6th Vermont Infantry Regimental Flag

6th Vermont Infantry Regimental Flag

Manufactured by Charles Eaton

6th Vermont Infantry regimental flag. Attached to staff by ties. There are 34 gold painted stars arranged in a large circle, 4.5 inches on center, 46 inch diameter. 6th Regt. Vermont Vols. Place of issue: Falmouth, Va. Date of issue: 01/1863. After New Year's Day 1863, the 6th received a state issued regimental color while at its winter encampment near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Colonel Lord had requested such a banner in the same letter he urged the replacing of the national flag. This request Washburn approved and ordered Quartermaster Davis to acquire a regimental color for the 6th Vermont. Davis immediately contacted Charles Eaton in Boston. Eaton completed the flag by the end of November and sent it off via Fiske's & Co. Express. Eaton charged $70.00 for the colorful standard. On January 3, 1863 the new color was unveiled and presented to the newly promoted commander of the 6th, Colonel Oscar Tuttle. The men who carried the colors of the 6th Vermont in 1865 gained specific mention in the official regimental report of Lieutenant Colonel Sumner Lincoln of July 31, 1865.

Though never specifically stated in the report on who carried which respective color tradition would point to the senior sergeant bearing the national color and the junior carrying the regimental banner. Eventually, both the state regimental and national colors were taken to the State House after the 6th Vermont was mustered out of service.

1863

55 x 69 inches

1870.001.026

Boston (Mass.)

Vermont State Curator's Office, 2 Gov. Aiken Avenue,
Montpelier, VT 05633