Civil War - The Flag of The Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment

"Yes, we'll rally 'round the flag, boys, we'll rally once again,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

We will rally from the hillside, we'll gather from the plain,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!"

-From the song Rally 'Round The Flag, Boys

SC.56.90 Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry

The Civil War was the last major war in which regimental flags held vital strategic importance on the battlefield: flags marked the location of each regiment during the chaos of battle, and were a rallying point. Any soldier that acted as color-bearer was a significant target, and many, many men died protecting their flags. They represented, with great pride, a regiment's state; more often than not, men fought with friends, relatives and neighbors, and identified very strongly with their home. A regiment's flag also became a record of major engagements, and was altered throughout the war to reflect battles of note. This original flag of the 12th Michigan Volunteer Infantry is typical of what remained of the Civil War battle flags, being heavily damaged by gunfire and shrapnel, stained with blood, and with small souvenir pieces removed by veterans of the regiment. Some of the starred blue field, and the darker white and red areas surrounding it, are all that actually remains. The wonderful conservators at the Michigan Historical Museum have intimated the size and content of the original flag, yet allowed us to envision the flag as it exists today. I was able to see this flag where it is stored, on an archival tray at the museum, and it is a moment I will never forget.  Many thanks to Kerry Chartkoff for her amazing work in preserving Michigan battle flags, and in educating the public about their historical importance.  

In 1866, the flags of the Michigan Civil War regiments were presented to the state.  Speeches given during the ceremony give an emotional picture of their great meaning to our veterans of the day - here is a link to excerpts from that event:
http://www.hal.state.mi.us/mhc/museum/explore/museums/hismus/special/flags/flag1866.html

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The following is documentation from the Michigan Historical Museum about the 12th Michigan Volunteer Infantry flag:

The Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized in Niles and mustered into service in March 1862. It was placed under the command of Colonel Francis Quinn. On February 22, 1862, the regiment formed a hollow square on a frozen parade ground. Through the snow, a double sleigh drawn by two black horses appeared. It halted in the middle of the square and Miss May Penrose stood up in the sleigh to present the regiment with a "valuable silk banner" on behalf of the ladies of Niles. One of those ladies-Julia Bretschneider-whose husband Robert had fought with the Second and now would fight with the Twelfth-had embroidered the motto, "Michigan Expects every man to do his Duty," on the flag (SC.56.90). This flag was carried by the regiment for two years and bears the names of the regiment's major battles during that time. Almost immediately after leaving Michigan, the regiment fought in the desperate battle of Shiloh in Tennessee. For green troops not in the field even two weeks and with one half of the regiment too sick to fight, the regiment acquitted itself quite well.
On September 2, the regiment was engaged at Iuka, then at Metamora on October 5. Then,
on December 12, the regiment met the enemy at Middleburg, Tennessee. A detachment of the Twelfth armed only with 115 Austrian muskets suecessfully held off five to six thousand rebel cavalry for over two hours. The rebels finally gave up and withdrew. General Grant issued an official order commending the "valor and discipline of the gallant Twelfth" and directing the regiment to inscribe "Middleburg" on it's banner. Perhaps Grant was aware of the motto on the Twelfth's flag: his order also noted that the regiment's real reward would be the public's undying gratitude for those who had "done their duty."   The original presentation flag was not surrendered to the state in 1866. After the war, it passed through several hands until it reached the regiment's colonel, William Graves. Graves directed that, when he died, the "shot ridden old banner be divided into parts and each survivor of the regiment should have a portion." According the Niles Mirror, when Professor T.E. Howard received his portion at an Indiana G.A.R. meeting, he "tried several times to make his trembling lips and choked up voice express his feelings-then he spoke most feelingly of the old flag and its associations and asked that when he died that scrap of faded flag be laid upon his breast and buried with him".   SC-56-90 is all that remains of that souvenired flag: the rest may well be interred with the men who fought under it.

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If you have any corrections or questions, please email me at kennedypatti@gmail.com. I am not a military historian by any means, this is just a hobby, and I apologize if I have unintentionally misrepresented any fact or persons.