NJ Civil War Flag Rotation
STORIED NEW JERSEY CIVIL WAR FLAGS TO BE UNVEILED JULY 22 IN TRENTON
Historic New Jersey Civil War Flags on Display At
The State Museum In Trenton until December 2023
(Trenton,
NJ
-
July
5,
2023)
-
Don’t
miss
a
chance
to
see
historic
battle
flags
carried
by
New
Jersey
troops
in
the
Civil
War
over
150
years
ago!
New
Jersey
contributed
over
80,000
men
to
the
fight
and
the
New
Jersey
State
Museum
has
over
100
flags
carried
by
New
Jersey’s
troops
in
the
war
in
its
collection.
Five
of
these
historic
flags
will
be
unveiled
in
specially
designed
exhibit
cases
at
the
New
Jersey
State
Museum
Gallery
located
at
225
West
State
Street
in
Trenton
at
10
AM
on
Saturday,
July
22,
2023
.
The
flags
gallery
exhibit
area
is
located
at
the
right
rear
of
the
main
first
floor
of
the
museum.
Free
off-street
parking is available adjacent to the museum.
The
flags
to
be
unveiled
for
display
are
some
of
the
most
distinctive
in
the
collection,
and
they
have
not
been
on
display
for
almost
ten
years.
Included
will
be
the
national
colors
of
the
3rd
and
15th
Infantry
regiments,
the
state
colors
of
the
33rd
Infantry
regiment,
a
guidon
from
the
3rd
Cavalry,
and
a
rare
headquarters
flag
from
the
Second
New
Jersey
Brigade.
One
of
these
flags
bears
a
unique
butterfly
emblem – come and find out which and why!
Over
20
members
of
the
15th
New
Jersey’s
color
guard
fell
dead
or
wounded
during
the
bloody
battles
of
1864
while
defending
their
flag
to
be
displayed.
The
regimental
flag
of
the
33rd
Infantry
regiment
is
especially
interesting
because
it
was
captured
by
Confederates
at
the
battle
of
Atlanta
in
July
1864
and
then
was
recaptured
by
New Jersey Union troops in North Carolina in May 1865.
The
gallery
also
features
a
rotating
exhibition
including
Civil
War
firearms,
equipment,
photographs,
and
military
documents.
A
new
display
case
will
feature
original
pen
and
ink
water
color
drawings
of
a
Civil
War
veterans
gathering
in
Deckertown
(Sussex
County).
The
Union
veteran
who
made
them
lost
his
right
arm
in
the
war
and
taught
himself
to
draw
left-
handed.
These
sketches
belong
to
the
museum
and
have
never
before
been
exhibited.
Also
on
display
will
be
a
Civil
War surgeon’s kit, to commemorate the suffering of wounded soldiers.
Organized
by
the
New
Jersey
State
Museum
and
the
New
Jersey
Civil
War
Heritage
Association,
the
unveiling
event
will
feature
an
educational
gallery
walk
by
flag
historian
Dr.
David
Martin,
author
of
the
award-winning
New
Jersey
at
Gettysburg
Guidebook.
He
is
currently
preparing
a
detailed
history
of
the
State’s
Civil
War
flags
for
publication.
The
exhibit
was
prepared
by
Nicholas
Ciotola,
Curator
of
Cultural
History
at
the
New
Jersey
State Museum.
These
flags
will
be
shown
until
late
December
2023,
when
a
new
group
of
flags
will
be
put
on display.
When:
Saturday, July 22, 2023. Flags lecture and gallery talk from 10 AM to 11 AM
What:
New Jersey Civil War Flag Exhibition
Where:
NJ State Museum Gallery, 225 West State Street, Trenton, NJ
Cost:
FREE, Open to the Public, No Reservations Needed
This
flag
is
one
of
the
most
significant
in
the
collection.
It
was
captured
by
the
Confederates
during
intense
fighting
at
Atlanta
on
July
20,
1864.
After
being
kept
in
a
museum
in
Richmond,
it
was
evacuated
in
April
1865
and
was
recaptured
by
troops
of
the
9
th
NJ
Infantry in North Carolina on May 7, 1865.
The
33
rd
Infantry
was
raised
in
the
late
summer
of
1863,
primarily
in
the
northeastern
portion
of
the
state,
and
was
trained
at
Newark's
Camp
Frelinghuysen.
It
was
mustered
in
on
September
3,
1863
for
three
years'
service
and
was
one
of
the
few
New
Jersey
units
to
be
sent
to
the
western
theater
of
the
war,
where
it
fought
in
Tennessee,
Georgia
and
the
Carolinas
as
part
of
the
20
th
Corps.
The
regimental
color
lost
by
the
33
rd
at
Peach
Tree
Creek
was
first
presented
to
the
regiment
at
elaborate
ceremonies
held
on
19
January
1864.
