American Civil War Exhibit

In the 1850s Albert Myer, an Army doctor, invented a method of communications by line of sight using signal flags. Employed widely during the Civil War, the Myer flag system became the origin of the Army Signal Corps, and replicas of his flags emblazon the Signal Corps insignia even today. (Of course, the enemy, be it Union or Confederate, began intercepting the other side's messages, and so the armies had to begin encrypting.)

The star flag, another Myer creation, is a rare item. In order to enhance morale, he modified a regulation parade flag by placing a star in the center; this special flag was awarded only to Signal Corps officers who distinguished themselves in combat. The points of the star could be used to denote important battles in which the unit had distinguished itself.