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# 34 Star Flag - (1861-1863) (U.S.)

##

Last modified: 2026-08-15 by rick wyatt
Keywords: thirty-four | united states | great flower | old glory | concentric | candy stripe | cross | phalanx |
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image by Clay Moss, 13 February 2007

- Description of the flag
- Jack
- Old Glory
- Popular Designs
- Great Flower Design
- Cross Design
- Phalanx Design
- Cavalry flag
- Oval Design
- Concentric circles variant
- Martinsburg Flag
- Union Star Flag
- Butterfly Design
- Medallion Design
- Great Star variant
- Peek-a-Boo star variant
- Top 4 Stars variany
- Haloed Central Star variant
- Flag on Envelope
- Flush margins design
- A 32-star flag that became a 34-star flag
- 8-9-9-8 star-layout

See also:

- History of the Stars and Stripes
- U.S. Historical flags
- United States of America

## Description of the flag

In 1861, one star was added, representing Kansas, bringing the total number of stars to 34. There were thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies.
Rick Wyatt, 5 April 1998

This flag flew from 4 July, 1861, to 3 July, 1863.
Clay Moss, 13 February 2007

A passage in Michael Corcoran's book For Which it Stands [ccc02], on page 85, recounts that on 29 January of 1861 Kansas was admitted to the Union thus increasing the number of states to 34, and mandating that the 34 flag would become official on 4 July 1861. Yet, on Washington's Birthday, 22 February 1861, less that a month after admission, a 34 star flag was hoisted by Abraham Lincoln when he stopped at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, on his way to Washington D.C. I think the practice of using "once official" and "not-yet-official flags" was much more common than currently believed.
Jim Ferrigan, 13 February 2007

## Jack

image by Clay Moss, 13 February 2007

## Old Glory

image by Rick Wyatt, 12 January 1999

In the early 19th century William Driver, a merchant seaman from Salem, Massachusetts, became captain of a U.S. war ship, he wrote that he was impressed by the flag it flew and wrote "I shall call it 'Old Glory'" When he retired from the Navy he took his flag with him and settled in Tennessee and proudly flew the Old Glory from his home. The rest of the story
R. Nathan Bliss, 22 February 1996
Nick Artimovich, 22 February 1996

At https://historical.ha.com/itm/military-and-patriotic/civil-war from the auction house: a 34-star U.S. flag: "Early Civil War Period (circa 1861). Wool bunting, approximately 54" x 84". Large-format 34-star American national flag produced at the opening of the Civil War. The canton features 34 hand-appliquéd white cotton/linen stars arranged in horizontal rows on a blue wool bunting field. The stars are double-appliquéd and hand-sewn, showing the subtle irregularities and charm expected of mid-19th-century workmanship. Thirteen alternating red and white wool bunting stripes are joined with period hand stitching throughout. The hoist retains hand-sewn grommets, a characteristic feature of early Civil War-era flags and indicative of manufacture prior to the widespread adoption of brass grommets."
William Garrison, 25 March 2026

## Popular Designs

image by Dave Martucci, 7 December 1997

This flag has the stars arranged with one in the center and two concentric rings of stars and one in each corner. This is one of many designs used during the Civil War. The pattern used here became popular during the Civil War until the late 1800s.
Dave Martucci, 7 December 1997

A photograph of an example of this U.S. 34-star flag representing the addition of Kansas as the 34th state in 1861 can be seen here.
Source: https://natedsandersauctionblog.com
William Garrison, 5 February 2026

image by Blas Delgado Ortiz, 27 July 2001

## Concentric circles variant

image located by William Garrison, 29 May 2026

Source: https://historical.ha.com
Caption from catalogue: "A 34-star American flag measuring approximately 143" x 286", reflecting Kansas's admission as the 34th state in 1861 at the outset of the Civil War. Entirely hand-sewn of wool bunting, the flag features single-appliqué, hand-sewn cotton stars in the desirable "peek-a-boo" style [allowing them to be viewed on both sides]. Its large scale suggests use for prominent display, likely from the mast of a naval vessel or over an army fort. The star configuration represents a modified medallion within a square, with the outer square softened into an oval medallion and a very large central star, creating a dynamic transitional pattern between earlier square formations and later medallion designs. Illustrated in Boleslaw Mastai's: The Stars and the Stripes (Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1973), p. 119, where it is described as having belonged to Thomas Cockley, an Irish immigrant to Kansas in the mid-19th century, with the large central star representing his adopted state. Formerly part of the Mastai Collection...."
William Garrison, 29 May 2026

