Receiving a New Flag

On October 8, 1862, while stationed outside of Washington at Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia, the 61^st took part in a review of Major General Franz Sigel’s corps.  Major General Nathaniel Banks, in command of Washington’s defenses, reviewed the corps and then Sigel presented a new flag to the 61^st, as described in the New York Herald on October 9, 1862:

Fairfax Court House, Virginia, Oct. 8, 1862.

The troops at this point under General Sigel were reviewed to-day by General Banks, who complimented their commander highly on their appearance and discipline.

After the review, the Sixty-first Ohio regiment was drawn up in line in front of General Sigel’s headquarters, for the purpose of receiving a flag.  The introductory speech was made by Lieutenant Colonel McGroarty, commanding the Sixty-first.  It expressed the confidence of the corps in General Sigel.  General Sigel then presented the flag in a neat speech, which was loudly cheered.  General Schurz was called upon, and made a happy response.  Colonel Schimmelfenny [sic], commanding the Third brigade, followed with some pithy remarks.  General Banks was then loudly called upon, when General Sigel responded that General Banks had been obliged to return to Washington.  He said that if any man deserved the thanks of the country, it was General Banks; that his bravery and military skill were well tried and beyond question.  He proposed three times three cheers for General Banks, which were given.  Cheers were then given for General Sigel.

General Franz Sigel (from the Library of Congress).

Apparently, the 61^st had left for the front without regimental colors.  Private Samuel Rau, in a letter published in the Mahoning Register on September 11, 1862, shared that division commander Brigadier General Carl Schurz had presented the 61^st with his divisional colors to carry into its first engagement at Freeman’s Ford, Virginia.  The ceremony on October 8 not only gave the 61^st its own flag but gave the regiment publicity across the north as the story from the New York Herald was picked up by other newspapers from Vermont to Iowa.