engaged in the battle of Antietam, but the loss here was small, its exposure being chiefly to artillery fire. Being transferred to the western field of operations in the spring of 1863, it participated in the Tullahoma campaign, and took part in the sharp engagement with the enemy at Hoover’s gap. The casualty list of the regiment shows a sad loss in the battle of Chickamauga, 70 brave and gallant soldiers yielded up their lives for their country. The regiment participated in the memorable coup de main resulting in the capture of Brown’s ferry, and took part in the victory at Missionary Ridge, in which it lost 83 men. Early in 1864, the regiment re-enlisted, furloughed home, and at the expiration of the 30 days it was sent to its old field of operations in West Virginia. In May a severe engagement occurred at Cloyd’s Mountain, in which the Confederates were driven from their works and 2 pieces of artillery were captured. It then participated in the ill-fated expedition against Lynchburg and the harassing retreat from that place. In the sharp little fight at Kabletown the regiment lost 3 men killed and 4 wounded, and at Kernstown both regiment and division lost heavily, retreating from the field in disorder. At Halltown the brigade of which the 36th formed a part was on two occasions, and the division at another, sent out to reconnoiter and develop the strength and position of the enemy, which was successfully accomplished each time, many prisoners being captured but not without heavy loss in killed and wounded. On Sept. 3, the little Army of West Virginia had a severe engagement of 4 hours’ duration at Berryville and the 36th distinguished itself as much in this battle, perhaps, as in any other of the war, its loss in killed and wounded being 25. In the battle of the Opequan it occupied the right of the army and lost 33 killed and wounded. At Fisher’s hill it lost but 4 men wounded, and at Cedar creek 22 killed and wounded. The regiment was mustered out at Wheeling, W.Va., July 27, 1865.” The 36th Ohio was not at Ft. Donelson nor was Devol. Devol was however well known and well connected politically post-war and somehow obtained this rare relic from Ft. Donelson even attaching his own tag and his granddaughter even thought he captured it based on family lore. Regardless of how this flag ended up in the General’s family it is a rare and desirable early captured Confederate company or regimental flag. PROVENANCE: Hiram Fosdick Devol. Harriet Lyon (granddaughter), 1960. CONDITION: COND: Flag is sound and solid with many small holes probably from insects mostly on white strip as can be seen in photographs. There is a 3” gap of missing fringe on fly end. Flag was framed and glued down to a piece of paper on edges and there are remnants of paper which could easily be removed by conservator as can be seen in photos of reverse side. Flag overall can be handled and folded with no fear of fracture except to the thin silk trim around each individual star. 4-54411 JS262 (15,000-20,000) – Lot 3265

