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The Civil War Trust has partnered with leading Civil War flag conservancies and military museums to present to you this selection of authentic Civil War flags that flew with units that fought at the Battle of Antietam.  The flags are presented in rough chronological order - showcasing these remarkable artifacts that were prized by men who carried them into the maelstrom of Antietam.

The Lost Order

The 27th Indiana Volunteers

On the morning on September 13, 1862, Corporal Barton Mitchell of the 27^th Indiana discovered Robert E. Lee’s Special Order 191 wrapped with three cigars in a field on the Best Farm, not far from Frederick, Maryland.  This discovery of Lee’s Maryland Campaign plans would energize the Army of Potomac's pursuit of Lee’s divided forces in Maryland. 

At the Battle of Antietam, the 27^th Indiana, part of the Union XII Corps, suffered tremendous casualties as it advanced through the Miller Cornfield.  By the end of the Maryland Campaign the 27^th Indiana had lost almost 50% of its soldiers.

Primary Source: More on Special Orders 191 »

Indiana War Memorial |

The Cornfield and Hagerstown Pike

The 2nd Wisconsin Volunteers

Part of the famed Iron Brigade, the men of the 2^nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment carried these colors during their morning attack at the Battle of Antietam.  Already depleted by their heavy casualties at the Battle of Brawner’s Farm and South Mountain, the 2^nd pressed forward into the West Woods on the morning of September 17, 1862.  Assailed by Jackson’s Confederates, the entire Iron Brigade fought a desperate fight that further reinforced its reputation as one of the hardest fighting brigades in the Union army.   Entering the battle with 150 men, the 2^nd Wisconsin lost another 91 during its epic fight at Antietam.

The Wisconsin Veterans Museum (Madison, WI) |

The 47th Alabama

Part of Taliaferro’s Brigade in Jackson’s Corps, the 47^th Alabama lined the Hagerstown Pike to the right of Starke’s Louisianans.  Facing elements of the Union Iron Brigade, the 47^th was forced back towards the West Woods.   During the heavy fighting in and around this position, Private Stanislas Beneaux, of Company E, 35^th New York Volunteers, captured this flag during their advance – an event that was noted in Brig. Gen. Marsena Patrick’s official report issued after the battle.  After the Civil War ended, this cotton flag with its 15 appliqued stars, was displayed at the Great Wardrobe Clothing Store in Watertown, New York before becoming a part of the New York State Battle Flag collection.  During the 1862 Maryland Campaign, the 47^th Alabama lost 10 killed and 35 wounded.

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New York State Military Museum |

The 12th Georgia

Part of Trimble’s Brigade, the 12^th Georgia held part of Jackson’s line in front of the Dunker Church during the morning Union attacks at Antietam.  Captain James Rodgers, commanding the 12^th, was struck dead by bullets that hit his hand, thigh, and head.  This battle flag of the 12^th Georgia includes the names of several color bearers who were killed during the tremendous fighting on the morning of September 17, 1862.

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The Columbus Museum |

The 104th New York Volunteers

The 104^th New York, known as the Wadsworth Guards, advanced through the Cornfield as part of the I Corps' attack.   Carrying this silk regimental flag produced by Tiffany in the Spring of 1862, the 104^th engaged Stonewall Jackson’s forces on the morning of September 17, 1862.   The flag has two small holes in the upper left that match damage done to the flag staff – likely from two bullets that hit the flag during this fateful march.   The 104^th suffered 8 killed, 60 wounded, and 14 missing during the 1862 Maryland Campaign.

New York State Military Museum |

The 1st Texas

Part of John Bell Hood’s hard fighting Texas Brigade, the 1^st Texas was sent into the Cornfield as part of a powerful counterattack on the morning of September 17^th.  Driving the Federal lines back northwards, the 1^st Texas was later caught in a maelstrom of bullets and artillery shells that killed or wounded 186 men out of the 226 that they brought into the battle – a staggering 82.6% casualty rate.  Eight different color bearers were shot down while carrying this flag in the Cornfield.  Unfortunately for this proud regiment, this flag was captured during the unit's withdrawal.

