US Flag from Fort Sumter, 1865

US 35 star flag

United States flag, 35 stars, hand sewn in 5 rows with 7 stars each, machine stitch applique across 5th stripe from bottom "FT. SUMTER. FEB. 18. 1865."; frayed at fly end; handwritten across hoist "This flag was the ensign of the steamer W W Coit (which was Gen Gilmore's [sic.] ...boat)...at the recapture of Ft. Sumter Feb 18th 1865..."; handwritten on cloth machine stitched to lower hoist corner "From Norwich Bulletin Feb 18: 1865/ It appears that Maj. Gen. C. H. Gilmore [sic., Quincy Adams Gillmore] was/ in command at Charleston Harbour & that/ "Sumter" was taken & the Stars & Stripes placed/ thereon at 9 A.M. Feb. 18th 1865 & dispatch/ says "The first flag over Sumter was raised/ By Capt. Henry M. Bragg, an aide de camp/ on Gen. Gilmore's [sic.] Staff - having as its staff/ an oar & a boat hook - lashed together"/ From "Bulletin" Norwich Conn/ Friday March 3d 1865 -/ The first flag raised over Sumter - / "Letters rec'd in this city on Thursday from Capt./ Campbell & Engineer Brown of the Steamer/ W. W. Coit" now in the government service as/ Gen. Gilmore's [sic.] staff boat, state that the Coit/ was the first army boat to run up to Charleston/ following the admiral's vessel & that her ensign/ was the first union flag hoisted on Sumter/ by Capt. Bragg of Gilmore's [sic.] staff - The flag re-/mained there at the date of the letter/ The "Coit" was built for & is owned by Capt. W. W. Coit/ of this city who in buying her ensign little thought/ it would replace the rebel flag on the spot where the war/ broke out -".