Description:

A fabulous Civil War relic, a small piece of red cotton cloth, approx. 3/4 in. long, taken from the U.S. flag which flew over Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor throughout the Confederate bombardment of the position on April 12, 1861, the first action of the Civil War. The unassuming scrap of fabric is secured within a small oval case of glass and brass, in turn affixed to a card along with a handwritten note from nineteenth-century collector John S. Reigart, stating that the relic was presented to him by Sgt. Peter Hart. Hart ensured that the flag remained flying over Fort Sumter until the position was evacuated; when the flagstaff was shot away during the bombardment, Hart rescued the fallen flag and nailed it to the splintered stump. Upon leaving the fort, Hart saved the flag in his luggage as a souvenir, and when the fort was recaptured in February of 1865, it was this same flag that was raised by its original commander, Maj. Robert Anderson. Absolutely period handwriting, labels, cloth and brass case. Research included with the flag indicates that collector Reigart, born in New York in 1834, was a bank clerk who took pride in his record-keeping. During the latter half of the 19th Century, he assembled a comprehensive collection of American historical relics, including the flag remnant offered here. The same research also describes how Hart came to keep a section of the flag for himself.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Shipments are sent via USPS Priority, USPS International Priority, FedEx and DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option, signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

November 20, 2019 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 30% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000