Item: ONJR25MAQ008
Original U.S. Spanish-American War Enormous Spanish Flag Captured by 16th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry at El Coto with Hand-Painted Royal Spanish Coat of Arms - 50 x 144”
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Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a tremendous souvenir, one that blows most others out of the water. This enormous Spanish flag was captured by Company I, 16th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry at El Coto on July 29th, 1898.On July 20th, Colonel W. J. Rulings was directed by General Wilson to embark upon transport No. 21, and to proceed under orders not to be opened until at sea. The embarkation of troops and stores occupied the night of July 20th, and the day of July 21st. At eight o'clock P. M., July 21st, the transport weighed anchor, steamed into the bay and laid by until morning of July 22nd, the draught being too great to attempt to cross the bar that night. The transport put to sea on the morning of July 22nd.The sealed orders directed the regiment to proceed to Fajardo, where it arrived on the morning of July 27th, but finding a fleet in the harbor, Colonel Rulings directed the navigator to proceed along the coast in search of General Wilson, who had left Charleston, S. C., on July 20th, on the U. S. Transport "Obdam" General Wilson was found at Ponce on the morning of July 28th. The Sixteenth Regiment disembarked at once and that evening marched through Ponce and bivouacked some two miles beyond the city.During the night, Captain Wheelock, of Company "I," and a detail of fifty men were ordered forward to El Coto, which place he entered about daylight, the Spanish rear guard retiring as he approached. A number of prisoners and a quantity of arms and supplies were captured.The flag measures roughly 50 x 144”, and this is a very rough estimate as it was very difficult to measure it accurately. There are scattered holes across the flag, but for being 127+ years old, its condition is astounding. The Royal Spanish coat of arms in the center of both sides is hand-painted, and very well-retained. There are some small rips on one side but for how fragile they are, they have survived very well. This example is likely too big to be framed, but the gorgeous stylizing of the letters on the header makes for a fantastic display.This flag comes ready to become the centerpiece of any Spanish-American War or Pennsylvania Collection. One of the most tremendous captured flags we’ve ever had!
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