“Rally Freemen!…” Civil War Recruitment Broadside

American Civil War recruitment broadside for the 187th Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry, raised in Independence Square and funded by the Union League of Philadelphia.

Using all manner of fonts to create eye-catching graphics, the verbiage reads as follows: “Rally Freemen! Look at Your City’s Generosity!; $99 Besides Your Government Pay. [punctuated by two pointing hands]; Co. F; Union League Regiment!; Has Just Opened Their Muster Rolls in Independence Square and will give the above Bounty, $60 As Soon As Mustered In, and $13 a month to your family while you are away.; Capt. Thomas is an able and Old Officer having risen from the ranks as a private, and knows the wants of all men.; Come One! Come All! And show your love for the best Country on the face of the earth.; Capt. Chas. A. Thomas, Late of the 119th Regiment, P.V.; E.W. Hurst, 1st Lieut., James N. Mezick, 2d Lieut.”

Printed on paper and applied to fine cotton muslin, the broadside was published and is marked by “Ringwalt & Brown, Steam-Power Printers, 111 & 113 South Fourth St.” There are two brass grommets, one in each corner along the top edge.

The Union League is an organization formed to reelect Abraham Lincoln and support the Republican Party’s anti-slavery initiative. A private club, it still exists today and is a Philadelphia landmark, regarded as the number one city club in the nation.

The Union League had an extremely wealthy membership, raising and outfitting several Civil War regiments, of which this was one. Most or all of the unit mustered in at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg. The initial muster took place from late June to July of 1863, immediately following the Battle of Gettysburg. Parts of the unit engaged the enemy at several places, including Petersburg. Assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac, under General Chamberlain (promoted at Gettysburg). The unit fought at Petersburg, where it was commended for gallantry and its commander, Major Merrick, lost a leg.

Returning to Philadelphia, it was selected to escort Lincoln’s body from the railway station to Independence Hall and guarded his remains as he lay in state. Together with the esteemed 1st City Troop, the 187th then escorted the body back to the rail station. Afterwards it remained on provost duty and mustered out on August 3rd, 1865.

Provenance: Ex-Norm Flayderman.

Mounting: This is a pressure mount between 100% cotton twill, black in color, and U.V. protective acrylic (Plexiglas). The banner was mounted and framed within our own conservation department, which is led by expert staff. The black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed molding is Italian. We take great care in the mounting and preservation of flags and related objects and have framed thousands of examples.

Condition: There is significant oxidation throughout, accompanied by minor to modest areas of foxing. There are fold marks with minor associated losses, the most significant of which is along the lower right-hand edge and adjacent to the large numeral “9,” where it intersects the center of the broadside. There is modest fading and minor pigment loss. The unit designation “187th PA” was lightly penciled in, by a former owner, below the word “Regiment!” in the title.

Frame Size (H x L): 42″ x 35″
Flag Size (H x L): 31″ x 24″