Carry the Colors

In honor of Independence Day let’s take a moment to remember that the cost of our freedom was not just paid in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, but in the sacrifices men have made since that time to carry the colors of freedom. If you’re at a celebration on the 4^th of July and you see a color guard, think about the following.

Throughout history it has been a great honor to be selected to carry the colors of the army. To be chosen meant that you were considered the most trusted soldier in the regiment. You were also one of the bravest. Why? Because the soldier who carries the colors has no free hands to carry a gun. Good luck, pal. We’re all behind you!” The man who carried the colors was always included in the battle plan. He was told of the objective and he was to press on toward that objective with all diligence. He couldn’t get caught up in the fray or turn back - he must lead on toward the goal. He was the focus of the advance. All the troops fell in behind him to march. At the same time however, he was also the focal point of the attack. The enemy knew that if he could cut down the color bearer, then his fellow troops could be routed in the confusion. Facing the full fury of battle and unable to defend himself or retreat, the color bearer knew that he was the source of hope amid calamity in battle. When the banner was lost, hope was lost. But as long as the banner was flying, there was reason to continue the fight. One color bearer at the Civil War Battle of Antietam described the dilemma of being both the focal point of attack and hope as, “Between the physical fear of going forward and the moral fear of going backward, there is a predicament of exceptional awkwardness.”

In the Civil War, some of the greatest gallantry was exhibited in protection of or assault on the colors or regimental banners. The following are a few real life examples of soldiers who knew the life and death symbolism of the battle flag.

At the battle of Gettysburg (which took place 145 years ago this week), 9 color bearers of the 24th Michigan regiment were shot and 14 of the 26th North Carolina Regiment were shot in a single day’s fighting. The last man to die carrying the colors that day for the 26th NC had wrapped the colors around himself to keep them from falling - He fell, the flag was saved.

The hero of the Battle of Gettysburg, Joshua Chamberlain, retrieved the colors of his regiment when they had fallen during the battle of Petersburg and held them aloft for the troops to rally around. He was shot through both hips, and when he couldn’t stand on his own, stuck his sword in the ground and leaned against it in order to keep the colors flying.

A New York regiment was surrounded and about to be overrun when the color bearer, instead of retreating, went out into the open, in front of the troops and planted the flag, inspiring the troops to charge the startled enemy and drive them off the field of battle.

At the battle of Cedar Mountain, General Stonewall Jackson saw his troops running from the battle and grabbed the colors himself and carried them to the front, causing his troops to stop, turn around and resume the battle.

The 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first black fighting regiment in U.S. history, suffered over 50% casualties in an unsuccessful effort to storm a confederate fort in South Carolina. Sgt. William Carney bore the colors that day and was wounded several times in the battle, yet as he was carried off the field his words to his defeated comrades were, “Don’t worry, the old flag never touched the ground’”. Sgt Carney became the first black recipient of the Medal of Honor. The ‘Fighting 54th’ was immortalized a few years ago in the motion picture Glory.

At the Battle of Antietam one particularly zealous color bearer was found standing in the open waving the flag furiously in the air. When asked what he was doing he said, ‘Need to get some bullet holes in it. Ain’t no good without bullet holes!’