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Flag

Description

Silk and paint flag "Presented by the Ladies to the Union Riflemen, September 12th, 1846" of Reisterstown, Maryland. The Union Riflemen were an infantry militia unit made up of volunteers from Reisterstown commanded by Captain Samuel P. Storm (1807-1893). They were established in the early 1840s and existed in different capacities until the Civil War. On September 14, 1846, a citizen of Reisterstown wrote a letter to the "Baltimore Sun" about the ceremonies that took place two days prior on what is commemorated in Maryland as "Defenders Day," which celebrates the defense of Baltimore from the British invasion force during the War of 1812. Storm formed his militia company in a grove east of town. Dozens of townspeople crowded around the company and the ladies who had been working on a company flag for their militiamen for some time. After several speeches, the soldiers and ladies enjoyed a few refreshments, marched through the streets in a short parade, fired thirteen volleys, and drilled late into the evening. This formal flag ceremony occurred after the outbreak of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848).

Creator

Date

1846-09-12

Materials

Silk, paint

Dimensions

37 x 26.5

Object ID

1924.18.1

Accession Number

1924.18

Resource ID

3772

Credit Line

Gift of S. W. Storm

Digital Publisher

Digital resource provided by the Maryland Center for History and Culture

Rights

This digital image is made available here for private study, scholarship, and research. Commercial and other uses are prohibited without the permission of the Maryland Center for History and Culture. For more information, visit the MCHC’s Reproductions and Permissions web page.