(Feb/Mar 2006) ALBANY, N.Y. - "A Precious Treasure, A Priceless Legacy," the New York State Battle Flag Preservation Project's latest exhibit at the New York State Capitol, commemorates the return to New York State of the cherished battle flags carried by volunteer regiments during the Civil War and celebrates the 140th anniversary of the 1865 Flag Presentation ceremony in Albany.

On July 4, 1865, in conjunction with the city of Albany's Independence Day celebration, representatives from more than 130 New York State volunteer regiments presented over 300 flags before Governor Reuben Fenton and distinguished guests, including Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.

"Throughout history, New York has played a significant role in our nation's military history," Governor George E. Pataki said in a press release that accompanied the exhibit opening. "Now, more than ever, it is important to honor the sacrifice of those who have selflessly served our country and defended our liberties."

Pataki said, "By bringing attention to these valuable symbols of freedom, we are paying tribute to the rich heritage of our armed forces beginning with the Civil War through today."

Representing New York's citizen soldiers at the 1865 Flag Presentation ceremony, Maj. Gen. Daniel Butterfield said: "These standards are returned, battle-scarred, hallowed by the blood of your patriot sons - a precious treasure, a priceless legacy, for they shall tell your children's children of manhood and patriotism rising in their might to sustain the right. These are glorious insignia of the highest devotion and sacrifice of man for man, of man for country."

New York State started to collect the patriotic ensigns in January 1863 to preserve the tangible reminders of her sons' gallant struggle to preserve our Union. Flag presentation ceremonies in 1863, 1864 and 1865 celebrated the flags' return and honored the soldiers who served. By early 1867, more than 170 volunteer regiments had deposited 800 flags with state authorities to create the New York State Battle Flag Collection.

The State Capitol exhibit includes a 34-star, wool, national color carried by the 30th New York Volunteers. The regiment suffered significant losses in late August 1862 at Second Bull Run where 10 different color bearers fell dead, with shot and shell piercing their national color and shattering its staff. While the 30th New York was still in the field, Col. William Searing transmitted the national color to state authorities in time for the April 1863 Flag Presentation ceremony.

In June 1863, when the regiment returned home, Governor Horatio Seymour greeted the men at the State Capitol. Accompanied by Col. Searing, the Governor proudly displayed the national color and proclaimed, "It [the flag] will be deposited among the treasured war trophies of the State, there to remain as a monument to the patriotism, endurance, and heroism of the Thirtieth regiment."

The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs (DMNA) is responsible for the care and interpretation of the New York State Battle Flag Collection, a group of 1,800 military flags, approximately half from the Civil War. Many of the flags are in poor condition due to age, improper storage, and exposure to light, temperature variants, and dust.

In 1997, textile conservators from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) surveyed the collection and prepared a conservation plan that includes the establishment of a flag archive for the conservation, storage and study of the Battle Flag Collection.

Governor Pataki and the New York State Legislature provided funding beginning in 2000 to implement the survey's recommendations and to initiate the Battle Flag Preservation Project. To date, more that 350 flags have been conserved and placed in storage at OPRHP's Peebles Island Resource Center in Waterford and at the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs. Civil War reenactment groups, historical organizations and individuals from across the country have also contributed funds in support for the project.

"A Precious Treasure, A Priceless Legacy" is the sixth installment in the New York State Battle Flag Preservation Project's Capitol exhibition series designed to acquaint visitors with the state's extensive battle flag collection, provide a progress report on the Flag Project, raise awareness about the collection's conservation needs, and identify new developments toward creation of a flag archive and the flag conservation process. The exhibit will run approximately one year.

At the exhibit opening, soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, New York Army National Guard, fresh from the battlefields of Iraq, continued the flag presentation tradition as they turned in their battalion color to the acting Adjutant General for the State of New York, Brig. Gen. F. David Sheppard.

"By exhibiting flags carried into battle, we give deserved respect to brave New Yorkers who fought - and continue to fight - for our freedoms and protections we enjoy today," Brig. Gen. Sheppard said.

Sgt. Angel Ocasio from the 108th Infantry added, "And to see the flag presented and stored historically is just awesome."

In addition to the national color carried by the 30th New York Volunteers, the exhibit also features a custom-made regimental color presented to the 13th New York Volunteers in May 1861 by the "ladies of Rochester." Carried for two years and deposited with state authorities by Col. Elisha Marshall in time for the 1864 Flag Presentation ceremony, the flag includes a painted Arms of the State of New York and inscription "ROCHESTER REGIMENT." on one side. The other side, a separate piece of blue silk, includes the Arms of the United States and inscription, "GOD AND OUR COUNTRY" embroidered with a mix of metallic and silk threads. Reportedly, Mrs. General Lansing Swan from Rochester embroidered the flag.

Another flag, a wool, 34-star national color carried by the 86th New York Volunteers, the "Steuben Rangers," was presented by the "ladies of Addison" to Company B, which was recruited in Addison, N.Y. After company commander Capt. William Angle suffered a mortal wound at Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863, the regiment adopted the flag as the unit's official national color. Four color sergeants suffered mortal wounds while carrying this flag in battle until the regiment retired the color in December 1863. Among the flags paraded before Governor Reuben Fenton on July 4, 1865, this color reportedly received over 20 bullet holes while in service.

"A Precious Treasure, A Priceless Legacy" also includes a richly embroidered silk regimental color carried by the 106th New York Volunteers. The flag includes the Arms of the State of New York surrounded by 14 battle honors commemorating the regiment's service throughout 1863 and 1864.

Mustered out on June 27, 1865, with nearly 700 total casualties (killed, wounded, missing), the 106th New York Volunteers did not attend the 1865 Flag Presentation ceremony in Albany. However, the officers decided to deposit the regiment's flags, including the silk regimental color, with the state because, as reported in the Ogdensburgh, N.Y., Daily Journalon July 1, 1865, "there they [the flags] will be preserved with the most religious care for hundreds of years, and where through long years of coming time they will be silent yet eloquent testimonials of the gallantry of the men who bore them through the bloody scenes of the great rebellion."

Six additional flags are included in the exhibit: a swallowtail guidon with painted or stenciled battle honors and appliquˆ©d crossed cannons carried by the 11th Independent Battery; a flank marker or battery flag of the 7th Independent Battery pierced by artillery fire at Fair Oaks; a Tiffany & Company flank marker presented to the 131st New York Volunteers by Horace Day, Esquire, at Annapolis, Md., in the fall of 1862;

Also, a white, swallowtail flank marker with painted numeric designation received by the 153rd New York Volunteers in November 1862 and carried throughout the Red River Campaign; a standard carried by the 25th Cavalry, New York Volunteers and presented by Lt. Frederick Eaton before Governor Reuben Fenton at the July 4, 1865 Flag Presentation ceremony; and a blue, silk, presentation flank marker carried by the 47th New York Volunteers with painted inscriptions and yellow silk fringe.

For information about the flags, the Flag Project, and flag exhibits call the New York State Military Museum & Veterans Research Center at (518) 581-5107 or visit www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/btlflags/btlflagsindex.htm

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