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Regimental Colors

A flag is a strip of cloth of a light fabric, varying in form and color, frequently bearing some emblematic design, and ordinarily fixed by one end to a staff, pole, rope, etc., while the other is allowed to fly free. The length of a flag from the part near the staff to the free end is called the fly, and the measurement at right angles to this is known as the hoist, height or depth. The uses of flags are numerous. In the Bible the standards of the different tribes are referred to in the arrangement of the camp of the Israelites in the desert. The Greek and Roman armies had their distinctive flags. In the French army distinctive flags were introduced during the wars in Italy in the 16th century. They serve in a variety of ways as signals. They convey definite information of various kinds, and are used as general symbols of rejoicing, congratulation, sympathy, mourning, etc. In a classification of the uses of flags, that which stands first, as the most general, is their use as national emblems. Next in order comes their use as distinguishing emblems of the naval and military forces of particular nations.

In the army each regiment was distinguished by its particular flag or colors. This usage is general, and the colors of regiments come to be distinctive of their services and of their esprit de corps, as well as of their position in the army. Flags are sometimes presented by persons of rank or official station, or by other individuals or groups of people, and often bear names and emblems commemorative of past achievements. In the majority of countries the presentation of regimental flags is attended by a religious ceremony. This use of flags is of great antiquity. The word drapeau in French (which, in its most extended signification is equivalent to "flag*) is used specifically for the colors of an infantry regiment; etendard for those of a cavalry regiment; pavilion for the colors used in the naval service.

Troops who fought in the Spanish American War, like those which fought in the Civil War, carried distinguishing regimental colors. These colors usually followed one of two common patterns. The first was a blue flag that bore the American eagle (in the form of the United States coat of arms) and a corona of stars, along with a scroll identifying the regiment. This was the standard pattern issued to all infantry regiments mustered into federal service in the Civil War, and this pattern persited in the mobililzation for the Spanish American War. Even after federal mustering, however, state regiments also carried more distinctive local patterns, in addition to the prescribed eagle pattern.

The original Idaho state flag design goes back to the battle flag which the First Idaho Infantry used in the Philippines in 1899 during the Spanish American War. The battle flag contained a picture based upon the Idaho Territorial Seal, with the name of the regiment under the picture on a blue field. By legislative act of March 12, 1907, a silk flag with a blue field, 5 feet by 6 inches fly was created.. 4 feet 4inches on pike is bordered by gilt fringe 2 1/2 inches wide with the State Seal of Idaho in the Center. The words "State of Idaho" were embroidered in gold block letters two inches high on a red band below the Seal. "The seal in the center of the flag symbolizes Idaho main industries -- mining, agriculture and forestry -- and highlights the state's natural beauty. It was created in 1890 by Emma Edwards Green, the only woman to design a state seal. The original flag created in 1907 was displayed in the State Capitol building for many years. It began to look ragged from wear, and was placed in the Idaho Historical Archives. When a Meridian Elementary fourth grade class realized what had happened to the flag, they began a fundraising effort to restore it. $5,000 later, the original Idaho flag was cleaned, mended, preserved and placed on permanent display in the Idaho Historical Museum in Boise.

While many of the Minnesota colors in the Spanish-American War era did copy the state flag, others followed the old blue Civil War design instead. Examples include the colors of the First Regiment, Minnesota National Guard, dating from about 1896, and the Twelfth Regiment, Minnesota VolunteerInfantry, mustered for Philippine service in 1898. Indeed, a flag from as late as 1918 - that of the Thirteenth Battalion, Minnesota Home Guard - is also blue with a seal. These three colors also omit the floral wreath found on the 1893 state flag - completely conforming to Minnesota's Civil War regimental pattern decades after the war was over.

The State of Montana official flag contains a reproduction of the Great Seal of the State in color on a field of deep blue, with gold fringe along the upper and lower borders. Although the flag was carried in the Philippines by the Montana Volunteers in the Spanish-American War in 1898 and was for many years considered the state flag, official action did not come from Montana Legislators until the session of 1904. The original hand-made banner carried by the First Montana Volunteers in the Spanish-American War is preserved by the Historical Society of Montana. It is 60 X 44 inches overall, the dark blue silk of the field is tattered and somewhat faded. But the Great Seal, beautifully hand-embroidered into a heavy tapestry, is in perfect condition. The words "First Montana Infantry, U.S.V." are embroidered in white over the multi-colored Great Seal. A 3-inch gold fringe adorns the top and bottom of this historic banner.

When the Ninth Legislative Assembly gathered in Helena in 1905, Representative Jacob M. Kennedy of Silver Bow County introduced House bill 157 adopting the banner as the State's official flag, with the deletion of the Infantry designation. Kennedy's bill read: "The 'State Flag of Montana' shall be a flag having a blue field, with a representation of the Great Seal of the State in the center, and with golden fringe along the upper and lower borders of the flag; the same being the flag borne by the First Montana Infantry, U.S.V., in the Spanish-American War with the exception of the device, '1st Montana Infantry, U.S.V.'" The House of Representatives passed the bill without a dissenting vote on February 7, 1905, and the Senate concurred on February 19. But the flag proved to be a difficult one to manufacture since the Great Seal had to be reproduced in a perfect color register, and no specifications had been given as to the shade of blue in the field. The dark blue of the volunteer flag was copied as nearly as possible in reproductions.

North Dakota's dark blue field displays a bald eagle holding an olive branch and a bundle of arrows in its claws. In its beak, the eagle carries a ribbon with the words " One nation made up of many states". The shield on its breast has thirteen stripes, representing the original thirteen states. The fan shaped design above the eagle represents the birth of a new nation, the United States. The name "North Dakota" appears on a red scroll below the eagle.

On January 21, 1911, Representative Colonel John H. Fraine introduced H.B. No. 152 designating an official flag for the state of North Dakota (1911 S.L., ch. 283). The legislation specifically required that the flag conform to the color, form, and size of the regimental flag carried by the North Dakota Infantry in the Spanish-American War in 1898 and Philippine Island Insurrection in 1899; the only exception was the name North Dakota placed on the scroll below the eagle. On March 3, 1911, the Legislative Assembly adopted the North Dakota state flag. North Dakota Century Code Section 54-02-02 describes the state flag in detail.

In 1951 S.B. No. 156 established the North Dakota State Flag Commission to consider changes to the flag (1951 S.L., ch.303). The commission concluded the flag "too closely resembled the coat of arms of the United States and that the flag was not symbolic of North Dakota." The commission's conclusions were widely challenged and its suggested changes rejected. S.B. No. 265 was introduced during the 1953 session and contained the recommendation of the flag commission. That legislation was defeated.