The 115th Regt. Penna. Vols. Inf.
First State Color
Recruited primarily in Philadelphia, the 115th Infantry was organized in a camp near Hestonville in January 1862. The regiment then moved to Camden, New Jersey, where it remained until the end of May. The unit then went to Harrisburg to guard Confederate prisoners. A state color was sent to Harrisburg by Horstmann Brothers in March 1862. The presentation list indicates that Governor Curtin gave the flag to the 115th at some unspecified date.
First State Color
By the end of June, the regiment was transported to the Peninsula, where it was assigned to the Third Corps, Army of the Potomac. Together with the corps, the 115th moved north to Alexandria in late August as most of the army was sent to join Pope's Army of Virginia, then maneuvering in northern Virginia. The regiment skirmished with enemy troops at Bristoe Station on August 26, then fought at Second Manassas on August 29-30. During the repeated attacks on Jackson's position behind a railroad cut, Sergeant Hugh Barr "behaved with great gallantry, bearing his colors without falter into the thickest of the fight, "Defeated at Manassas, the Union troops retreated to Washington, where the Third Corps remained until November. At Fredericksburg on December 13, the 115th lost a single man wounded as most of the corps was held in reserve.
After spending the winter near Falmouth, the 115th took part in the Chancellorsville Campaign of April-May 1863. Here, during the fierce struggle on May 3, the 115th's brigade fought with the enemy over possession of a line of breastworks in the woods near the Orange Plank Road. The brigade fell back only after its ammunition was exhausted. The 115th lost 111 officers and men of less than 230 taken into the fight. Sergeant Benjamin Williams of Company K was wounded while carrying the state color. Before the flag could touch the ground, Color-Corporal Patrick Kenney seized the banner and carried it throughout the rest of the fighting. Major John P. Dunne reported that the flag was torn into shreds during this struggled
Following the Chancellorsville Campaign, the regiment moved north to fight in the Wheatfield at Gettysburg on July 2. Then, after taking part in the Bristoe Station and Mine Run campaigns that fall, the surviving men of the 115th went into winter quarters at Brandy Station. Just before this latter campaign, Dunne requested a replacement state color, which was delivered to the regiment sometime in December. The original color was sent back to Harrisburg and officially returned to the Commonwealth in 1866.
Second State Color
This new flag, completed by Horstmann Brothers on December 1, 1863, was sent to the State Agency for distribution shortly thereafter. Sergeant James Doyle of Company B was selected as bearer of this flag on February 13, 1864. The 115th was transferred to the Second Corps in time for the opening of the 1864 campaign. After fighting in the Wilderness and at Spotsyl-vania, the depleted regiment engaged the enemy at Cold Harbor, then took part in the initial operations at Petersburg (June 1864). Late that month, the survivors, numbering fewer than a hundred soldiers, were consolidated into three companies and attached to the 110th Pennsylvania. Adjutant Thomas E. Stevens took the second color along home with him. It remained in his family until 1986, when it was purchased by a private collector.
Second State Color
Philadelphia Flag
According to several newspaper accounts, a deputation of Philadelphia friends purchased a "silk American flag" for the 115th. The flag was supposed to measure five by eight feet. One side depicted a harp and shamrock, while the other portrayed General Sars-field, mounted and in full uniform. The motto "No retreat from sword or bayonet" was emblazoned somewhere on the ornamental eagle finial. Gold cords and tassels completed this magnificent color. The mid-June 1862 reports about this flag are supplemented by information that the flag had been sent to Fort Monroe the following month. Nothing else has been found to document the use or disposition of this flag.
The 122nd Regt. P.V. comming soon!!!!