Flags
For several years these flags were displayed from the pillars of the Senate and House of Representatives under the authority of Number 52 of the Acts of 1863. In 1870 a joint resolution was adopted, Number 108 of the Acts of 1870, authorizing the Governor, the Quartermaster General, the Secretary of State and the State Librarian "to cause said flags to be placed in one or more glass cases (click on image for a larger view) and in some conspicuous position in the State House. That when said flags shall have been so placed by said officers of the State, they shall not be moved from their position without the permission of the Legislature.(1)
| In the cabinet at the westerly end of the vestibule are the flags of the "Old Brigade," together with the Brigade Guidon itself, the Headquarters Sixth Corps Guidon and those of the First Regiment of Cavalry. (Click on image to the left for a full view) The cabinet on the easterly end of the vestibule contains the flags of the other Vermont Infantry Regiments not included in the "Old Brigade," together with those of the Sharpshooters and of the Batteries of Light Artillery. (Click on the image to the right for a full view) | 
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This was a gift from Mrs. C. R. Halsey, wife of Major Thomas H. Halsey, United States Paymaster, to the "Old Brigade." The Vermont Brigade was so named because it was composed entirely of Vermonters (it was the only brigade in the Army of the Potomac distinctively and permanently known by the name of its State(2)), and because it illustrated the qualities which gave to their ancestors their distinctive title of "Green Mountain Boys" in the War of the Revolution. None of the colors of the Brigade, though often flying in the very front of battle, was ever permitted to be for a moment in hostile hands. After all, the highest compliments paid the Brigade were the orders which placed it in positions of extreme danger and responsibility.
Mustered into U.S. service, June 20, 1861; mustered out July 15, 1865.
Three United States flags; two regimental flags.
Mustered into U.S. service, July 16, 1861; mustered out July 11, 1865.
Two United States flags; three regimental flags.
Mustered into U.S. service Sept. 21, 1861; mustered out July 13, 1865.
Two United States flags; two regimental flags.
Mustered into U.S. service Sept. 16, 1861; mustered out June 29, 1865.
Two United States flags; three regimental flags.
Mustered into U.S. service Oct. 15, 1861; mustered out June 26, 1865.
Two United States flags; two regimental flags.
Mustered into U.S. service Sept. 1, 1862; mustered out Aug. 25, 1865.
Two United States flags; four regimental flags.
Mustered into U.S. service Nov. 19, 1861; mustered out Aug. 9, 1865.
One United States flag |
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A field of blue, with white cross and red "6", the VI Corps insignia. Presented to the Vermont Officers Reunion Society by Lt. Col. J. H. Pratt, formerly of General Sedgwick's staff, through General Peter T. Washburn, on October 22, 1868.
Mustered into U.S. service Feb. 18, 1861; mustered out Aug.15, 1861.
One United States flag; one regimental flag.
Mustered into U.S. service Feb. 12, 1862; mustered out Mar. 14, 1866.
Two United States flags; one regimental flag.
Mustered into U.S. service Feb. 18, 1862; mustered out June 28, 1865.
One United States flag; one regimental flag.3
Mustered into U.S. service July 9, 1862; mustered out Dec. 1, 1865.
One United States flag; one regimental flag, the only flag carried by Vermont troops in the Civil War that was captured by the enemy.
"At the time of the surrender at Harpers Ferry, the officers of the 9th cut its national colors into pieces, and parceled it out among themselves, and kept it out of the hands of the enemy. The intention was to so dispose of both flags, but in the excitement and necessary haste, the State flag was not entirely distributed and the larger part fell into the hands of the rebels. It was sent to Richmond as a trophy, and came back to the State through the War Department. When the 9th Vermont marched into Richmond at the head of the column and captured the rebel archives, the flag was re-taken, by the same command from which it was taken." Hon. Joel C. Baker, First Lieutenant, 9th Regiment.
Mustered into U.S. service September 1, 1862; mustered out December 1, 1865.
Two United States flags; one regimental flag.
Mustered into U.S. service Oct.4, 1862; mustered out July 14, 1863.
One United States flag; one regimental flag.
Mustered into U.S. service Oct.10,1862; mustered out July 21, 1863.
One United States flag; one regimental flag.
Mustered into U.S. service Oct. 21, 1862; mustered out July 30, 1865.
One United States flag; one regimental flag.
Mustered into U.S. service Oct. 22, 1862; mustered out Aug. 5, 1863.
One United States flag; one regimental flag.
Mustered into U.S. service Oct. 23, 1862; Mustered out Aug. 10, 1863.
One United States flag; one regimental flag.
Mustered into U.S. service, by companies, in 1864; mustered out July 13, 1865. One United States flag; two regimental flags. In the stave of one of the regimental flags may be seen two holes pierced by rebel bullets.
Mustered into U.S. service Dec. 31, 1861; mustered out July 13, 1865.
One United States flag.
Mustered into U.S. service Feb. 18, 1862; mustered out July 31, 1865.
One United States flag; one regimental flag.
Mustered into U.S. service Dec. 16 & 24, 1861; mustered out July 31, 1865
One United States flag; one regimental flag.
Mustered into U.S. service Jan. 1, 1864; mustered out July 15, 1865.
One United States flag; one regimental flag.
One very large unidentified regimental flag.
Footnotes:
1 Based on a 1931 pamphlet detailing the history of the Vermont State House, submitted by Dave Niles
2 Ed Italo, one of our contributors, wanted to correct that misconception. "...The 1st Jersey Brigade of the 1st Division of the 6th Corps made up of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th, & 15th Regiments was also known by it's state. It was also a tough brigade."
See also Camille Baquet's "History of the First New Jersey Brigade from 1861 to 1865: Kearny's 1st New Jersey Brigade." Original 1910, reprinted 1991.
3 From Carpenter's "History of the Eighth Regiment Vermont Volunteers, 1861-1865," pp 228-229:/
"There's a strange love for the old flag burning in our hearts. It is inconceivable, indescribable, absolutely unknown to one never in battle or active service -- a "strange something, born of war"; perhaps born on the long, weary march, when hunger stares in the face and thirsty lips cry for water. It is strengthened on the lonely picket line, as the soldier walks his beat at midnight, or crouches in the gloom as he hears the cry of pain from his next comrade, who perhaps falls with the bright flash and the rebel bullet from a concealed foe. It is welded as a band of hot iron in the first and wild tumult of battle, and sealed by the blood of hero martyrs, as they pour out their lives amid horrible carnage, that liberty may live.
And lastly, it is made perfect by long suffering, either of hunger, thirst, weariness of body, the ugly wounds and the agony that follows on the battlefield or in the hospital, or the horrid prison pens with their exposure and starvation. I repeat it, love for the old flag is --
"That strange something, born of war;"
and as we meet, and the flag is brought again into our midst, and we live over and over again the battles of the war, with memories that in times past would crowd and distinguish centuries,--but in our lives compressed within the compass of a single day,--do we not find the long roll of wounded and dead cut as with a knife in our quivering hearts? You may call it only sentiment, but it is true to life.
The war and all its precious memories--soul-lifting or sad--seems now like some strange dream. The mighty host of armed men, whose tramp caused the nations to tremble, has gone from our sight. Their wild battle cry will be heard no more forever; their battle flag will come forth no more to war. Our flag is furled,--a precious relic for future generations, and a proud fact to us that only men brave, daring, heroic, and, better still, loyal to the core, ever bore aloft the colors and flag of that grand old regiment, the Eighth Vermont Volunteers."
