35 STAR CIVIL WAR MILITARY ISSUE BATTLE FLAG IN THE PHILADELPHIA DEPOT PATTERN (DOUBLE OVAL MEDALLION), DECOMMISSIONED FROM THE HARRISBURG STATE MUSEUM, DESCENDED FROM LT. COLONEL JOSEPH HILL SINEX, COMMANDER OF THE 91ST PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS.

Revised: 10/19/2007

(Additional Information)Flag was not decommissioned from Harrisburg State Museum, but rather from the Pennsylvania Capital Preservation Committee.

35 STAR CIVIL WAR MILITARY ISSUE BATTLE FLAG IN THE PHILADELPHIA DEPOT PATTERN (DOUBLE OVAL MEDALLION), DECOMMISSIONED FROM THE HARRISBURG STATE MUSEUM, DESCENDED FROM LT. COLONEL JOSEPH HILL SINEX, COMMANDER OF THE 91ST PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS. 35 star Civil War, Union Army Battle flag, found among the possessions of Lt. Col. Joseph Hill Sinex of the 91st PA. Inf.y, handed down through his family, then lent to the Harrisburg State Museum with two other flags that belonged to Sinex (including a 34 star, NY Depot pattern battle flag and a small federal standard – not included in this lot). The three flags were decommissioned in 2006 at the bequest of the owner, who required nursing care and wished to sell them. This is the most graphic of the two Sinex battle flags, with its dynamic, Philadelphia Depot star pattern that consists of a dbl oval, standing on end, with a center star and a flanking star in each corner of the vertically-oriented canton of fine blue silk. It also survives in far better condition than the 34 star example, which was shredded to a fragmental state, missing most of the content of its stripes. The stars are gilt-painted, like those of most Union Inf. battle flags, and there is a silk fringe on three sides. Such flags almost never come available for public sale, as most are in museum collections, so the opportunity to add one to a private collection is very rare. The 91st PA Vols was recruited by Edgar M. Gregory and Edward E. Wallace during the fall of 1861, and mustered into service at Camp Chase, at Gray’s Ferry, on the Schuylkill River near Philadelphia. The first act of the 91st was the protection of Washington, DC and guard duty at the old capital prison. It then moved around VA and MD on various patrols until McClellan was replaced by Burnside and the Union Army was reorganized. Joining Hooker’s division, the 91st soon after engaged the enemy at the Battle of Fredericksburg, where it lost two officers and eighty-seven men. Capt. Sinex took command of the 91st in Jan. of 1863, following the resignation of Lt. Col. Wallace. In May the 91st took part in the Battle of Chancellorsville, where Sinex was dismounted and significant losses occurred again among Union forces. All but two of the regiments involved were mustered out afterward. One of the two that remained was the 91st PA, which transferred to the Third Brigade (Sykes still commanding). Then, in June, Gen. Meade took command of the Army and Sykes replaced him as Corps Commander. Soon after the 91st found itself at Gettysburg in the Battle of Little Round Top. This flag was probably made after Gettysburg, because it has 35 stars instead of 34. But the fact that it belonged to Sinex, in command of the 91st at Gettysburg, the most important battle to most collectors of Union Civil War artifacts, the connection is of great significance. Before the war ended, the 91st participated in many other battles where it was heavily engaged, including Richmond, Cold Harbor, and Hatcher’s Run. Accompanying the flag is a picture taken by the famous photographer Mumpher, apparently before Joseph Sinex died on 6 October 1892. SIZE: Approx 6’ x 6.5’, which is the most common size for almost all Union inf. national colors. CONDITION: Flag is framed in pressure mounted Plexiglas, largely intact, with some losses and splits, particularly at the fly end. As can be seen in the illus there are various separations and some losses. In the period between 1820 and 1850, silk merchants began to sell silk by weight instead of length. To make it heavier, weighting agents were added to the fabric. These increased the price of silk but were harmful to the fabric over time. This is why most all silk flags made between 1820 and the 1st quarter of the 20th C. (which encompasses most flags carried by ground forces) often exhibit a significant degree of breakdown. The state of this particular flag is far better than most surviving examples. 4-32854 JB1 (15,000-35,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007

