Flag Remnants of the 88th New York Infantry National Colors, Irish Brigade / SOLD
Historic remnants from the silk National Colors of the 88th New York Infantry, a regiment that was part of the famed Irish Brigade. The fragments include portions of a red and white stripe, with a gold painted “S” and “N” and two gold painted periods. Each painted letter measures about 4 ½” high. At the upper left of the remnants is a very old tag in ink that reads “a portion of the National Standard of 88th reg. N.Y.S.V. used during the War of the Rebellion.” There is also an old type written note that lists the battles the 88th was engaged in. The fragments cover a 12” by 10” area and are archivally framed. An exceptional piece of a Civil War battle flag from a famous unit.
NEW YORK EIGHTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY (Three Years)
Eighty-eighth Infantry. -Cols., Henry M. Baker, Patrick Kelly, Dennis F. Burke; Lieut.-Cols., Patrick Kelly, James Quinlan, John Smith, Dennis F. Burke, John W. Byron; Majs., James Quinlan, William Horgan, John Smith, William G. Hart, John W. Byron.
The 88th, the 5th regiment of the Irish brigade recruited in New York city, Brooklyn and Jersey City, was mustered into the service of the United States at Fort Schuyler, from Sept. 1861 to Jan. 1862, for three years, and left New York for Washington Dec. 16, 1861.
Upon its arrival it was attached to Meagher's Irish brigade (for which it was recruited), Sumner's division, and continued in that brigade during its term of service. It served in the vicinity of Washington until the general advance of the army under Gen. McClellan to the Peninsula in March 1862, when the brigade became a part of the 1st division, 2nd corps.
It was present at the siege of Yorktown and the battle of Fair Oaks; lost 129 in killed, wounded or missing during the Seven Days' battles; was next active in the Maryland campaign; was in the thick of the battle at Antietam and 102 were killed or wounded; then proceeded to Charlestown, W. Va., and by short marches to Fredericksburg, where it arrived in time to bear an important part in the assault of the 2nd corps during the battle.
At Fredericksburg Maj. Horgan and 23 of his comrades were killed, 97 were wounded and 6 missing out of 252 engaged. At Chancellorsville in the spring of 1863, the loss of the regiment was again heavy, and it became necessary to consolidate the remaining members into a battalion of two companies before the battle of Gettysburg, where the Irish brigade fought bravely in the wheat-field.
The regiment shared in the action of the 2nd corps at Bristoe Station and in the Mine Run campaign, and during the winter enough of the men reenlisted to retain the 88th in the field as a veteran organization. Three new companies joined the command in April 1864, and throughout the memorable campaign under Gen. Grant from the Wilderness to Cold Harbor, the 88th continued to serve with unflinching courage.
In the first assault on Petersburg, the regiment lost heavily, Col. Kelly, who had succeeded Gen. Meagher in command of the brigade, being killed. The regiment was posted at different points before Petersburg during the siege and participated in siege duties until the fall of the fortifications.
It was mustered out at Alexandria, June 30, 1865, having lost 150 by death from wounds and 71 from other causes out of a total strength of 1,352, and having earned the right to be known as a crack fighting regiment.
Inventory Number: FLA 046 / SOLD