190F

SAVING THE COLORS #513/2500

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:5.00 USD Estimated At:NA
SAVING THE COLORS #513/2500
BIDDING STARS SOON!
Approx $250,000 Collection (Original Purchase price per the family. Purchased for an investment )
STILL PROCESSING SALES LOTS. TOTAL PCS OVER 150 :
FROM THE ESTATE OF MR. & MRS. WILLIAM DOYLE
FRANCIS BARNUM SCULPTURES RARE & LIMITED EDITION / 150 PCS PLUS
CIVIL WAR , OLD WEST , WILDLIFE . All MADE IN AMERICA OF THE FINEST PEWTER AND AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP. ALL SIGNED BY FRANCIS BARNUM
SAVING THE COLORS #513/2500
APPROX. 9" BY 7"
APPROX. 3.46 LBS
AUTHENTIC SCULPTURE BY FRANCIS BARNUM
SOLID PEWTER. WOOD BASE, HIGH QUALITY AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP

The sculpture “Saving the Colors” by Francis Barnum is a Civil War-themed piece that honors one of the most dangerous and respected acts on a battlefield: rescuing or protecting a regiment’s battle flag, known as the “colors.”

During the Civil War, regimental flags were extremely important. Soldiers used them as rallying points during combat because smoke and confusion often made it difficult to see commanders or hear orders. Losing a flag to the enemy was considered a major disgrace, while saving it under fire was viewed as an act of extraordinary bravery. Color bearers and members of the color guard suffered some of the highest casualty rates in the war.

Francis Barnum’s sculpture captures this dramatic moment of courage. The piece typically shows a soldier risking his life to seize or protect the flag amid battle.

HISTORY:
The history behind “Saving the Colors” comes from one of the most honored traditions of Civil War combat — defending a regiment’s battle flag at all costs.

During the Civil War, a regiment’s flags, called the “colors,” were far more than decorations. They served as:

rallying points during battle,
markers showing troop positions,
symbols of regimental pride,
and guides for soldiers moving through smoke-filled battlefields.

In battle, soldiers looked to the colors to know where their regiment was located. If the line began to break or confusion spread, troops would “rally around the colors.” Because of this importance, enemy soldiers deliberately targeted color bearers. Carrying the flag was considered one of the bravest and most dangerous jobs in the army.

The phrase “saving the colors” referred to rescuing the flag from capture or preventing it from touching the ground after the color bearer was killed or wounded. Losing a regiment’s colors was considered a terrible disgrace, while capturing an enemy flag was viewed as a major victory.

Many famous Civil War acts of heroism involved saving the colors. One of the best-known examples occurred during the assault on Fort Wagner in 1863 when Sergeant William Carney of the 54th Massachusetts saved his regiment’s flag despite being wounded multiple times. He later famously said:

“The dear old flag never touched the ground.”

Another dramatic example happened during the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm in 1864 when Medal of Honor recipient Alfred B. Hilton carried two flags after fellow color bearers were shot down. After Hilton was wounded, he shouted:

“Boys, save the colors!”

There were countless similar moments throughout the war. At Gettysburg, Antietam, Fair Oaks, and other major battles, soldiers repeatedly risked death to protect or recover their regimental flags. Some regiments even tore their flags into pieces before surrendering so the enemy could not capture them.

Francis Barnum’s sculpture “Saving the Colors” captures this spirit of sacrifice and loyalty. The sculpture represents:

courage under fire,
devotion to fellow soldiers,
and the emotional importance of the regimental flag.

Rather than focusing on a single historical event, the sculpture symbolizes the many real Civil War soldiers who died protecting their regiment’s honor through its colors.

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