The
flag
been
completed
sometime
before,
but
owing
to
the
movements
of
the
regiment
id
did
not
catch
up
with
the
33
rd
until
the
command
went
into
winter
quarters
after
its
return
to
Chattanooga
from
Knoxville.
It
was
made
of
silk,
with
the
arms
of
the
state
of
New
Jersey
on
one
side
and
the
national
arms
on
the
other;
under
each
was
a
scroll
with
the
legend,
"Presented
by
New
Jersey
to
her
33d
Regiment"-
The
presentation
was
made
on
a
beautiful
day
in
the
regiment's
camp
near
Lookout
Mountain.
The
keynote
speaker
was
General
Howard,
who
"compliment
the
regiment
for
its
gallant
behavior
and
firm
endurance
throughout
the
engagements
and
marches
of
the
past
campaign,
and
predicted
for
the
flag
a
speedy and triumphant march on the approaching Spring."
Howard's
"lengthy,
animated
and
patriotic
speech"
stirred
the
men
of
the
33
rd
,
many
of
whom
felt
the
significance
of
receiving
it
after
the
regiment
had
been
christened
in
battle.
"Had
it
been
received
when
it
was
sent,
its
presentation
might
have
passed
unnoticed,
but
coming
to
us
as
it
did,
after
the
flag
side
by
side
with
which
it
is
to
float,
had
received
its
baptism
of
blood
—
its
presentation
had
a
significance
felt
by
each
and
all."
William
Lambert
continued
in
his
letter
to
the Newark Daily Advertiser,
"We
thanked
the
State,
through
the
General,
for
kind
remembrance
of
us.
We
shall
strive
to
think
it
in
deeds
more
expressive
than
words
in
the
future,
and
we
trust
that
ere
many
months
are
ended,
we
shall
return
it
to
Trenton
whence
it
came
—
tattered,
soiled
it
may
be
—
but
with
no
stain
nor
rent
to
which
we
cannot
point
with
pride;
with
no
mark,
with
no
association
which
shall
cause
the
State
to
regret
having
inscribed
upon
its
silken folds the name of Her 33d Regiment."
The 33
rd
's fancy new regimental flag was to have a quite different fate than its recipients anticipated.
At
the
battle
of
Peach
Tree
Creek
at
Atlanta,
on
July
20,
1864,
the
33
rd
had
the
misfortune
of
being
assigned
to
hold
a
"high,
narrow.
Timbered
hill"
some
500
yards
in
front
of
the
main
line.
Their
purpose
was
to
secure
it
for
a
battery
to
be
placed
in
position.
Once
they
arrived,
the
men
stacked
arms
and
began
working
on
fortifications,
before
long
their
position
was
overwhelmed
by
a
major
Confederate
attack
that
was
totally
unexpected.
The
enemy
poured
around
and
behind
the
33
rd
.
The
men
refused
to
surrender
and
began
fighting
their
way
to
the
rear,
taking
casualties
all
the
way.
Upon
entering
a
ravine,
the
color
guard
stopped
because
they
believed
a
halt
had
been
ordered.
The
delay
was
deadly.
The
bearer
of
the
state
flag
went
down,
and
other
members
of
the
color
guard
also
fell
casualty.
The
state
flag,
No.
92,
was
captured
by
John
Abernathy
of
the
27
th
Alabama,
and
could
not
be
recovered.
An
inscription
was
attached
to
the
flag.
"Captured
by
John
E.
Abernathy
of
Company
E,
Twenty-seventh
Alabama
Regiment
in
the
fight
of
July
20
th
,
1864."
The
Confederate
attack
as
eventually
repulsed
when
it
hit
the
main
Union
line,
but
it
was
too
late
for
the
33
rd
,
21
were
killed
or
mortally
wounded,
16
were wounded, and 8 were missing — 50 losses out of --- engaged.
The
loss
of
the
state
flag
was
reported
to
the
Newark
Daily
Advertiser
'
'with
deepest
regret,
but
without
shame
or
sense
of
disgrace."
Lt.
Col.
Fouratt
wrote
to
the
state
adjutant general,
"We
feel
it
to
be
no
fault
of
ours."
Indeed,
everyone
agreed
that
the
flag
was
lost
through
honorable
circumstances.
General
Hooker
said,
"It
is
no
disgrace
to
lose
a
color
under
such
circumstances.
I
only
wonder
that
a
man
escaped
capture."
Fouratt concluded,
"The
regiment
feels
sad
over
the
loss
of
its
beautiful
State
flag,
but
with
all
we
feel
glad
that
not
a
taint
of
cowardice
or
dishonor
attends
its
loss.
No
regiment
was
ever
more
proud
of
its
flag
than
the
Thirty-third,
none ever fought more desperately to preserve it — but it was impossible."
An alternate version of the flag's
capture in the Macon (Ga.) Telegraph on July 22, 1864.
