Guidon of the 12th O.V.C.

This is a photograph of a guidon of the 12th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. A guidon is a type of flag carried by and artillery or cavalry company. It is usually a swallowtail flag. There are 13 red and white strips signifying the thirteen original colonies. The blue field has 34 stars, 12 in the inner circle, 18 in the outer circle and one in each corner. This signifies the 34 states of the union at the beginning of the Civil War. Much of the flag has been destroyed