## Martinsburg Flag

image located by William Garrison, 25 February 2023

Source: https://www.facebook.com/berkeleycountyhistoricalsociety
A 34-star U.S. flag of the "11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment", U.SA., that fought in the July 2, 1861 "Battle of Falling Waters" or "Battle of Hoke's Run" or "Battle of Hainesville" outside of Martinsburg (in then Virginia state, but now in West Virginia state). The 11th Pennsylvania came to Martinsburg the day after the battle and remained in town until July 15. On July 12, they were presented with the "Martinsburg Flag" by the Union ladies of the town. It was a homemade flag and was presented to them for their bravery and courage in repelling the Confederate Rebels located north of the town. The Confederate "17th Virginia Infantry" eventually captured the flag in late August of 1862 during the "Second Battle of Manassas". The "Martinsburg Flag" was returned to the state of Pennsylvania in 1905. It is now located at the "Pennsylvania Capital Preservation Committee Museum" in Harrisburg, PA, and can be seen on display along with 390 other Civil War flags that have been preserved. Below the stary union there is white lettering reading: "Martinsburg VA July 12th 1861", and on the middle red stripe in black lettering there is: "11th Regt. P.V." and in the next below red stripe: "April 26th 1861". Initially, the 11th Pennsylvania was recruited from several counties in Pennsylvania as a three-month regiment on April 26, 1861, but extended until early 1865.
William Garrison, 25 February 2023

## Great Flower Design

image by Blas Delgado Ortiz, 28 July 2001

The "Great Flower" flag, also known as "The Candy Stripe" flag because of the red and white "candy stripe" running down the left side. Five asymmetric petal shapes loop out from the off-center heart of a graceful "Great Flower" pattern of thirty-four stars. The designer and locations that used this 1861-1863 flag are unknown.
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 28 July 2001

## Cross Design

image by Blas Delgado Ortiz, 28 July 2001

Five clusters of six stars each with the final four stars being on the top, sides and bottom, centered. This flag shows great care in its design and in the making of it. The five clusters of stars form a St. Andrews cross and the other four for a St. George cross. The designer is unknown. This extraordinarily beautiful design also evokes, more poetically, great white blossoms or magnified snow crystals.
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 28 July 2001

## Phalanx Design

image by Blas Delgado Ortiz, 28 July 2001

The unusual length of the field of stripes indicates that this great standard was probably a naval flag. The pattern is basically a square "phalanx" of militarily aligned stars, with two independent "leaders" at left, and two "stragglers" at right. The result of this arrangement is a striking and very likely unique interpretation of the theme.
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 28 July 2001

## Cavalry Flag

image located by William Garrison, 2 May 2007

This swallow-tailed flag is a US Army cavalry guidon of the 1862-1885 pattern. By the 34 stars, it would be a very early one (design adopted 18 Jan 1862, 35th star added to US flag on 4 July 1863) or else a reproduction. See Cavalry Guidons.
Joe McMillan, 2 May 2007

## Oval Flag

image located by William Garrison, 22 February 2023

Source: https://historical.ha.com
Civil War Period Flag with Unusual 34 Star Pattern. Large dated 1863 wool flag with a rare and unusual 34-star pattern. The flag measure 63-1/2" on the hoist, 127" on the fly, with each of what appears to be cotton stars measuring 4-1/2". This hand sewn flag belonged to William Arthur Coffin of Boston (tag on flag and ink stamp), and was made by his aunts. Per census information The label identifying the makers reads "This flag made A.D. 1863 for William Coffin of Boston by his Aunts Mrs. Eliza Davis and Miss Clementine Foster of Gloucester, Mass". The 34-star flag became official on July 4, 1861 and lasted for two years.
William Garrison, 22 February 2023

## Union Star Flag

image located by William Garrison, 4 June 2024

Source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/226165368024

34-star flag on envelope = 29 stars surrounding large center star with 4 stars in each corner; c. U.S. Civil War, (Jan. 1861 until July 1863, when W. Virginia became 35th state/star). Back side of 5.5 x 3 inch envelope is plain.
William Garrison, 4 June 2024

## Butterfly Design

image located by William Garrison, 5 June 2024

Source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/226165368024

A 34-star "butterfly" flag design on a U.S. Civil War-era envelope, c. July 1861-July 1863.
William Garrison, 5 June 2024

## Medallion Design

image located by William Garrison, 1 November 2024

Source: https://historical.ha.com
Auction-house ad: "U.S. 34-Star flag flown during the U.S. Civil War [1861-1865]. Identified to "1st Regiment New Hampshire Cavalry". 45" x 70" finely-woven cotton flag with 34 stars (valid January 29,1861 through June 20,1863). Marked on the hoist "1st N. H. Cav'y", it features a striking "medallion" configuration of appliqued stars on both sides of the canton, symbolizing unity amidst division. Flags such as this one were carried by cavalry units to mark their position on the battlefield and inspire the troops. Its use by the 1st New Hampshire Cavalry places a layer of added historical significance. The combination of its unique star pattern and provenance makes this flag a poignant reminder of the sacrifice and dedication that defined the Civil War era. Whipped grommets with two suspension cords still present. Entirely hand-stitched."
William Garrison, 1 November 2024

