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| CIVIL WAR UNION FLAGS AND COLORS No. 4-A - First Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers Regimental Color The blue color labeled 4-A and bearing the coat of arms of the State on its obverse and that of the United States on its reverse is undoubtedly a "successor" regimental color (See footnote). On a red ribbon above the State arms is inscribed: "Presented by the State of Maryland to Her 1st Reg't. Vol. Inf." A red ribbon below the arms carries battle credits which include Front Royal, Wilderness, Laurel Hill and Harris' Farm. With the national flag numbered 4-C, it was presented December 1, 1864 to the First Maryland Infantry by Governor Augustus W. Bradford. The designs of all the regimental colors presented by the State are similar, the only variations being in the designation of the units and in the listing of the battle credits. (NOTE: It is assumed that from the time of the organization of the First Regiment, Infantry, Maryland Volunteers early in the Civil War, the unit carried a regimental color. Probably it was one of standard design resembling, but not duplicating, color No. 5-A used by the Second Regiment. No record of the presentation of such a color has been found, but it is known that at Front Royal, Va., May 23, 1862, when the capture of the First Regiment seemed imminent, the color-bearer tore the regimental color into small pieces and distributed them among the members of the unit rather than allow the standard to fall into enemy possession.) No. 4-B - First Regiment, Infantry, Maryland Volunteers National Flag Before commenting on this flag, it should be stated that on June 18, 1861, "the Patriotic Ladies of West Baltimore" presented to the First Regiment, Infantry, Maryland Volunteers, a thirty-four star national flag. When on May 23, 1862, the unit was virtually decimated by the troops of General Thomas J. ("Stonewall") Jackson at Front Royal, Va., the color-bearer hid the flag in a field. Recovered later by members of the First Vermont Cavalry, it was returned to General John R. Kenly, former colonel of the First, but its final disposition is unknown. Inspired by the courageous stand of the First Regiment at Front Royal, a number of San Francisco residents with Maryland associations forwarded to the reorganized unit this thirty-five star national color, which it received at Maryland _9_ |