From the establishment of the United States Army in 1785, US regular infantry regiments carried colors. Regiments didn't carry the United States flag, as it was felt that no one unit could carry the national honor into battle. By the 1840's, the infantry carried the United States flag with the regimental number or title printed on one of the white stripes. If the flag was lost in battle, only that regiment's honor, and not the national honor, was lost. During the Civil War, a soldier who captured enemy colors or saved his unit's colors frequently was honored. In addition to receiving a medal honor, a soldier was sometimes given a leave of absence. Soldiers who captured enemy colors were often mentioned in dispatches or listed on a role of honor.
Interested in the Civil War? Here is
a RAT Site just for you. You have to find the nine battle flags listed. And to
make it easier, I have even given you a map. But as much as we hate rules we have
just one. No other flags but the nine listed and you have to get a picture of each
