November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
This scarce Maryland militia flag dates to 1860 and was carried by the Vansville Rangers, commanded by Nicholas Snowden who was born in 1828, and became a prosperous Maryland farmer. The flag is silk and bears 13 red and white stripes, with 33 gold painted stars in a blue canton on one side, signifying the statehood of Oregon in late 1859 and predating the admission of Kansas in early 1861. This dating is confirmed by the painted Maryland state seal on the other side, which is signed Jeffreys and dated 1860. The seal is that officially replaced in 1854 (Todd’s dating) and consists of the Lady Liberty holding the sword and scales of justice with the bound rods and ax (the fasces) of the Republic at her feet next to a cornucopia, and behind her scenes of commerce and the sea. A scroll at bottom reads, “Industry the means and plenty the result.” Some scholars believe the earlier seal often indicated secession-minded militia companies, but it may well have been personal preference. A flag presented to the Maryland Planter’s Guard in 1861 used the post-1854 seal. The unit was likely formed in response to the John Brown raid and rising sectional tensions. Their sympathies were made clear as one of the Maryland units accused of attempting to cut off Washington at the outbreak of hostilities. Snowden, and certainly other members, crossed into Virginia to enlist in the Maryland battalion, which expanded to a regiment, and formed to join the Confederate army. He officially enlisted on June 1, 1861, when he was appointed Second Lieutenant of Company D, 1st Maryland Infantry. The regiment gained an enviable reputation for its key role in collapsing the Union line at Manassas, earning its commander a battlefield promotion by Jefferson Davis. In 1862 they were active in Jackson’s Valley Campaign and on June 6 were part of his rear guard in moving from Harrisonburg to Port Republic, when a stiff fight developed at Good’s Farm. Snowden was killed in the fighting, which involved the Pennsylvania Bucktails (the 1st Rifles or “original” bucktails.) Colonel Bradley T. Johnson's official report read, "Here also fell Second Lieutenant Nicholas Snowden, a true and brave soldier, who died as became his life, in the arms of victory, with his face to the foe. Near him fell the chivalric Ashby." Snowden reputedly died in the arms of his cousin and company commander Captain J.R. Herbert. He was buried in Cross Keys, but reinterred in Baltimore in 1884. Family tradition later mistakenly held the flag had been captured from the bucktails, (likely because it was substantially the stars and stripes) and then reinterpreted by some has having been captured by the bucktails and then recaptured. Johnson, however, reports only, “my colors fell twice, but were caught before they touched the ground.”. If a company flag was in use, it may have escaped his notice or mention, but it is a rare, early war southern militia flag and likely carried south into Virginia when Snowden and comrades joined the Confederate army. Testimony is clear that Johnson presented it 25 years later to Snowden’s son and it then remained in the family until 1979. The flag is displayed in a wood frame and preserved under glass, measuring approximately 55 – 1/2” x 37” inside the glass and 58 – 1/2” x 40 – 5/8” with the wood frame. The wood has separated, but the flag is still tightly contained under the glass. There is some fracturing to the silk with water stains and bleeding of color on the lower stripes as shown. The largest fracture measures approximately 1 – 1/2” x 2” and is located on the 8th (white) stripe. Excellent color to the state seal with areas of cracking paint. There is a paper with information that was affixed to the glass by a foam adhesive, which has also been affixed to the corner of the flag. The flag is accompanied by a folder of research including a 26-page scrap book of 1861 newspaper clippings from St. George’s County, at least one of which mentions the rangers, “commanded by Captain Nicholas Snowden” showing off their abilities at drill conducted by, “Lt. Wm. T. Magruder of the U.S. Army.”, whose presentation Ewer is also in this sale. CONDITION: Good.
CORRECTION: The artist, Thomas R. Jeffreys, also painted the "Planters Guard Flag."
This is not a standard shippable item and will require 3rd party shipping or pickup arrangements to be made.Paperwork
Folder of Information