[TRENTON, NJ - June 17th, 2015] - New Jersey contributed over 80,000 men to the fight to save the Union, and visitors to the state's flag exhibit can see the same battle flags those soldiers carried 150 years ago. The New Jersey State Museum has, in its collection, over 100 flags carried by New Jersey's troops in the Civil War, some of which are so fragile that they have not been on display for decades. Five of these historic flags will be unveiled in specially designed exhibit cases at the New Jersey State Museum Gallery located at 225 West State Street in Trenton at 12 noon on Wednesday, June 24 and will be on display for 6 months.
 

 

The national flag of the 7th Infantry is especially interesting because it saw heavy combat at the battle of Williamsburg, Virginia, on May 5, 1862. After several color bearers fell as casualties while carrying the banner, Corporal Frederick Koch picked it up and ran the staff under his belt in order to be able to continue firing his musket at the enemy while keeping the flag aloft. This flag also played a significant role in the regiment's desperate holding action at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. 

 

Organized by the New Jersey State Museum and the New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association, the unveiling event will feature an educational gallery walk by flag historian Dr. David Martin, author of the award winning New Jersey at Gettysburg Guidebook.

 

As part of the Civil War 150th anniversary, the gallery also features a rotating mini-exhibit of firearms, equipment, photographs, and military documents of the era. The documents are from the New Jersey State Archives collection, and the military items are on loan from private collectors around New Jersey. This new exhibit was prepared by Nicholas Ciotola, Curator of Cultural History at the New Jersey State Museum, with the aid of members of the New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association.

  

For more information visit www.njcivilwar150.org or contact David G. Martin.

  

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