"Massachusetts Regimental Colors" Topic

I am putting together some Massachusetts ACW units. I was wondering does anyone have any information regarding any Massachusetts Infantry carrying a blue state flag? I ask this because GMB offers a set of Massachusetts state flags in blue.

I am pretty sure the 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry did

The 5th cavalry had what I guess could be a state variant: it had a shield in the center of blue flag instead of an Indian. I have not seen state infantry flags that were of any color other than white.

The following are my notes summarizing Massachusetts flags.

The first units Massachusetts offered to the Federal government in 1861(3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th Ma. Vol. Mil.) appeared to have only been provided by the State with a white state regimental color purchased from the Boston firm of Charles O. Eaton. If these units carried a national flag it came from a non-official source. If these regiments were again called up later in the war they appear to have been issued new colors as typified by the NY Depot flag of the 6th Ma.

Subsequently throughout the war the State of Massachusetts supplied both national and regimental colors only to its 3 year regiments (1st, 2nd, 7th, 9th-41st, 54th-59th and 61st Ma.). These flags were also obtained from Charles Eaton. The national flags manufactured by Eaton were primarily of a pattern with a square canton decorated by 34 stars in five rows as seen on the colors of the 10th, 12th, 19th, 25th?, 27th, 54th, and 56th Ma. A second pattern had a square canton with a gold/yellow eagle surrounded with 35 stars. The colors of the 11th, 24th (possibly), and 30th Ma. are examples of this style. As it is known that new flags were issued to units that veteranized (11th, 17th, 19th, 20th, 23rd-32nd Ma.) it is possible that this second pattern was utilized for these regiments.

National flags with the stars in four concentric circles as seen on the flag of the 21st Ma. and the 57th Ma. or in the shape of a large star as shown on the color of the 2nd Ma. have been attributed to unidentified Boston manufacturers. All three of the aforementioned units were 3 year regiments and so would have been initially issued Eaton made flags but evidently chose to use other colors in their stead.

Regimental colors attributed to Eaton show four main variations. The first is that demonstrated by the flags of the 6th, 12th and 20th Ma. The second is shown by the colors of the 10th, 32nd and 54th Ma. The third pattern is very similar to the second and is illustrated by the flags of the 19th and 58th Ma. A variation of the third pattern was used for the flags of the 1st and 2nd Ma. Heavy Artillery. The last pattern is found in the colors of the 33rd Ma., a variation of this pattern was also used for the standard of the 1st Ma. Cavalry.

At least the 10th Massachusetts were issued a blue flag. From Alfred Seelye Roe, The Tenth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1861-1864: A Western Massachusetts Regiment, (Springfield, Massachusetts: Tenth Regiment Veteran Association, 1909), page 32:

"Monday, July 15, 1861, the Regiment was drawn up in line opposite a crowd of about several thousand spectators for the presentation of a stand of colors from the ladies of Springfield."

"The colors were received with a handsome and gratefully patriotic speech by Colonel Briggs, and in behalf of his brave men, he accepted and promised to defend them. They were undoubtedly the finest and most costly set of colors yet borne away by a Massachusetts regiment, as the gift of friends, and probably the only ones furnished exclusively by ladies. They were prepared by Thomas G. Savery of Boston, at a cost of $275 USD, of rich blue silk, regulation size, six feet by six feet six inches, emblazoned with the Massachusetts coat of arms, supported by the palm and olive, emblematical of victory and peace. A scroll above bore the state motto, and beneath it was inscribed, 'Tenth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers.' in neat gilt letters. The colors were trimmed with rich yellow silk fringe, and mounted with gold cord and tassels. Accompanying the state banner was a silk Union flag of equal splendor, for companion colors, bearing the American ensign.'

Roe also describes a second regimental flag on page 215:

"The colors of the Regiment, presented by the ladies of Springfield, had fared roughly in the perils of war, and on the 29th [July, 1863, at Warrenton, Va.] came brand new ones from Boston. The same agent who brought the new carried back the old to the keeping of the Commonwealth. All were hoping that the fresh standards might have as fortunate a fate as that of those carried by us during the preceding two years."