"When
the
works
were
stormed,
a
magnificent
flag
was
discovered
flouting
in
the
breeze
amid
the
storm
of
battle.
And
a
number
of
men
sprang
forward
to
capture
the
coveted
prize,
but
Private
John
H.
Badgett,
of
Company
G,
27
th
Alabama,
outstripped
the
rest
and
grappling
with
the
color
bearer
wrested
it
from
him
and
brought
it
to
the
rear,
and
after
delivering
it
up
returned
to
his
post.
The
flag
was
a
beautiful
one
and
belonged
to
the
33d
New
Jersey
infantry,
of
Hooker's
corps.
The
conduct
of
young
Badgett
is
highly
spoken
of during the entire affair."
From
Atlanta
the
33
rd
's
lost
flag
was
sent
to
Richmond,
where
it
was
probably
stored
with
other
captured
flags
at
the
Virginia
state
capitol
or
in
the
Confederate
War
Department.
It
would
have
remained
there
until
the
last
days
of
the
war,
when
most
of
the
captured
flags
were
boxed
up
along
with
other
government
valuables
for
shipment
out
of
Richmond.
A
Confederate
resolution
passed
on
27
May
1864
the
President
to
remove
the
county's
archives
and
executive
departments
to
such
places
he
might
if
conditions
another
similar
act
was
passed
on
14
1865.
Approximately
84
boxes
of
government
papers
and
stores,
including
five
boxes
marked
"Captured
flags,"
found
their
way
to
Charlotte,
North
Carolina.
There
they
were
captured
on
the
evening
of
7
May
by
the
troops
of
Company
G,
9
th
New
Jersey
infantry,
commanded
by
Captain
Morris
C.
Runyon.
Runyon
had
been
sent
to
take
possession
of
Charlotte,
and
found
the
town
in
commotion,
with
rebel
soldiers
all
over,
many
of
them
drunk.
Among
the
vast
quantity
of
Confederate
stores
he
found
were
"a
number
of
boxes
said
to
contain
the
records
of
the
so-called
Southern
Confederacy;
also
boxes
said
to
contain
all
the
colors
and
battle-flags
captured
from
the
National
forces
since
the
beginning
of
the war."
Runyon
and
his
men
could
not
resist
breaking
open
some
of
the
boxes
to
see
what
was
there.
To
his
great
delight,
the
captain
at
once came upon the regimental flag of the 33
rd
New Jersey. Lieutenant George Peters of Company G, 9
th
New Jersey, noted that,
"Out
of
a
large
number
of
flags
and
trophies,
taken
from
our
forces
during
the
whole
of
the
war,
Captain
Runyon
picked
the
state
colors
of
the
Thirty-third
New
Jersey
regiment,
intending
to
forward
the
same
to
the
adjutant-general of the state of New Jersey."
Runyon
put
guards
on
the
captured
records
and
supplies,
but
he
was
soon
relieved
of
his
command
by
a
staff
officer
sent
for
that
purpose
by
Major
General
John
M.
Schofield.
Captain
Runyon
turned
over
his
command
at
Charlotte
to
Brigadier
General
Minor
T.
Thomas
on
12
May,
and,
pursuant
to
orders,
returned
with
his
command
to
regimental
headquarters
at
Greensboro
the
next
day.
Runyon
then
entrusted
the
recaptured
regimental
flag
of
the
33
rd
New
Jersey
to
Private
Herman
Evarts
of
Company
G
of
the
9
th
with
instructions
to
deliver
it
to
New
Jersey
Adjutant
General
Richard
Stockton
in
Trenton.
Evarts
completed
his
mission
on
Saturday,
24
June
1865.
"They
will
be
deposited
with
the
colors
of
other
regiments
of
this
State,
there
to
remain
a
perpetual
memorial
of
the
courage and endurance of the 'Jersey Blues' ", reported the Trenton Daily State Gazette on June 26, 1865.
Accompanying the flag were two notations.
The
first
read,
"Captured
by
John
E.
Abernathy,
of
Company
E,
Twenty-seventh
Alabama
Regiment in the fight of July 20
th
, 1864."
The
second
read,
"Retaken
by
Captain
MG.
Runyon
of
Company
G,
Ninth
New
Jersey
Volunteers,
at Charlotte, North Carolina, May, 1865."
This historic and much-traveled flag survives today as No. 92 in the New Jersey State House Flag Collection.
© Dr. David Martin, revised 6/2023
For more information on the recovery of the Union Flags and Captain Runyan see: “Eight Days with the Confederates and Capture
of Their Archive, Flags, &c by Captain Morris C Runyan, Company G, Ninth New Jersey Vol.”
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Eight_Days_with_the_Confederates_and_Cap/hMc-AAAAYAAJ?hl=en
The Fascinating History of the 33rd New Jersey Infantry Regimental Flag
Currently On Display in Trenton
By Dr. David Martin