Description
Organized at cambridge and, boston on december 12, 1861. Left state for new york january 11, 1862. Duty at fort columbus, new york harbour, till february 14. Battles: moved to dafuskie island, south carolina april 7, 1862, and duty there till may, moved to tybee island may 12 and duty there till may 28. Cos. “b,” “e,” “g,” “h” and “i” moved to dafuskie island and to hilton head may 28.) operations on james island, s.C., june 1-28. Skirmishes on james island june 3-4. Secessionville, evacuation of james island june 28-july 7. Moved from hilton head to newport news. Virginia., july 14-18; thence to aquia creek and fredericksburg august 3-6. Operations in support of pope august 6-16. Pope’s campaign in northern virginia august 16-september 2, groveton bull run, chantilly, maryland campaign september-october. Battles of south mountain september 14. Antietam, march to pleasant valley september 19-october 2 and duty there till october 25. Movement to falmouth, va., october 25-november 19, fredericksburg, mud march, at falmouth till april 27. Chancellorsviile campaign april 27-may 6. Chancellorsviile may 1-5. Gettysburg campaign june 11-july 24, gettysburg, advance from the rappahannock to the rapidan september 13-17. Bristoe campaign october 9-22. Auburn and bristoe october 14. Advance to line of the rappahannock november 7-8. Mine run campaign november 26-december 2. At stevensburg till may, 1864. Demonstration on the rapidan february 6-7. Campaign from the rapidan to the james, wilderness, spotsylvania, po river, spotsylvania court house, assault on the salient may 12, north anna river,. On line of the pamunkey may 26-28. Totopotomy, cold harbour, before petersburg june 16-19, siege of petersburg june 16, 1864, to april 2, 1865. Jerusalem plank road june 22-23, 1864. Demonstration on north side of the james july 27-29. Deep bottom july 27-28. Strawberry plains, deep bottom, august 14-18. Ream’s station august 25. Boydton road, hatcher’s run, dabney’s mills, hatcher’s run, february 5-7, 1865. Watkin’s house, appomattox campaign march 28-april 9. Boydton road march 31, white oak, sutherland station and fall of petersburg april 2, sailor’s creek, high bridge and farmville april 7, appomattox court house. At burkesville till may 2. March to washington, d.C., may 2-15. Grand review may 23. Duty at washington till june 25. Mustered out june 29, 1865. Regiment lost during service 15 officers and 235 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 officer and 136 enlisted men by disease, a total of 387 men. The flags of the 28th massachusetts adopt the standard pattern flag of the national flag. However the green regimental colour is unique for the regiments of the irish brigade and, this organization of flags are not replicated in any other eastern formation. Based on a green silk field the flag is adorned with examples of irish symbolism such as harps and shamrocks. The unit designation appears on a red scroll. With the motto who have never retreated from clash of spears” embroidered in gold and, written in gaelic upon a red scroll. Several examples of flags associated with regiments from the irish brigade are held within the state collections in albany, new york. This flag was presented to the unit by brigadier general meagher on their arrival to the irish brigade. This green flag similar to those carried by his other regiments, was made by tiffany & co. Of new york city, and is known as the tiffany flag. It was embroidered entirely by hand so its lettering appeared backward on the reverse, and was bounded by a fringe of yellow silk. The flag’s stave had silver furnishings and the lower three feet could be bent upwards by means of a hinge which under normal use was covered by a plated metal sleeve. The original flags are held in the massachusetts state house in boston.
