Keep the Flag to the Front - Part 9
Glossary and Explanation of Flag Types
Army regulations in 1861 provided for each regiment to have a stand of colors, consisting of both national and regimental flags.
Other flags might identify combined units, batteries, or headquarters, or be used to relay messages.
Flag Glossary
Colors: Another name for any flag.
Color bearer: The soldier carrying the flags.
Color guard: Usually a sergeant and five to eight corporals. The guard's job was to protect the color bearer.
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National colors is the flag of the United States, the standard red, white, and blue design still used today. |
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The regimental flag identified the regiment. Usually it had a blue background with an eagle or coat of arms at its center. Artillery units had a yellow background with crossed cannon barrels at the center. |
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The guidon was typically a smaller, swallow-tailed flag used by the cavalry. Most looked like the National Colors but the cavalry also used regimental guidons. |
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Camp colors were markers used to identify a regiment in camp and the two ends of a regiment in battle line. They were the same as the National Colors, but smaller. |
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Designating flags were used to indicate combined units and military headquarters. |
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Signaling flags came in different colors and sizes to relay messages on the field. |
Keep the Flag to the Front: Battle Flags of Kansas is an online exhibit developed by the Kansas Museum of History.
- The Civil War, 1861-1865
- Rally 'Round the Flag
- Stories From the Front Lines
- The "Colored" Soldiers
- On the Border
- Chickamauga
- The Confederacy
- Save the Flags!
- Glossary and Explanation of Flag Types
Contact us at kshs.kansasmuseum@ks.gov