The 1^st Texas’ flag, known as "Mrs. Wigfall's Wedding Dress" – was a 6-ft wide Lone Star flag was reportedly made, at least in part, from the wedding dress of Mrs. Louis Wigfall.  The 1st Texas received this famous flag in July 1861.

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The Texas State Library & Archives Commission |

The Dunker Church and West Woods

The 28th Pennsylvania Volunteers

Known as the Goldstream Regiment, the 28^th Pennsylvania carried this flag through the Cornfield, past the Dunker Church, and into the West Woods as part of George Sears Greene’s 2^nd Division of the XII Corps.  Greene’s men pushed Jackson’s Confederates back from the Dunker Church and held an advanced line during the morning of September 17, 1862.    Organized in Philadelphia, the 28^th Pennsylvania used their Enfield rifles to deadly effect before being pushed back from this advanced line.  The 28^th would go on to fight at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and later served in Georgia, Tennessee, and in the 1865 Carolina Campaign.

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Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee |

The 7th Ohio Volunteers

Formed with men from northeastern Ohio, the 7^th Ohio Infantry, carrying this handsome regimental flag, advanced through the Cornfield towards the Dunker Church on the morning of September 17, 1862.   Passing the Dunker Church, the 7^th Ohio and the rest of the 1^st Brigade of Greene’s division entered the West Woods just beyond.  It was there in the West Woods that the 7^th fought Jackson’s Confederates until around 1:30pm.

The monument to the Ohio troops who took part in this attack (5^th Ohio, 7^th Ohio, and 66^th Ohio) is one of the most visited at Antietam – it's just across the Hagerstown Pike from the Dunker Church.

Ohio Historical Society |

The 66th Ohio Volunteers

The 66^th Ohio, like the 7^th Ohio above, participated in George Sears Greene’s advance into the West Woods.   Carrying this flag into the battle, the 66^th would participate in some of the terrible fighting that occurred in and around the Dunker Church.   Formed in Urbana, Ohio, the 66^th fought in many of the Civil War’s great battles – Port Republic, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta, and Bentonville.

Ohio Historical Society |

The 125th Pennsylvania Volunteers

At the vanguard of Joseph Mansfield’s XII Corps advance to the Dunker Church and West Woods, the Battle of Antietam was the first combat engagement for the 125^th Pennsylvania.  Advancing past the Dunker Church, the 125^th found itself isolated in the West Woods, with Confederate forces all around.  The 125^th watched Gen. Mansfield fall mortally wounded to their right front.  While the 125^th continued to pour its fire into the nearby Confederate ranks, George Simpson, the 125^th’s color bearer, was hit by a bullet in the head and died instantly.  As second man picked up this flag and he too was shot down.  Two more men would fall holding this flag amidst the carnage of the West Woods.  Later, Sgt. W.W. Greenland picked up the flag, stained with the blood of George Simpson, and carried it back across a field to a nearby battery where the remnants of this 9-month division rallied under heavy fire.   29 men of the 125^th were killed and another 121 were wounded in roughly 20 minutes of frantic combat within the West Woods.  The 125^th’s monument in the West Woods features color bearer George Simpson high above its pedestal – still clutching the flag.

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Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee |

The Sunken Road

The 11th Alabama

Having participated in the capture of Harpers Ferry on September 15, 1862, the 11^th Alabama, part of Wilcox’s Brigade, was part of R.H. Anderson’s reinforcement of D.H. Hill’s sagging line in the Sunken Road.  Rushed forward to the Confederate right, the 11^th Alabama suffered 3 killed and 26 wounded during the intense fight that also led to the capture of this flag by the 57^th New York Infantry. 

This flag, with its diagonal rip, has intrigued flag scholars for years.  Could this be the Confederate battle flag that is seen in the famous photo of George McClellan and Abraham Lincoln after the battle?  It matches the descriptions made of it by participants in that famous meeting.

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Alabama Department of Archives & History |

The 61st New York Volunteers

Carrying this wool national color into action, the 61^st New York advanced as part of Israel Richardson’s attack on the Confederate right in the Sunken Road.  Combined with the 64^th New York, this unit was commanded by Col. Francis Barlow and then later by Lt. Col. Nelson Miles – both who would become senior commanders in the Union army by war’s end.   Part of Caldwell’s brigade, the men of the 61^st New York helped to dislodge the last remaining Confederates from the southern end of the Sunken Road and then proceeded to move on the Piper Farm.  At Antietam, the 61^st lost 6 killed, 34 wounded, and 1 missing in action.  Colonel Miles later deposited this flag with New York state authorities in early 1863.  Reportedly the flag is stained with the blood of Sgt. Frank Aldrich, one of the brave color bearers who carried this flag at Antietam.