Other Massachusetts regimental flags included the green "Irish" flags of the 9th and 28th Infantry.

The 45th Massachusetts was presented a blue state flag on 1 November 1862. On one side it bore the arms of the state and on the reverse a pine tree "the device on the coin and the flags of the old Colony".

In December of 1861 the 20th Massachusetts received a flag of red silk, about four and one-half by six feet, bound by gold tape. On one side was a pine tree above which was the title "20th REGt Mass. VOLS.", and the motto "Stand in the Evil Day" below. On the reverse side was an arm grasping a sword – the crest of the Massachusetts coat of arms – with the state motto "Ense Petit Placidum sub Libertate Quietum" in a circle around it. Above this were the words "Ball's Bluff 21st Oct 1861" in gold, and below, "HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND".

Good info, Ryan.

Thank you everyone for your input. Ryan great info!

I also read somewhere the 2nd Massachusetts regimental flag was blue. I read this last week and now for the life of me cannot remember what site.

Is there an internet site or book where photos or drawings of these flags can be found?

I did a little digging and found this site with a photos regarding two of the Regimental flags for the 20th Massachusetts.

link

The 2nd Massachusetts Infantry did carry a blue State flag at one time. I have a scan of a memorandum describing the regiment's flags:

Tullahoma Tenn. March 22 1864

Description of Colors, Color Staffs etc., belonging to the Second Regiment Massachusetts Infantry

Colors

I. "Large American Flag" presented at Camp Andrews by Hon. J. Lothrop Motley, in behalf of the friends of the regiment.

II. "Blue State Flag" – known as the Choate flag. This color was never carried but once, on the march, and was then torn badly by the wind.

III. "American Flag" presented to the regiment by the ladies of Harpers Ferry, and was carried on marches until after the Winchester Retreat. In the engagement on that retreat it became very much torn, and the large flag presented at Camp Andrew has since been used in its place.

IV. "White State Flag". Given by the state government was never carried in action.

Flag Staffs etc.

I. Staff to flag presented by ladies of Harpers Ferry, used in the Winchester Retreat and for the large flag from after battle of Chancellorsville till after Gettysburg. This Staff is now with the regiment.

II. Staff of large flag. Carried at Cedar Mountain and shot in three places there. In charge of Mrs. Wm. Dwight.

III. Staff of Blue State flag (Choate flag) carried at Antietam and shot in three places. In charge of Mrs. E. R. Mudge.

IV. Staff presented by Miss Fanny Mudge. Carried at Chancellorsville and shot in two places. In charge of Mrs. E. R. Mudge.

V. Staff of White State Flag. Never used in action. Now with regiment.

VI. Staff presented by Miss Marie Louise Mudge and Miss L. P. Foxham. Now in use with the regiment. New tassels given by Miss Fanny Madge.

The tassels belonging to the Harpers Ferry flag and the tassels of the large flag with the water-proof cover through which Color Sergt. Durgin was shot at Gettysburg, now in care of Mrs. E. R. Mudge.

John A. Fox
Adgt. 2nd Mass. Infty.

From this summary it appears that the 2nd Mass. used a large National flag presented to the regiment in 1861 at Camp Andrews. Echoes of Glory, Arms and equipment of the Union, p. 248 has additional details on this flag. It has 34 stars arranged in a large star pattern. It has no unit designation or battle honours. The flag was presented on 26 June, 1861 and "was carried in all but one of the battles fought by the regiment". Presumably this refers to a period in early 1862 when the regiment used a National flag presented by the ladies of Harpers Ferry. It seems this Harpers Ferry flag was used until the end of the 1862 Valley Campaign. The Camp Andrews large US flag was then again used until at least later 1864 as a photo shows the color sergeant holding this flag on the steps of the Atlanta courthouse after its capture in 1864.

A blue State flag was briefly in use possibly during the Antietam Campaign, but was not carried after that. A replacement white State flag was provided to the regiment but was not put into use.

The Massachusetts State House Battle flag collection lists three surviving flags for the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry: a Presentation National Flag (the "Large American Flag" from 1861), a Presentation State (the Blue State Flag?), and a State Color (the White State Flag?).

Thanks Ryan