Colors - History of the Colors

The history of the 148th's colors is best explained by the reenactment groups best historian, George Shadman. The following is taken from Mr. Shadman's 1996 book written on the regiment, They Marched On Richmond, The Story of the 148th New York Volunteers.

"During the Battle of Fair Oaks, October 27, 1864, the 148th literally had to drag their state colors from the field while their national colors were captured by the Confederates. As Colonel Guion told the story of the flags in 1903: '...one by one, its noble color guard fell beneath the bullets of the foe, but the old flag still waved until there came one day when the regiment, thrice decimated by its two years of active service, was called upon to charge an overwhelming force of the enemy upon the deadly field of Fair Oaks in October '64, and after scores of brave men had been stricken from its ranks by the deadly fire that swept the field, it was forced to see the gallant old flag torn from the grasp of its wounded defenders and borne in triumph to the Confederate capitol, where it rested amid the archives of the Confederacy... .'

"The flag was still in Richmond when the war ended, and while the 148th was on provost duty in that city, their national colors were found in the archives and returned to the Regiment.'Few banners have held a more conspicuous place in the annals of the war for the Union' none have witnessed more heroic fighting or more persistent bravery... .'

"The story of the flags did not end there. They returned home with the Regiment and were put on display in the Seneca Falls Grand Army of the Republic Cross Post, and remained there until 1890. That summer a vicious fire ripped through downtown Seneca Falls destroying several city blocks, including the G.A.R Hall; the national colors were destroyed. The state colors, however, were at the home of Colonel Guion being mended that day and thus saved from the same fate."