A U.S. 35-STAR FLAG ASSOCIATED WITH MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS.
A machine-made pieced wool U.S. flag with 35 stars, white canvas hoist, 84 x 138 inches, with 'George Thomas' inked to one star and 'No. 12' to another, and with 'George Thomas' printed label to hoist, some soiling overall.
Provenance: Originally owned by Francis Gilbert Brewster, New Jersey; acquired by Charles Scarlett, Baltimore, MD; gifted to the Star Spangled Banner Flag House & Museum, 1986; acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, 1996.
Exhibition: Zaricor Flag Collection, First Presidio Exhibit and Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - Gallery III.
U.S. Presidential Debate, Washington University at St. Louis, October, 2004.
Publication: Crump, Anne, and David Studarus. 'A Grand Old Obsession.' American Spirit: Daughters of the American revolution Magazine (July/August 2003), p 20.
Madaus, Howard M. and Dr. Whitney Smith. The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p 88.

This period example 35-star United States flag was made to mark the admission of West Virginia as the 35th state on June 20, 1863; and would remain accurate until the admission of Nevada on October 31st, 1864, a period of 1 year, 4 months, 11 days, and would remain official until July 4th, 1865, after the surrender of Lee at Appomattox.

When this flag was acquired by the Zaricor collection a physical investigation revealed numerous places on the flag were marked or signed 'Thomas' and/or 'George H Thomas,' suggesting that this was a flag associated with Union General George H. Thomas, known as 'The Rock of Chickamauga' for his stubborn defense during the 1864 battle in N. Georgia when the Confederate forces routed the Union forces and General Thomas troops did not retreat and held their ground thus preventing the destruction of the Union forces.

The original de-accession paperwork from the SSBFH, a copy of which is present, identifies the original owner as Francis Gilbert Brewster, and suggests that this flag may have flown at Appomattox at the time of Lee's surrender in 1865.