U.S Army "Model 1885" Cavalry Guidon; 11th Cavalry, Second Squadron,Troop F.

The history of this flag is defined by a hunting irony involving two different men named Geronimo. U.S. Army "Model 1885" Cavalry Guidon; 11th Cavalry, Second Squadron, Troop F. The red over white swallow-tailed guidon has been used by the United States Cavalry since at least 1834 (although it was not issued from 1862 to 1885). The regimental number and troop letter typically appear in reverse coloration for easy identification. Guidons inspired pride in the troop that bore it, but also they allowed each cavalry member to know where his unit was heading on the trail or in battle.
This particular 27" X 41" wool, guidon was carried during the American-Philippine War, and is associated with Major General Lawton, to whom the Apache leader Geronimo had surrendered in the previous decade. General Lawton, of the US Army Volunteers, was killed at Station San Mateo in Manila on December 19, 1899, during the "Philippine Insurrection" who under the command of a Filipino General also named Licerio Geronimo. His escort was troop F of the 11th Volunteer Cavalry, who later conveyed his body to Manila, and then presumably on to San Francisco, California for an elaborate memorial service prior to the departure of his remains for burial.
The guidon of his unit was then presented to a Red Cross benefit held in San Francisco at the Palace Hotel early in World War I. The $100 realized by its auction on June 27, 1917, was donated to the Red Cross. The flag was then donated to the city of San Francisco three days later by George Rolph and eventually was added to the collection of San Francisco's De Young Museum for exhibition in their Flag Room.
The wool bunting field is cut swallow-tailed and is composed of 2 horizontal bars, each about 13.5 inches wide. The top bar is red, bottom bar is white. The upper bar bears the block figures "11" in white cotton on red background; the lower bar bears the block letter "F" in red (now faded to a shade of orange). The flag is hand stitched with cotton thread.
Flag is framed.
Condition: loss at extreme right edge and top red stripe.
Exhibition History: First Presidio Exhibit United States Army Model 1885 Cavalry Guidon, Troop F, 11th U.S. Cavalry
Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY VI, United States Army Model 1885 Cavalry Guidon, Troop F, 11th U.S. Cavalry
War & Dissent. The US in the Philippines 1898 - 1915, October 22, 2008 to February 22, 2009
Publication History:
Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 109.
Provenance:11th U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, Troop f., 1899. Acquired by S. & G. ((Solomon & Gustav) Gump (store) San Francisco, CA, until 1917.
Sold via Red Cross Benefit Auction, Palace Hotel, San Francisco to George Rolph, 27 June 1917.
Mr. George Rolph ( The brother of S.F. Mayor James Rolph), 1917.
Gifted to de Young Museum, 30 June 1917.
Sold via Butterfield & Butterfield Auctions, SF, CA, to the Zaricor Flag Collection, 1997 From the Zaricor Flag Collection.