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
	1446B	$17,250.00	Revised: 10/19/2007 (Additional Information)Flag was not decommissioned from Harrisburg State Museum, but rather from the Pennsylvania Capital Preservation Committee. 35 STAR CIVIL WAR MILITARY ISSUE BATTLE FLAG IN THE PHILADELPHIA DEPOT PATTERN (DOUBLE OVAL MEDALLION), DECOMMISSIONED FROM THE HARRISBURG STATE MUSEUM, DESCENDED FROM LT. COLONEL JOSEPH HILL SINEX, COMMANDER OF THE 91ST PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS. 35 star Civil War, Union Army Battle flag, found among the possessions of Lt. Col. Joseph Hill Sinex of the 91st PA. Inf.y, handed down through his family, then lent to the Harrisburg State Museum with two other flags that belonged to Sinex (including a 34 star, NY Depot pattern battle flag and a small federal standard – not included in this lot). The three flags were decommissioned in 2006 at the bequest of the owner, who required nursing care and wished to sell them. This is the most graphic of the two Sinex battle flags, with its dynamic, Philadelphia Depot star pattern that consists of a dbl oval, standing on end, with a center star and a flanking star in each corner of the vertically-oriented canton of fine blue silk. It also survives in far better condition than the 34 star example, which was shredded to a fragmental state, missing most of the content of its stripes. The stars are gilt-painted, like those of most Union Inf. battle flags, and there is a silk fringe on three sides. Such flags almost never come available for public sale, as most are in museum collections, so the opportunity to add one to a private collection is very rare. The 91st PA Vols was recruited by Edgar M. Gregory and Edward E. Wallace during the fall of 1861, and mustered into service at Camp Chase, at Gray’s Ferry, on the Schuylkill River near Philadelphia. The first act of the 91st was the protection of Washington, DC and guard duty at the old capital prison. It then moved around VA and MD on various patrols until McClellan was replaced by Burnside and the Union Army was reorganized. Joining Hooker’s division, the 91st soon after engaged the enemy at the Battle of Fredericksburg, where it lost two officers and eighty-seven men. Capt. Sinex took command of the 91st in Jan. of 1863, following the resignation of Lt. Col. Wallace. In May the 91st took part in the Battle of Chancellorsville, where Sinex was dismounted and significant losses occurred again among Union forces. All but two of the regiments involved were mustered out afterward. One of the two that remained was the 91st PA, which transferred to the Third Brigade (Sykes still commanding). Then, in June, Gen. Meade took command of the Army and Sykes replaced him as Corps Commander. Soon after the 91st found itself at Gettysburg in the Battle of Little Round Top. This flag was probably made after Gettysburg, because it has 35 stars instead of 34. But the fact that it belonged to Sinex, in command of the 91st at Gettysburg, the most important battle to most collectors of Union Civil War artifacts, the connection is of great significance. Before the war ended, the 91st participated in many other battles where it was heavily engaged, including Richmond, Cold Harbor, and Hatcher’s Run. Accompanying the flag is a picture taken by the famous photographer Mumpher, apparently before Joseph Sinex died on 6 October 1892. SIZE: Approx 6’ x 6.5’, which is the most common size for almost all Union inf. national colors. CONDITION: Flag is framed in pressure mounted Plexiglas, largely intact, with some losses and splits, particularly at the fly end. As can be seen in the illus there are various separations and some losses. In the period between 1820 and 1850, silk merchants began to sell silk by weight instead of length. To make it heavier, weighting agents were added to the fabric. These increased the price of silk but were harmful to the fabric over time. This is why most all silk flags made between 1820 and the 1st quarter of the 20th C. (which encompasses most flags carried by ground forces) often exhibit a significant degree of breakdown. The state of this particular flag is far better than most surviving examples. 4-32854 JB1 (15,000-35,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007 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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