The Civil War Flags Return From the Battlefield
“ ... a precious treasure, a priceless legacy...”
New York State Capitol
October 2004– October 2005

This exhibition commemorates the return to New York State of the cherished battle flags carried by volunteer regiments during the Civil War and celebrates the 140th anniversary of the 1865 Flag Presentation ceremony in Albany. New York State started to collect the patriotic ensigns in January 1863 to preserve the tangible reminders of her sons’ gallant struggle to preserve our Union. Flag presentation ceremonies in 1863, 1864, and 1865 celebrated the flags’ return and honored the soldiers who served. By early 1867, over 170 volunteer regiments had deposited 800 flags with state authorities to create the New York State Battle Flag Collection. In Major General Daniel Butterfield’s words, each flag is

The view to the North-east of the exhibit

The view to the North-west of the exhibit

The view to the South of the exhibit

The ten flags included within “. . . a precious treasure, a priceless legacy . . . “ are:

7th Independent Battery, New York Volunteers – flank marker
153rd Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry – flank marker (2001.0065)
47th Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry – flank marker (2002.0156)
25th Regiment Cavalry, New York Volunteers – standard (2003.0092)
11th Independent Battery, New York Volunteers – guidon (2004.0032)
131st Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry – flank marker (2005.0001)
13th Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry – regimental color
86th Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry – national color
106th Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry – regimental color
30th Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry – national color

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