Regimental Flag of the 40th New York

Regimental flag of the 40th New York Volunteer Infantry – the Mozart Regiment

NPS

(Also called the Constitution Guard)

The 40th New York was organized at Yonkers, New York and moved south in July 1861. Serving with the Army of the Potomac for the entire war, this regiment was involved in all the major battles in the east. These included Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. The 40th New York was present at Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox and was mustered out of service in June of 1865. For its long service throughout the war, the Mozart Regiment paid a heavy price, losing a total of 410 men, 238 of them in battle.This flag is not a standard design for an infantry flag. While the cloth is blue, the shield painted on is of the City of New York, rather than the eagle. The unit's name is above, rather than below the center design and the presentation scroll is also nonregulation. This flag was accompanied by a sky-blue silk streamer with gold fringe, which was displayed originally at the Grant Monument but was not reproduced. The regiment’s battle honors were painted on the streamer.