This flag brings up a question of attribution. Nevada was admitted as the 36th state on October 31,1864. Officially, the 36th star was not supposed to be added to the flag until the following Independence Day, 4 July 1865. So, "officially" 36-star flags are post Civil War flags. However, during that time we have the fall of Richmond, Lee's Surrender, Lincoln's assassination, the Grand Review, etc., etc. I would hardly expect every flagmaker in the Union to continue making 35-star flags during that 8-month period, but since very few flags have dates associated with them it is a difficult point to prove.

Now my question, has anyone in their research come across Union regiments that were issued flags between 31 October 1864 and 4 July 1865? If so, is there a record of how many stars were on those flags? Sauers in "Advance the Colors" (vol 2) shows at least two stands of Pennsylvania colors issued in the spring of 1865 with the official number of 35 gold-painted stars. Were they intentionally issued with 35-stars because that was the correct number, with the intention of painting the 36-th star in July? Or did the flagmaker happen to have a small stock of 35-star colors "on the shelf" only needing to have the regimental designation painted on?

Are there photographs from this 8-month period clearly showing 36-star flags?

Many thanks,

Nick