Image: 11TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY OF COMPANY D FLAG

Description: Fraternal/social organizations often morphed from one thing into another, as need presented itself. A Republican club in Steelton, Pennsylvania, for example, reorganized as a volunteer fire company, as there was none yet located in that community. After the election, Ellsworth convinced Nevius to rekindle the Rockford Grays, but in a style patterned after his own group. On December 26th, 1860, with Ellsworth’s support and guidance, Nevius reorganized some of his Wide Awake companions as the Rockford Zouaves, formally accepting this title on January 17th, 1861, with officers selected and announced. In doing so, Nevius changed his name to Nevins and assumed “L.” as a middle initial, in order to downplay his Dutch ancestry. When the war broke out, both militia units and Wide Awakes clubs, better suited to the tasks of parading and protection than the average citizen, often mustered into volunteer service as entire companies. It was thus that the Rockford Zouaves and Wide Awakes mustered into Company D of the 11th Illinois Infantry. It is possible that, when they did, they took this flag with them. -(https://jeffbridgman.com/inventory/abraham-lincoln-silk-flag-rockford-illinois-wide-awakes-1860-o5073.html)
Title: 11TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY OF COMPANY D FLAG
Credit: Own work
Author: Tablelegs6
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Zero, Public Domain Dedication
License: CC0
License Link: http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en
Attribution Required?: No