Click here to view provenance

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014

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
	3265	$51,750.00	Revised: 9/28/2014 Please note: Flag dimension are 68″ x 53″ including hoist and fringe. Also, according to information supplied by noted flag researcher and historian Greg Biggs, this is only the second Ft. Donelson captured flag to surface privately owned. Mr. Biggs can provide a report on all known Ft. Donelson flags in museum collections to prospective buyer. CONFEDERATE FIRST NATIONAL FLAG CAPTURED AT BATTLE OF FORT DONELSON AND DESCENDED IN FAMILY OF CAPTAIN (LATER BREV. BRIG. GENERAL) HIRAM DEVOL 36TH OHIO INFANTRY. SN NSN. This well provenanced flag is entirely hand sewn with great colors and patina which has a contemporary pinned ink note stating the capture at “Ft. Donaldson” (sic) February 16, 1862. There are several documented captured Confederate flags from this engagement and being such early war they often have interesting home spun elements and the same occurs here. No Donelson captured flags were ever turned in to the War Dept. Greg Biggs a leading American flag historian states there are accounts of a couple of flags being thrown into the Cumberland River and one being burned by Union veterans on their way to reunion as the mere sight of it upset them so. Flag is a mix of silk, cotton and wool with a fringe on the fly. The eleven stars are double appliqué. Each individually edged in silk. Stars are in an intriguing configuration of 7-stars in a circle and 4-stars on the lower inside quadrant. I have never seen this unique configuration before. This flag has an additional tag reiterating “Captured at Ft. Donelson” on a merchandise tag of “Hiram F. Devol, dealer in General Merchandise and Produce, Waterford, OH”, a business that Devol had late in life (circa 1900). Hiram Fosdick Devol had a stellar military career in the 36th Ohio Inf during the Civil War. Hiram enlisted August 13, 1861 serving the entire war mustering out in July of 1865 at Wheeling, WV as a Colonel and was Breveted Brigadier General July 30, 1865. From a regimental synopsis published online, “The 36th Ohio was a fighting regiment that saw significant action during the war. Regiment was organized at Marietta, from July 30 to Aug. 31, 1861, to serve for three years. It first saw service in western Virginia and remained there until the spring of 1862. At the battle of Lewisburg in May, 1862, the 36th and 44th, containing in the aggregate not more than 1,200 effective men, repelled the attack of the enemy and in 20 minutes the Confederates were driven back over the summit of the hill, utterly routed, with a loss of 60 killed and left upon the field, 175 prisoners, 4 pieces of artillery, and 300 stands of small arms, besides a very large number of wounded whom they hurriedly carried off the field. The 36th lost 7 killed, 44 wounded and 5 captured on picket. In the second battle of Bull Run the regiment was held in reserve and on the evening of that defeat performed signal service in arresting stragglers and fugitives from the battle, thus preventing thousands from hurrying back to Washington and creating a panic of dismay similar to that after the first battle of Bull Run. At Frederick, Md., in advance of the rest of the army, it had a brisk skirmish with Confederate cavalry, the rear-guard of Lee’s army. It was actively engaged in the battle of South Mountain, where with the brigade it made a memorable bayonet charge, by which the enemy was so scattered and routed that he never rallied on that part of the field again. It was actively engaged in the battle of Antietam, but the loss here was small, its exposure being chiefly to artillery fire. Being transferred to the western field of operations in the spring of 1863, it participated in the Tullahoma campaign, and took part in the sharp engagement with the enemy at Hoover’s gap. The casualty list of the regiment shows a sad loss in the battle of Chickamauga, 70 brave and gallant soldiers yielded up their lives for their country. The regiment participated in the memorable coup de main resulting in the capture of Brown’s ferry, and took part in the victory at Missionary Ridge, in which it lost 83 men. Early in 1864, the regiment re-enlisted, furloughed home, and at the expiration of the 30 days it was sent to its old field of operations in West Virginia. In May a severe engagement occurred at Cloyd’s Mountain, in which the Confederates were driven from their works and 2 pieces of artillery were captured. It then participated in the ill-fated expedition against Lynchburg and the harassing retreat from that place. In the sharp little fight at Kabletown the regiment lost 3 men killed and 4 wounded, and at Kernstown both regiment and division lost heavily, retreating from the field in disorder. At Halltown the brigade of which the 36th formed a part was on two occasions, and the division at another, sent out to reconnoiter and develop the strength and position of the enemy, which was successfully accomplished each time, many prisoners being captured but not without heavy loss in killed and wounded. On Sept. 3, the little Army of West Virginia had a severe engagement of 4 hours’ duration at Berryville and the 36th distinguished itself as much in this battle, perhaps, as in any other of the war, its loss in killed and wounded being 25. In the battle of the Opequan it occupied the right of the army and lost 33 killed and wounded. At Fisher’s hill it lost but 4 men wounded, and at Cedar creek 22 killed and wounded. The regiment was mustered out at Wheeling, W.Va., July 27, 1865.” The 36th Ohio was not at Ft. Donelson nor was Devol. Devol was however well known and well connected politically post-war and somehow obtained this rare relic from Ft. Donelson even attaching his own tag and his granddaughter even thought he captured it based on family lore. Regardless of how this flag ended up in the General’s family it is a rare and desirable early captured Confederate company or regimental flag. PROVENANCE: Hiram Fosdick Devol. Harriet Lyon (granddaughter), 1960. CONDITION: COND: Flag is sound and solid with many small holes probably from insects mostly on white strip as can be seen in photographs. There is a 3” gap of missing fringe on fly end. Flag was framed and glued down to a piece of paper on edges and there are remnants of paper which could easily be removed by conservator as can be seen in photos of reverse side. Flag overall can be handled and folded with no fear of fracture except to the thin silk trim around each individual star. 4-54411 JS262 (15,000-20,000) – Lot 3265 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014 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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CONFEDERATE FIRST NATIONAL FLAG CAPTURED AT BATTLE OF FORT DONELSON AND DESCENDED IN FAMILY OF CAPTAIN (LATER BREV. BRIG. GENERAL) HIRAM DEVOL 36TH OHIO INFANTRY.