Description
Organized at new york city and mustered in may 7, 1861. Left state for washington, d.C., april 29, 1861. The unit was to see exclusive service in the eastern theatre with the army of the potomac. Duty in washington and, occupation of arlington heights and, alexandria, virginia. Colonel ellsworth was killed may 24 1861. A blow from which the unit never recovered.Battles: advance on manassas, virginia, july 16-21, fairfax court house, bull run. Duty in new york harbour and, in westchester county, new york. Service with the department of virginia, to may, 1862. Action between monitor and merrimac in hampton roads march 8, 1862.The unit was to be mustered out on june 2, 1862. Efforts failed to effect a new organization of this regiment, known as the j. T. Brady light infantry, in summer of 1863, and the men enlisted were transferred to the 17th new york veteran infantry october 1, 1863.Regiment lost during service 3 officers and 48 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 officers and 12 enlisted men by disease. Total of 66.Men lost. The flags are typical of early war union flags. The national flag conforms to the known pattern, with the unit designation painted in gold paint. The regimental colour was made and, painted by the new york city firm of george barney and john styles, includes images of traditional fire fighting equipment, regimental identification, and the slogan, the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave appear on the flag with a field of white silk with a fringe made of red, white, and blue materiel. W.H. Wickham was to present the regimental colour to colonel elmer ellsworths 11th regiment ny volunteer infantry on april 29, 1861, on behalf of the new york city fire department, as the regiment departed from new york city. The original flags are held by the state collection in albany, new york.