SPANISH AMERICAN WAR ITEMS - 2ND CAVALRY FLAG - WINCHESTER LEE NAVY WITH ACCOUTREMENTS - LEE NAVY MANUAL

[USMC8287]

Good evening - 

I wanted to share some acquisitions from the S.A.W.  These items were acquired from a VERY well known militaria family's collection. 

• 2nd Cavalry Colours carried during the battle of San Juan Hill.
• Lee Navy - Receiver ring marked U.S.N./Anchor symbol/No. 8185/NCT with triangle "T" on the butt plate. On the opposite side in partially faded carved white letters "RECOVERED FROM THE WRECKAGE OF THE USS MAINE". Accoutrements to include USMC McKeever 6MM pouch with belt, USMC 6MM belt with suspenders, bayonet & sheath, and photo of the wreckage.  
• Lee Navy manual 

I do have a few questions. 1st concerning the flag. In my humble option I believe it should remain in its current state. Or should I have it professionally stabilized? 2nd I am looking for a tube cleaning kit for the Lee Navy. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. 

Thanks for looking, and comments are always welcome.    

[ottodog8]

The Lee Navy didn't have a tube cleaning kit, just a pull through. Should be illustrated in that manual, if I recall correctly. The manual is a civilian version, not the military version.

 

Be nice to see some detail pics of the Lee, I always liked them. Cool stuff.

[USMC8287]

Great information on the manual. Question have you seen an original military manual for sale, or can you point me in the direction where I might find one? I will work on pictures per your request. Its a bit of a task, remove accoutrements, but happy to supply. 

Do you have any option the on flag? Stabilize, clean or leave as is? Thanks for the compliment!

[ottodog8]

Sorry, can't help on the flag. I collected Lees in the 1980s, ended up with a bunch, including a Maine gun, lots of variants, lots of ammo, clips, belts, bayonets, and other accessories. Sold all of it years ago. Never saw an original military manual for sale, but I believe reprints are readily available. The civilian manual is rare in its own right. I did have some original pull throughs, never did find an original sling though. Of course that was in pre internet days. There is a book on Lees now, many of the rifles and accessories illustrated were originally in my collection. 

 

Have to be careful with the Maine guns. Even when I was looking at them in the 1980s I saw several fakes. 

[atb]

Flag looks like "broken" silk. Without some stabilization done by someone who knows how, it very likely will get worse.

[USMC8287]

4 hours ago, ottodog8 said:

Sorry, can't help on the flag. I collected Lees in the 1980s, ended up with a bunch, including a Maine gun, lots of variants, lots of ammo, clips, belts, bayonets, and other accessories. Sold all of it years ago. Never saw an original military manual for sale, but I believe reprints are readily available. The civilian manual is rare in its own right. I did have some original pull throughs, never did find an original sling though. Of course that was in pre internet days. There is a book on Lees now, many of the rifles and accessories illustrated were originally in my collection. 

 

Have to be careful with the Maine guns. Even when I was looking at them in the 1980s I saw several fakes. 

 

[aefcav]

hi can you tell me the approximate dimensions of the flag? 

[manayunkman]

Very cool cavalry flag.

 

I agree about having a professional look at it.

 

[deddygetty]

Great 2d Cavalry Regiment unit standard. A fine piece like that belongs in the regiment's Reed Museum and Second Dragoon Regimental Heritage Center. The oldest continuously serving regiment in the US Army today, since 1836.

[USMC8287]

The flag is hand painted silk, and measures approximately 43” in length and 32” high. The top of the lance pole is securing the colors with brass rings. The flag was displayed in the Fort Bliss Officers Club from 1913 until 2009. The Dragoons were stationed there after the S.A.W. 

The colors are currently resting flat in a vacuum sealed shadow box with museum glass completely out of any exposure to light. We have had a couple of conservationists look at it and we are getting closer to assigning the stabilization project.  

 

As for the museum route, that is an interesting recommendation. Do you have specific contacts that I can reach out too? Please PM if you do. 

 

Appreciate your questions, and input. Keep them coming as its an incredible piece of history that we are very fortunate to be the current caretakers.