In recognition of the 200th anniversary of the composing of the poem, “The Star Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, the staff has selected three items related to the theme, flags. Although in no way related to the iconic flag from Fort McHenry, the information about flags in our collections will hopefully be of interest and illustrate the uniqueness of our collections
Carlisle Guards Flag
Mary March for the Museum
This blue silk flag originally belonged to the “Carlisle Guards” and was given to the Hamilton Library Association between 1916 and 1922 by J. Webster Henderson. The “Carlisle Guards” was formed in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania during the War of 1812 and went to assist in the protection of the city of Philadelphia in September of 1814. When the Carlisle Guards arrived in Philadelphia they were encamped on Bush Hill where they drilled for nearly a month and constructed entrenchments that were used as defensive fortifications. They did not directly engage in fighting against the British, however, their presence may have deterred a major battle.
Their standard features eighteen six-pointed stars above the crewelwork eagle and also features the remnants of the motto “For the Love of Country”, created out of silver metallic sequins. The North American bald eagle has been widely used as our country’s emblem since it was adopted as the national bird on June 20, 1782, and its image has been used by the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, the President, the Post Office, and the Justice as well as Defense Departments. It is no surprise that the eagle was an important symbol for the company.
The flag was originally presented to the company’s first commander, Captain Joseph Halbert, in 1817 during a celebration on Carlisle’s Public Square by the ladies of town. Upon receiving the flag Halbert gracefully articulated “I receive this standard, the offspring and evidence of female taste and patriotism, and shall trust its preservation to that native gallantry and disciplined valor which will be marshaled around it.” It then passed into the hands of his successor General Samuel Alexander and was found preserved in the garret of his late residence at 5 North Hanover Street in Carlisle, which subsequently became the residence of his grandson - William H. Henderson. After his death, the flag passed into the possession of J. Webster Henderson, his estate administer, and was then donated to the collections of the Hamilton Library Association.
It may be noted that in the Company Book of the Carlisle Guards, Article One, adopted on May 4, 1818, features rules for dress including “the dress of the Carlisle Guards shall be a blue cloth coatee and pantaloons; sixty two white bullet buttons on the coatee, viz three rows in front, of ten each; twenty two on the shirts; one on each side of the collar; four on each cuff; black cord, crow-foot form on the shirts & cuffs; a white star on each side of the collar; leather cap with an eagle in white on the frontispiece; under the eagle the letters C. G. in white; a strip of bear skin round the frontispiece; red woolen cord hapels; black stock; black boots or gaiters over the pantaloons; red plume, worn in the front of the cap: black cartridge box & belt.”
One hundred years ago, in its first major projection of military power overseas, the United States was marshalling the force that President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed would “make the world safe for democracy.” Eventually, some two million Americans would enter combat in the “Great War” in Europe, helping to break a four-year stalemate and drive the Allied cause to victory.