This flag was deaccessioned from the Chicago Historical Society in 1974 and likely came from the well-known collection of Charles Gunther. The flag is made of single piece of white silk roughly 18-inches square (plus the fringe) with the regimental number in blue, following the New York regulations of 1858 for camp colors of an infantry regiment, which themselves followed the specifications of the U.S. regulations at the time. Along with general guide flags, and flank markers, these often were part of the “stand of colors” issued or, frequently, presented to a regiment when heading off to war. In fact, camp colors were on the only ones among those secondary flags that were officially sanctioned and frequently were used as flank markers for the regiment both in drill and in battle, rather than only to delineate a camp, something particularly clear in the many regiments issued only two. As Howard Madaus notes in his four-part article, “Camp Colors, General Guide Flags and Flank Markers in the United States Army, 1861-1865,” in the Journal of the Company of Military Historians, “to most tacticians of the period, the “markers” (or more properly the “flank markers”) were the small flags (be they camp colors, guidons, or general guide flags) carried by the two sergeants designated the right and left general guides.” As part of this listing we show a portion of a Winslow Homer sketch showing a left general guide with his flag standing just behind the firing line at Lee’s Mills, and refer to Madaus’s article for other citations to them being carried in battle.

Paperwork accompanying this flag includes conservation reports, purchase and sale information after deaccession, and also a color photo of a type-written index card, certainly from the Chicago Historical Society, listing the flag as a, “Marker. Used during the Civil War by the New York troops” and giving its case and shelf location. A letter by Howard Madaus is mentioned in its 2007 sales listing as part of the holdings of the Crow Art Partnership Collection is not present with it, but we can surmise its substance from his article. Only “camp colors” were officially sanctioned by US regulations during the Civil War, and in 1861 still used white as the field for infantry camp colors from its pre-1851 use as the infantry branch of service color, with directions that the regimental numeral on it would be in blue. This was explicitly followed by New York in its 1858 regulations, and was only officially changed in January 1862 by War Department General Orders specifying that guidons and camp colors should thereafter be made as stars and stripes. (A decision that led to the Philadelphia Depot contracting with Horstmann to clamp-dye some 800 blank white camp colors that were still unissued.) This confirms an early war date of manufacture for the flag that corresponds with the raising of the regiment immediately following the firing on Fort Sumter in April 1861.

The flag consists of a white silk field, 19” on the leading edge, 20 ¼” on the fly, including a 1 3/8” light gold corded silk fringe, and has the regimental numeral "2” (8 3/4" high by 5 1/4") appliqued in two shades of medium silk, slightly off-center, and visible on both sides. The leading, or staff, edge has three pairs of dark blue silk ties. A 2009 detailed conservation treatment report accompanies the flag and is available for inspection by interested parties. The flag had been netted for conservation and framed for display after its deaccession by the CHS. This was reversed by Textile Preservation Associates prior to its display in the Texas Civil War Museum and the flag is now in a pressure mount frame. It displays wonderfully. The silk has some spits at the fly corners, as should be expected from use, but only minor losses. A few tears were repaired. The blue color is still strong. The treatment report also includes instructions for handling and display.

The regiment was organized at Troy, NY, starting on April 15, 1861, immediately after news was received of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, was accepted by the state on April 24, mustered into service for two years on May 14, and left the state on May 23 for Fort Monroe, where it camped at Mill Creek and took part in the Battle of Big Bethel. In August it established its winter camp at Newport News and was reinforced with men transferred from several other New York regiments and, temporarily, from the 2^nd Maine. In January 1862 it joined an expedition up the James River, and in March became a part of the 1st division of the Army of Virginia, until being assigned to the 3^rd Corps, Army of the Potomac, with whom it fought in the Peninsula Campaign, being engaged in fighting at Fair Oaks and in the Seven Days' battles.In Pope’s Virginia Campaign, it fought at Bristoe Station, losing 70 in killed, wounded and missing, and was present at Groveton, Second Bull Run, and Chantilly. In December it was at Fredericksburg, and in May 1863, not long before those who had not re-enlisted were due to muster out, it fought at Chancellorsville, losing 54 men. On May 11, some 120 who had reenlisted were transferred to the 70^th New York and approximately 200 returned to Troy for muster out and large welcome home ceremonies. During its service, the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 17 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 1 officer, 7 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 23 enlisted men; total, 1 officer, 47 enlisted men; aggregate, 48; of whom 1 enlisted man died in the hands of the enemy.

This is a rare early-war flag, both in terms of its pattern, and the regiment, and very livable and displayable size. Only one flag from the unit was given to the state, along with poles for two others. The others were likely retained by officers or had been simply worn out in service.  Phisterer lists the regiment’s battle honors as Newmarket Bridge; Big Bethel; Advance up the James; Hampton Roads; the Peninsula Campaign, including Hanover Court House, repeated fighting at Fair Oaks in June; the Seven Battles, including Oak Grove, Glendale, and Malvern Hill; Pope’s Virginia Campaign, including Bristoe Station, Groveton, Bull Run, and Chantilly (“action near Centreville;”) Fredericksburg; and Chancellorsville. That was quite a lot of service for a two-year outfit.  [sr] [ph:L]

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