National flag used at Grant’s headquarters during the Virginia campaign

United States national flag used at Grant’s headquarters during the Virginia campaign, May 1864-April 1865

NPS

This is a flag that was flown over the headquarters as Grant moved south against the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. As can be seen, it is larger than a regulation regimental national flag, in order to aid in identification. Messengers, subordinates, and any number of other visitors had to find the commander of all the Union armies and the Army of the Potomac, so a very large flag was flown. This flag was in the possession of General Horace Porter, a friend and member of Grant’s staff during the Virginia Campaign. Porter became president of the Grant Monument Association in early 1892, and he guided the organization to the completion of the Grant Monument. He presented this flag to the organization, to be displayed in the Grant Monument for visitors to see.