## Great Star variant

image located by William Garrison, 29 May 2026

Source: https://historical.ha.com
Caption: from catalogue: " A 34-star American flag, approximately 109" x 202", representing Kansas's admission as the 34th state in 1861 at the outset of the Civil War. The canton features a distinctive design: four corner stars frame a larger "Great Star" formed by the remaining 30. The flag is entirely hand-sewn. The cotton stars are single-appliquéd in the "peek-a-boo" technique, allowing them to be viewed on both sides. The workmanship is exceptional, with unusually small, precise stitches and hemmed cut-outs that are nearly imperceptible, far more refined than often encountered in peek-a-boo examples."
William Garrison, 29 May 2026

## Peek-a-Boo star variant

image located by William Garrison, 29 May 2026

Source: https://historical.ha.com
Caption: from catalogue: "A 34-star American flag measuring approximately 71-1/4" x 93-1/2", featuring a single-applique "peek-a-boo" [allowing them to be viewed on both sides] star arrangement of 3/6/5/6/5/6/3. Constructed of wool bunting....."
William Garrison, 29 May 2026

## Top 4 Stars variant

image located by William Garrison, 29 May 2026

Source: https://historical.ha.com
Caption: from catalogue: "A 34-star printed paper American flag measuring approximately 8-1/2" x 11-3/8", ink on paper with an advertising inscription reading: "From A.J. Husted, Segars & Tobacco, N.E. cor. Third & Chestnut Sts." (Philadelphia). ..... A.J. Husted was a Philadelphia based cigar and tobacco merchant, conducting business at the start of the Civil War [April 1861], into the early 1880s. As opposed to handing out smaller sized trading cards with advertising with his company on them, Husted produced a limited number of large scale American flag trading cards with company name painted on them. The patriotism of using an American flag to advertise could've been used to appeal to people as the country was divided due to the onset and occurrence of the Civil War."
William Garrison, 29 May 2026

## Haloed Central Star variant

image located by William Garrison, 29 May 2026

Source: https://historical.ha.com
Caption: from catalogue: "A 34-star American flag, printed on glazed cotton and measuring approximately 7-3/4" x 13-1/2". The canton features a distinctive and decorative medallion configuration, with a large, haloed central star surrounded by a star-spangled double medallion and four outlying stars in the corners, creating a bold and visually striking composition that emphasizes symmetry and layered design."
William Garrison, 29 May 2026

## Flag on Envelope

image located by William Garrison, 5 June 2024

Source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/226165939674

U.S. Civil War era (July 4, 1861-July 4, 1863) 34-star envelope, size: 3" x 5", unusual star-layout design: 5-6-6-6-6-5.
William Garrison, 5 June 2024

## Flush margins design

image located by William Garrison, 5 June 2024

Source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/185503255930

A U.S. Civil War-era (1861-1863) 34-star flag, with a typical 7/7/6/7/7 star-row pattern, but the middle 6-star row is unusually flush with both sides of the canton.
William Garrison, 5 June 2024

## A 32-star flag that became a 34-star flag

image located by William Garrison, 2 October 2025

Source: https://bid.poulinauctions.com/WONDERFUL-32-STAR-FLAG-WITH-2-ADDITIONAL-STARS_i58043063
Caption: A 32-star flag that was expanded to become a 34-star flag. This flag measures approximately 81" X 42". This 32-star flag was originally created in 1858 to acknowledge the State of Minnesota joining the Union. The flag has a printed canton and 2 sections of printed stripes. The canton is hand sewn to the stripes and the stripes have a hand-sewn seam running the entire length of the fly at the base of the canton. The white-cotton hoist, as well as the opposite end of the flag, are both hand sewn. Between the first and second row of stars, the 33rd star, that is visible from both sides of the flag, was added by hand sewing. Between the third and fourth row of stars, the 34th star was added in the same manner. The 33rd star was for the state of Oregon, and the 34th star was for the tumultuous State of Kansas.

William Garrison, 2 October 2025

## 8-9-9-8 star-layout

image located by William Garrison, 24 April 2026

Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vintageflags
U.S. 34-star U.S. flag with a star-arrangement of 8/9/9/8 flush-margins pattern in unusual only 4 rows.

William Garrison, 24 April 2026