The Flag of the 16th Maine

[hoosier]

During the Civil War, a regiment's flag was considered the symbol of the regiment itself. To allow the regiment's flag to be captured was thought of as the ultimate disgrace, something to be avoided if at all possible.

On the first day at Gettysburg, John C. Robinson's 2nd Division of the U.S. First Corps was sent into battle to the west of town, just north of the Lutheran Seminary, at about 1 PM. Among the regiments in Robinson's division was the 16th Maine, which went into action on Oak Ridge, taking part in the repulse of Iverson's brigade.

The battle continued for 2 1/2 hours, with the Confederates gradually gaining the advantage. The withdrawal of the Union 11th Corps imperiled the 1st Corps' right and rear, and the 1st Corps, out of necessity, began to withdraw at about 3:30.

At 4:00, Robinson ordered the 16th Maine to move as far north on Oak Ridge as possible and then to hold its position “at any cost” in order to cover the retreat of the rest of 1st Corps. Although this was virtually a suicidal mission, the 16th obeyed the order and was able to hold the position for about 20 minutes.

At about 4:20, the 16th Maine, by now under attack from three sides, retired south along Oak Ridge to the area of the railroad cut. Ten minutes later, when Confederate troops appeared at the railroad cut, the 16th was completely surrounded.

Seeing that defeat was inevitable, the men of the 16th, resolving not to allow their flag to be taken, tore the banner into strips. The strips of cloth were then parceled out among the men, each of whom then concealed his piece of the flag on his person as best he could. (Some accounts indicate that the men also broke the flagstaff into pieces, though the Confederate records appear to indicate that the flagstaff was captured intact. Both sides agree, however, that the Confederates found no flag to be captured.)

Many of those who were taken prisoner continued to retain and conceal their pieces of the flag, and eventually brought them home after their release from various Confederate prisons.

(From a talk given by Charles (Chaplain Chuck) Teague at Gettysburg, 10/24/03)