A few years ago we came into possession of a box of U.S. Signal Corps flare cartridges. The box was marked as such and dated 1861. The flare offered for sale here is from that box. The flare is a hollow, cylindrical shaped 3.00 inch long wooden stemmed device that is filled with powder composition and sealed. Wrapped around the cylinder is a paper label telling the color of the flare. There is also a smaller label on the top confirming the color. Each one of these is in excellent unused condition.