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Overview Continued From the establishment of the United States
Army in 1785, US regular infantry regiments carried colors. Regiments
didn't carry the United States flag, as it was felt that no one unit could
carry the national honor into battle. By the 1840's, the infantry carried
the United States flag with the regimental number or title printed on one
of the white stripes. If the flag was lost in battle, only that regiment's
honor, and not the national honor, was lost. During the Civil War, a
soldier who captured enemy colors or saved his unit's colors frequently
was honored. In addition to receiving a medal honor, a soldier was
sometimes given a leave of absence. Soldiers who captured enemy colors
were often mentioned in dispatches or listed on a role of
honor. |
