Ever read stories of how Civil War soldiers and color bearers would defend their regimental flags at all costs. Stories of heroism and bravery that is beyond belief because these color bearers knew that they were the target for enemy fire. Tales of men tearing up a flag and hiding it in their coats to avoid it being captured to 5 or 6 color bearers being killed in a single battle. There are monuments these brave men on Civil War battlefields across the US.
Now you can view the flags of Civil War unit from Pennsylvania thanks to the Pennsylvania state archives. The Pennsylvania Civil War Flag Collection website allows you to search for individual unit flags, flags by unit type or even by the type of flag.
National flags were American flags usually with the unit name painted on one of the strips. The American flag went from having 33 stars in 1859 to 36 stars in 1865. Do you know which states were added to the Union during the Civil War? State flags were the state flags of Pennsylvania again with the unit designation painted or sewn into the material or an American flag with the Pennsylvania state seal painted into the canton.
Some of my favorites are the 11th PVI and 83rd PVI flags.
Here is the 11th PVI’s national color which was given to them by the ladies of Martinsburg, Virginia (now W. Virginia) in 1861.
Integration ideas:
First have your students read some of the Battlefield Flag Stories and the Role of Flags in Battle. Next, have your students look at the different types of flags and search for different units then ask questions like:
- Which ones are your favorites?
- Why is it your favorite?
- Why do you think some are in better condition than others?
- Why do you think soldier’s put the names of battles they fought in on their flags?
- Would you want to be a flag bearer for your unit? Why or why not?
Until next time…
Posted under Primary Sources
This post was written by Jim on December 29, 2008
