Theodore W. Greig, MOH Winner

[Andy Cardinal]

Officers, 61st New York​

Greig was born on March 13, 1843 in New York. He enlisted in Company A, 61st New York and was a 2nd Lieutenant in Company C at Antietam. Under the command of Colonel Francis Barlow and then Lt. Col. Nelson Miles, the 61st (combined with the 64th) New York fought near the Sunken Road and the Piper Farm.

Here is the text of the MOH citation:

"The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Second Lieutenant Theodore W. Greig, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 17 September 1862, while serving with Company C, 61st New York Infantry, in action at Antietam, Maryland. A Confederate regiment, the 4th Alabama Infantry (Confederate States of America), having planted its battle flag slightly in advance of the regiment, Second Lieutenant Greig rushed forward and seized it, and, although shot through the neck, retained the flag and brought it within the Union lines."

Greig was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and later to Captain of Company K. His promotion to Captain was backdated to date from September 17, 1862.

Greig mustered out in August 1864 and lived until November 17, 1893.

Although the citation states that Greig captured the flag of the 4th Alabama, this must be an error. The 4th Alabama fought near the East Woods, was not near Bloody Lane during the battle. Most likely, the flag in question belonged to one of the regiment's in Wright's brigade (3rd Georgia, 22nd Georgia, 44th Alabama, 48th Georgia).

 

[Brian Downey]

Although the citation states that Greig captured the flag of the 4th Alabama, this must be an error. The 4th Alabama fought near the East Woods, was near Bloody Lane during the battle. Most likely, the flag in question belonged to one of the regiment's in Wright's brigade (3rd Georgia, 22nd Georgia, 44th Alabama, 48th Georgia).

The Alabama Archives (holder of the recovered flag) and I think it was the 44th Alabama's.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

He was 19. I know it almost sounds old because we're always hearing of the 15 year olds out there but think about it. 19!

Thanks for posting.

 

[Seduzal]

Thanks for sharing this awesome article. Enjoyed reading it.

 

[lelliott19]

Interesting story about the return of this flag, captured by Lt Greig, back to Alabama. The return took place in 2001.

The flag captured by Greig was stamped with "capture number" 5 to designate it as the flag of an Alabama regiment captured by Lt Greig at Antietam - as described in the MoH citation. However, in 1905 when the US War Dept returned the various Confederate flags to the states, a different flag was returned to the state. The error was not discovered until 1988 when an inventory of the flags held by the Alabama Department of Archives and History discovered the mix up.

To find our how the mix up happened, we have to go all the way back to December 30, 1863. ON that date, the War Dept loaned two flags - this one and a captured flag of the 10th Alabama - to Francis Channing Barlow who was commanding the 61st New York at Antietam. From February 22 to March 5, 1864, the flags were displayed at the U. S. Sanitary Commission Fair in Albany, New York. The flags were not returned to the War Department afterwards.

After the Sanitary Fair exhibition, Captain Joseph Brinton (who had served in an Indiana regiment during the war) somehow acquired the flags of the 10th and 44th Alabama Infantry regiments and took them home. Several generations of Captain Brinton's family cared for the flags for over 100 years.

Sometime in the 1960's Capt Brinton's granddaughter, Mrs. Edith Litchfield Denny, gave the flag of the 44th Alabama Infantry to her grandson, Thomas Blackford. Mr. Blackford lived in Edgecomb, Maine. In 1999 Mr. Blackford mentioned the flag to vexillologist Dave Martucci. Martucci contacted Howard Madaus, another vexillologist with experience on Confederate flags. In September 1999, at Mr. Blackford's request, Mr. Martucci and Mr. Maduas examined and authenticated the flag.

Once the true identity of the flag was discovered, Mr. Blackford (2x great grandson of Capt Brinton) initiated efforts to return it to Alabama. Mrs. Denny (Capt. Brinton's grand daughter) was still in possession of the 10th Alabama Infantry flag which she also desired returned to Alabama. Both flags were presented to the Alabama Department of Archives and History by Mr. Thomas Blackford on March 24, 2001 - nearly 139 years after they were captured.

 

[neyankee61]

The 5th NH captured a flag at the Sunken Lane at Antietam and while home recovering from his wound, Col. Cross spoke at fund raiser. That flag was there and Cross pointed to the stains on it saying it was the blood of rebel color bearer. Any idea as to the identity of this flag?

 

[Brian Downey]

The 5th NH captured a flag at the Sunken Lane at Antietam and while home recovering from his wound, Col. Cross spoke at fund raiser. That flag was there and Cross pointed to the stains on it saying it was the blood of rebel color bearer. Any idea as to the identity of this flag?

"In our first rush toward the enemy Corporal George Nettleton was injured by a piece of shell, but he gallantly remained on the field and brought off the state colors of the Fourth North Carolina Regiment, showing great bravery and endurance."
- Dr William Child in A History of the Fifth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers (1893)

 

[neyankee61]

Thank you. I believe there is a picture of the 4th's flag somewhere showing the stains.