14th Connecticut's Post Gettysburg Civil War Service-- Part 1

Despite being down to just 100 men after Gettysburg, there was no rest for the 14th Connecticut Nutmeg regiment.  It participated in all of the major battles of the Army of the Potomac during the course of the rest of the war.

From the Civil War in the East site.

These are some of the events:

1863

July 14:  Falling Waters

August 6:  First  reinforcement of recruits, conscripts and substitutes.

August 25:  Original regimental flag so damaged, it was replaced by the state.

September 18:  two deserters from the recent reinforcement of substitutes shot for desertion in the presence of the division.

October 9-22:  Bristoe Campaign.

1864

May 5-7:  Battle of the Wilderness

May 8-21:  Battle of Spottsylvania Court House

--Old Secesh

Another Battle Flag Saved

From the Dec. 16, 2013, Beach Carolina Magazine "Sons of Confederate Veterans Funds Conservation of Another Battle Flag at Museum of History."

On November 21, SCV Camp 379 in Marion, NC, gave an $8,200 check to the NC Museum of History in Raleigh to preserve the battle flag of the 35th Regiment NC Troops after a two-year fund-raising effort.

The flag is in the museum's Confederate flag collection, one of the largest in the United States and is a standard wool bunting banner, missing the regimental numbers, possibly cut away as souvenirs.

Always Great to Save Something. --Old Secesh

Finding the Real Old Glory-- Part 2: The Importance of Flags

Civill-War folk were really passionate about their flags. After the fall of Fort Sumter, the U.S. flag that flew above it went on tour around the country for the duration of the war. Each regiment carried two flags into battle, the U.S. one and the regimental one, and it was considered a great honor to carry it. At the same time, color-bearers were major targets of the opposing side, so it was quite a dangerous "honor."

Poet and hospital attendant Walt Whitman lamented the amount of blood spilled to keep a simple, four-cornered regimental flag. "I have a little flag....It was taken by the Secesh (hey, that's me, secessionists) in a cavalry fight, and rescued by our men in a bloody little skirmish. It cost three men's lives, just to get one little flag, four by three."

Telling It Like It Is, Walt.  --Old Secesh

Bullet-Hole Riddled Flag Tells the Story

From the July 20, 2012, Atlanta Journal-Constitution by Howard Pousner.

The Southern Museum of the Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia, will unveil a rare 65th Georgia Infantry flag carried during the Atlanta Campaign which has 41 bullet holes in it and blood stains.

It belonged to the Davis family of Alabama for nearly 150 years  after Private John Davis of the 65th rolled it up and tucked it in his boot to bring it home rather than surrender it at the end of the war.

The unit fought at Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek and Atanta.  After that, it was carried in battle at Franklin, Tennessee.  Davis took the flag after two color bearers were wounded.

Textile Preservation Associates of West Virginia spent 13 months restoring the flag.  It is the only known remaining Army of Tennessee banner that boasts unit and state designations sewn onto both sides and will be added to the museum's permanent exhibit.

A Great Addition.  --Old Secesh