George L. Stone

Retired Aberdeen Fire Capt. George Stone of Montesano was in Louisiana helping provide radio communications under the Amateur Radio Relay Leagues' Amateur Radio Emergency Service. Stone, who is a member of the local Amateur Radio Emergency Communications group's Auxiliary Emergency Communications team, is in charge of Grays Harbor's Department of Emergency Management radio room in Montesano.

35 STARS IN A DOUBLE-ELLIPSE MEDALLION, 1863-1865, A FORKED SWALLOWTAIL GUIDON OF THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD, BROUGHT HOME BY GEORGE STONE, WHO RODE WITH THE 3RD, 14TH AND 18TH NEW YORK CAVALRIES Antiques Council - 35 STARS IN A DOUBLE-ELLIPSE MEDALLION, 1863-1865, A FORKED SWALLOWTAIL GUIDON OF THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD, BROUGHT HOME BY GEORGE STONE, WHO RODE WITH THE 3RD, 14TH AND 18TH NEW YORK CAVALRIES
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35 STARS IN A DOUBLE-ELLIPSE MEDALLION, 1863-1865, A FORKED SWALLOWTAIL GUIDON OF THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD, BROUGHT HOME BY GEORGE STONE, WHO RODE WITH THE 3RD, 14TH AND 18TH NEW YORK CAVALRIES

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35 STARS IN A DOUBLE-ELLIPSE MEDALLION, 1863-1865, A FORKED SWALLOWTAIL GUIDON OF THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD, BROUGHT HOME BY GEORGE STONE, WHO RODE WITH THE 3RD, 14TH AND 18TH NEW YORK CAVALRIES

Description:

35 STARS IN A DOUBLE-ELLIPSE MEDALLION, 1863-1865, A FORKED SWALLOWTAIL GUIDON OF THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD, BROUGHT HOME BY GEORGE STONE, WHO RODE WITH THE 3RD, 14TH AND 18TH NEW YORK CAVALRIES:

35 star, swallowtail, Civil War guidon, with spectacular graphic qualities, presumed to have been brought home by Captain George Stone of Griffin Corners, New York (Delaware County), who served with the 3rd, 14th, and 18th New York Cavalries, as well as the 83rd U.S. Colored Troops. Acquired from Stone's descendents, the flag, which is made of silk, has gilt-painted stars that are arranged in a stunning elliptical medallion, as well as a more prominent forked taper than some examples of its kind, which lends it a more whimsical appearance.

Stone mustered in at Elmira, NY with Company E of the 3rd NY Cavalry on August 22nd, 1861. After more than 150 engagements, he was discharged in order that he may recruit for the 14th NY Cavalry, which he joined as 1st Lieutenant of Company B on July 12, 1863 and served on staff duty. In November he was promoted to Lt. Colonel, in order that he may recruit for the 83rd U.S. Colored Infantry. In February of 1864, after the unit was raised, he requested a return to the 14th Cavalry and was installed in the field at the rank of 1st Lieutenant. On April 8th of that year, in just his third engagement, he was captured at Mansfield, Louisiana by the Confederate Army and imprisoned for just under seven months at Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas. Released in a prisoner exchange in October, 1864, he returned to service with Company B of the 18th Regiment, New York Cavalry, where he remained for the balance of the war. On June 28th of 1865, about a month after the last Confederate General surrendered, he was promoted to Captain of Company E of the 18th NY Cavalry.
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This guidon was found among the possessions of George Stone and acquired from his descendents.
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Another possibility is that the flag was acquired by Stone while recruiting for either the 14th NY Cavalry or the 83rd U.S. Colored troops. But since Stone joined the staff of the 14th just 8 days after the 35 star flag became official, it seems unlikely that he was presented with a new flag for his personal use as a newly promoted 1st Lieutenant. He may more likely have received it when promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel to recruit the 83rd, but the relationship of the star pattern on the guidon to others of the NY Cavalry units suggests that it belonged to the 18th NY. These facts are consistent with the theory that this is a late war flag. As Captain of Company E, he may have been presented with the flag when he mustered out in 1866 at Victoria, Texas.
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More about George Stone: George Stone's leadership capabilities, sharp mind, and strong interest in civil engineering lent well to his 17-year post-military career in the railroad business in the American West, where he began with Union Pacific. Eventually settling in California, Stone became head of the Grand Army of the Republic for the California and Nevada regions and served as the Deputy Director of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. Active in Republican politics, he was elected President of the Union League Club in San Franciso. Brevetted Brigadier General, Stone served as Adjunct General of the State of California from 1901 to 1904 and was appointed as Receiver of Federal Money of the U.S. Land Office in 1908, before being appointed by President Taft as Naval Officer of U.S. Customs at San Francisco in 1910.

Civil War period, military-issued Stars & Stripes flags seldom come available for sale in today's market. Their rarity and desirability, as well as their beauty, especially the dynamic star configuration and profile of this particular flag, plus its association with George Stone, cause it to fall among the best Civil War examples that I have had the privilege to own.

George Stone, Captain (P)

Colonel Roy Stone, son of Ithiel Vernon (8), John(7), Reuben (6), Benajah III-I(5-3), William (2), Samuel (1) and his three third cousins, Captain George L. Stone, Corporal Charles Henry Stone, and Private Stanley Stone, each sons of Lory (8), Benajah V-I (7-3), William (2), Samuel (1) all fought in close proximity to one another, and each was wounded during - but survived - the first day's battle at Gettysburg, 01 July 1863.
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The story of this particular branch of the Stone family continues, describing the role played by the brothers George and Charles Stone in the desperate defense of the western approach to Gettysburg.
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George had been elected captain of Company "A" of the 151st, a company which had been formed in Susquehanna County the previous fall.
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George had been ill on the march northward and it speaks highly of George's commander, Lt. Col. George F. McFarland that he loaned his horse to George so that he might keep up with the main body.
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George had been wounded in the foot by a Minie ball in the retreat. He fell somewhere east of the seminary and was carried to one of the churches in Gettysburg for care.
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Although George suffered lifelong paralysis of his foot, he and his brother had recovered sufficiently to be mustered out with the other survivors of their unit at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg on 29 Jul 1863, just 28 days later, the same place their adventure began the previous November.

George applied for and was granted a lifetime disability pension of $12.50 per month. He served a postmaster of Montrose, Pennsylvania from 1871 to 1875 and as the charter Royal High Priest of Warren Chapter, Royal Arch Masons in Montrose. He then moved to New Milford, Pennsylvania where he operated a livery business until his death on 12 March 1896 at age 71.

Later we find our cinquefoils in Ireland, belonging to George Stone, D.D., Archbishop of Armagh (1747 - 1764), and - this time changes in color - in 1713, when Richard Stone of Dublin, Master of Chancery, has: Argent, three cinquefoils azure, a chief or - out of a ducal coronet, or, a griffin's head between two wings, erminee.

George Stone d.1835 aged 4m son Thomas W Stone 1838 - 1862 Killed in Civil War.
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His funeral was preached at the Greenfield Freewill Baptist Church by Rev George Stone of Phila. (B Smith)