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New York State Military Museum |

The 5th and 8th Florida

Despite its small population, the State of Florida sent almost 15,000 soldiers into the ranks of the Confederacy.   The 5^th and 8^th Florida, during the 1862 Maryland Campaign, were a part of Pryor’s Brigade in R.H. Anderson’s Division of Longstreet’s Corps.  On September 15, 1862, the 5^th and 8^th Florida participated in the capture of Harpers Ferry – the largest single capture of Federal troops during the Civil War.   And during the Battle of Antietam, these two Florida units were hurried forward towards the crumbling Confederate right in the Sunken Road.  As part of this counterattack both Colonel John Hateley and Lt. Colonel Thomas Lamar of the Florida 5th were severely wounded.  And Lt. Colonel George Coppen of the 8^th Florida, a former member of the famed 1^st Battalion Louisiana Zouaves,  was killed almost immediately as his regiment went into action near the Sunken Road.   Captain Richard Waller assumed command of the 8^th Florida and he too was killed with the regiment’s colors draped over his shoulders.  At Antietam, the entire color guard was killed or wounded.

Museum of Florida History |

Burnside's Bridge and the Final Attack

The 51st Pennsylvania Volunteers

Commanded by Col. John Hartranft, the 51^st Pennsylvania and the 51^st New York were ordered to take the Rohrbach Bridge (later known as Burnside’s Bridge) after two earlier Federal attacks had failed.  Charging down the wooded hillside, the 51^st Pennsylvania was immediately taken under fire by the Georgians dug in on the far bank.   Breaking through and over a fenceline skirting the road near the bridge, the 51^st , carrying this flag, charged over the span as bullets struck home.  Col. Hartranft led his men across the bridge and to the far bank where they were able to scatter the remaining Confederate defenders.   Once resupplied, the 51^st Pennsylvania took part in the final Union attacks near the town of Sharpsburg.  The 51^st Pennsylvania lost 21 killed and 99 wounded during the Battle of Antietam.

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Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee |

The 9th New York Volunteers

The 9^th New York regiment, a Zouave regiment, carried this regimental flag during the Battle of Antietam.  On June 5, 1861, the regiment received this silk flag outside the 5^th Avenue home of Mrs. William Moffatt.  While hard to read today, the regiment's motto, “Toujours Pret” (always ready), is present just underneath the regiment's name.  After fording the Antietam Creek at Snavely’s Ford, the 9^th New York continued the advance towards the town of Sharpsburg in the afternoon of September 17, 1862.   During the afternoon fight, Captain Adolphe Libaire grabbed the colors from a fallen color bearer.  Rallying the 9^th with this flag, Libaire would lead the troops forward against D.R. Jones’ Confederates near the Harpers Ferry road.  For this brave action, Libaire would earn the Medal of Honor in 1898.  In 1899, veterans of the 9^th handed this flag over to Governor Theodore Roosevelt.   The 9^th lost 63% of its soldiers during the 1862 Maryland Campaign.

New York State Military Museum |

The Pee Dee (South Carolina) Artillery

Having accompanied A.P. Hill’s Light Division on its 15 mile forced march from Harpers Ferry, McIntosh’s South Carolina Battery (Pee Dee Artillery) came onto the field around 2:30pm on September 17^th.   This unit, which was comprised of one 10-pdr. Parrott, one 3-in. Ordnance Rifle, one 12-pdr. Napoleon, and one 12-pdr. Howitzer, began firing on Rodman’s Division of the Union IX Corps as it advanced towards the town of Sharpsburg.  Being driven from their guns, the men of the Pee Dee artillery were able to retake their positions after the arrival of Toombs and Archer’s Brigades.  Artillery units like the Pee Dee artillery played a key role in holding off the advance of the IX Corps as it sought to take the town of Sharpsburg and sever Lee’s likely line of retreat to the Potomac.

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