"The Old Flag......." Topic

I thought that this might be of some interest to you all.

Up to the Maine State Archives, at Augusta, each regiment has it's papers archived chronologically, by month and year. It's easy to read through them and get a feel for things.

Regardless, here's a letter form Colonel Moses Lakeman to the Governor, returning to his care the National Flag of the 3rd Maine Infantry. With the recent threads on flags, I thought it appropriate to include.

His Excellency
Abner W. Coburn
Gov. of Maine

Head Quarters 3rd Maine Vols.

Near Falmouth Va. January 3rd 1863

Governor:

Please accept the old and battle worn flag of our regiment. On account of being no longer fit for service, it has been replaced by a new one. Thinking it justly deserves an honored place in our State capital I take the liberty of sending it to your address. It has been in the Battles of Bull Run, skirmish at Bailey's cross roads, siege of Yorktown, Battle of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Fair Oak swamps, White Oak swamps, Charles City Cross roads, Malvern Hill, 2nd Bull Run, Groveton, Chantilly skirmish at Monocacy, and lastly at Fredricksburg. The regiment feeling a deep interest in the old flag, and ardently desiring its preservation on account of its having been carried through the above named battles and I must say with credit to the regiment and honor to the State. I therefore entrust it to your keeping, knowing Sir, that, in consideration of its old age and deserved merit, you will give it its proper place.

I have the honor Sir to be, very respectfully, your obt. svt.

M.B.Lakeman

Col. 3rd Me.

The returned flag was the national color. The 3rd went into Chancellorsville with both a national and state color, but lost the state color in the confusion of the "Midnight Charge" of 3rd Corps. Both the color sgt, Timothy B. Curtis, and the regt adjutant were cut off and captured in the dark.

The 3rd went to Gettysburg with only the national flag, which was captured at the Peach Orchard when every member of the color guard and color company was killed or wounded by a volley from the 22nd Miss.

The 3rd replaced the national flag, and also received a regimental color and carried both until mustered out June 4th, 1864, with barely 100 of the original men.

An interesting read! Thanks!

Very interesting, as a point of further interest, am I right to assume that a replacement flag, for a worn out, captured etc, would have the regiments previous battle honours added to it?

Not unless the regiment ordering the flag paid for the embellishments. Colours requested from the quartermaster were provided plain, and the unit itself could add new markings to it if desired.

Some regiments contracted with companies like Tiffany of New York for special-made flags, but that was usually the exception, or it was done as a special presentation flag to the unit when first formed.

In fact, the 3rd Maine had a beautiful flag from Tiffany presented to it as it paraded through New York on the way to Washington. However, the regiment felt it too beautiful to carry, so sent it back to Maine and carried a Maine war-emblem flag, and a national flag in the field.

Many regiments had more than one set of colors during the course of the war. My reenactment group has raised over $30,000 USD during the past few years to get the colors of the 61st NY Infantry restored. There were 5 main sets of colors and several guidons from the 61st in the state collection that needed serious restoration.