{"id":952,"date":"2014-02-27T10:50:41","date_gmt":"2014-02-27T15:50:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/?p=952"},"modified":"2025-04-18T11:05:34","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T15:05:34","slug":"black-troops-receive-flags","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/black-troops-receive-flags\/","title":{"rendered":"Black troops receive flags"},"content":{"rendered":"

On March 5, 1864, eight months after Northern victories in Gettysburg and Vicksburg, members of the newly-formed Twentieth United States Colored Troops assembled in New York City<\/a> for a send-off ceremony that featured flags and ovations from tens of thousands of white people.<\/p>\n

\"Black<\/a>The New York Times described the ceremony as \u201ca thousand men, with black skins,\u2026[who] marched from their camp through the most aristocratic and busy streets, [and who] received a grand ovation at the hands of the wealthiest and most respectable ladies and gentlemen of New York.\u201d
\n
\nIn a speech to the troops, Charles King, president of Columbia University, saluted \u201cthe loyal women who have united in the patriotic purpose of presenting to you a regimental flag, to be borne with the colors of the nation of which you are now the accepted and sworn defenders and guardians.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cThe religion of the flag is second only to the religion of the altar\u2026.Hence he who is false to his flag is false to his\u2026God.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Members
Members of the Twentieth receive their flags.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While grasping the regimental flag, King declared, \u201cThe flag which I hold in my hands, to be placed in yours, tells its own story. The conquering eagle and the broken yoke and the armed figure of Liberty speak as plainly as symbols can of the might of Freedom and of the overthrow of Slavery — and flying, as will this standard-sheet, beside the Stars and Stripes of the Republic, they will form a spell of such power as to bind up every generous heart with one firm, fierce resolve that these flags shall not be separated, shall not be surrendered — but shall go marching on, and marching on, and still marching on to triumph and final victory!\u201d<\/p>\n

Accepting the regimental banner and the U.S. flag<\/span><\/a> that day 150 years ago was Col. Nelson Bartram, who vowed: \u201cThis beautiful banner symbolizes our country. It is this that makes death glorious beneath its starry folds — it is this that rouses the feelings of outraged honor when we see it trailed in the dust. How base, and how dead to all sense of honor, must that wretch be whose brow burns not with shame and rage at the dishonor of the flag of his country.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a salute to the women who gave them their flag, one of the soldiers shouted, \u201cHurrah for the ladies!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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