Irish Brigade Flag Fragment

Description

Irish Brigade Flag Fragment

The 37th New York Volunteer Infantry, known as the “Irish Rifles,” was a prominent Union regiment organized in New York City and mustered into federal service on June 6-7, 1861, for a two-year term. Comprised largely of Irish-Americans, the unit fought in major Eastern Theater battles, including the Peninsula Campaign, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, before mustering out in June 1863.

A reman at from a parade on

“July 4th 1865 –

Presentation of colors

to 37th Regt. N.Y. Inf.”

Newspaper article transcription:

Irish brigade flag fragment

The 37th New York Volunteer Infantry, known as the “Irish Rifles,” was a prominent Union regiment organized in New York City and mustered into federal service on June 6-7, 1861, for a two-year term. Comprised largely of Irish-Americans, the unit fought in major Eastern Theater battles, including the Peninsula Campaign, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, before mustering out in June 1863.

A reman at from a parade on

“July 4th 1865 –

Presentation of colors

to 37th Regt. N.Y. Inf.”

Newspaper article transcription:

Flag Presentation to the 37^th Regiment

After all the troops had filed round the Washington monument, they returned to their several headquarters under their own commanders, except the Irish Brigade, which went to Irving Hall to partake of a collation, and the 37th, which returned to the stand to receive a set of colors from the Mayor on behalf of the city.

Previous to the return of this regiment to the stand, a large crowd assembled near it, forming a complete crescent, and soon the regiment marched inside, and formed three sides of a hollow square. The officers were then called to the front, and the colors, one of which was white and the other red, and each bearing appropriate mottos and devices, were handed by the Mayor to the two senior officers. The Mayor spoke nearly as follows:

“Col. Catlin, officers and men of the 37th Regiment—The city authorities having voted you this magnificent stand of colors, have appreciated your worth as a regiment from our Empire city. It gives me heartfelt pleasure as the Chief Magistrate thereof to hand them over to you, believing as I do that they could not be entrusted to better hands, or to men who will take better care of them.”

Colonel Catlin made a suitable reply. He remarked that although his regiment, which was one of the first to go to the war, had not won as many honors as the brave veteran troops who had passed a short time before, yet they were entitled to some credit for what they had done. He pledged himself on behalf of his regiment to keep these flags unstained, so long as he had the same officers and men with him, and doubtless their successors would also cherish them. This natal day of American independence might also be hailed as a new birth of the nation, for white robed peace now stood smiling before them. The emblem of peace (the white color) was placed on the right, the emblem of war (red) on the left, and he hoped they would never be reversed. He hoped the day might always preside over our American liberties, and that we should never again invoke the goddess of war. But should these colors ever be brought into battle, he pledged his word, that though they might be trailed in the dust, it would never be with dishonor. He concluded by again pledging himself and his officers and men to defend the colors, and thanked the city for its magnificent gift.

(Nicholas W. Stuyvesant Catlin)

Inventory Number: FLA 063