Circa 1890 made blue silk union jack for this famous Civil War ship that sunk the Confederate Blockade Runner CSS Alabama off Cherbourg, France.
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Description
The Kearsarge Association of Naval Veterans was formed after the Civil War by men who had served on ships from the Atlantic Fleets, and those mostly men from the New England area. The association would later open membership to other naval veterans from other wars in later years. Boston was the home for the association.
Made of dark blue silk, measuring 14.5 x 20 inches. The upper and lower edges are sewn. The fly end has a machined edge. The hoist is cut rough, and most likely at one time was made to accept a small pole for parade or hanging use.
The letters and stars are stenciled on and then painted in gold leaf paint. Essentially one sided, the other showing in reverse and painted in gold as well, since the one side bleed though to the other.
Wrinkles, some staining, but no tears in the main body, and deserves a good framing to preserve it.
The 42 stars, representing Washington, the 42nd state came into being on November 11. 1889, and officially on July 4, 1890. A short lived number of stars, as Idaho followed shortly after.
USS Kearsarge was built at Portsmouth Navy York, Kittery, Maine in 1861. She was a steam sloop of war commissioned on January 24, 1862, under the command of Captain Charles W. Pickering, and immediately dispatched to European waters hunting down Confederate raiders.
Kearsarge initially sailed for Spain to join the Atlantic Squadron which was blockading the CSS Sumter under the command of Captain Raphael Semmes, who later made his way to England and received another ship, an newly built sloop of British build, renamed CSS Alabama.
CSS Alabama was perhaps the most famous of the Confederate raiders, but eventually was blockaded by the Kearsarge at Cherbourg, France in June of 1864. The two ships would soon after be joined in a sea battle, with the Alabama sinking under the much heavier gunned Kearsarge.
Kearsarge would remain in service until 1894.
A great souvenir representing not only USS Kearsarge, but all U.S. Navy ships.
From Cádiz in November of 1862 until March 1863 Kearsarge prepared for her engagement with Alabama; she searched for the raider, ranging along the coast of Northern Europe all the way to the Canaries, Madeira, and the Outer Hebrides. The following year, on 14 June 1864, Kearsarge arrived at Cherbourg and found Alabama in port. The raider had returned there for much needed repairs after a very long, multiple ocean cruise at the expense of 65 Union merchant ships. Kearsarge took up station at the harbor’s entrance to await Semmes’ next move.
Additional information
Weight | 2 lbs |
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