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STATE COLOR
The second of two “Bucktail” regiments recruited by Roy Stone, the 150th included soldiers from Philadelphia, Crawford, McKean, and Union counties. Soon after organizing at Camp Curtin in September 1862, the regiment was ordered to Washington where it was detailed for guard duty in the city. While in camp at Meridian Hill near the city, Colonel Samuel B. Thomas arrived to present colors to both Bucktail
In mid-February 1863, the 150th moved to join the Army of the Potomac near Fredericksburg. Together with the 143d and 149th Pennsylvania regiments, the 150th formed the Second Brigade, Third Division, First Corps. The division was not actively engaged during the Chancellorsville Campaign of April-May, and the 150th suffered no casualties.
At Gettysburg on July 1st, the Bucktail Brigade covered itself with glory as it repulsed several Confederate attacks on it’s position on McPherson’s Ridge. By three o’clock that afternoon, enemy pressure along the corps battle line forced the entire defensive line to give way and retreat. The remnant of the brigade retired to an orchard, where it made a brief stand before again falling back under heavy enemy pressure. During the last stand, Color-Sergeant Samuel Phifer of Company I was shot dead while carrying the state color. The guard was nearly wiped out by this time; perhaps Corporal Joseph Gutelius of Company D was the sole unwounded survivor. Gutelius seized the fallen banner and followed the 150th to the rear. As the regiment entered Gettysburg, the survivors became separated and subsequent events became shrouded in controversy.
According to one story, which is perhaps the most truest, Gutelius was severely wounded during the retreat but insisted on carrying the flag to the rear. As he stopped a moment to rest on a door step, a squad of grayclad soldiers rounded the corner and spied the flag. Butelius was killed and Lieutenant F. M. Harney of the 14th North Carolina (Ramseur’s Brigade, Rodes’s Division, Ewell’s Second Corps) seized the banner as a trophy. Soon thereafter, Harney fell mortally wounded himself. The lieutenant’s last request was that the flag he had captured should be presented in his name to President Jefferson Davis. In acknowledging the receipt of the color to Governor Zebulon Vance of the Old North State, Davis wrote that the flag “will be treasured by me as an honorable memento of the valor and patriotism and devotion which the soldiers of North Carolina have displayed on many hard fought fields.”
The captured flag remained with Davis even when he fled Richmond in April 1865. The 150th’s state color was found in the President’s baggage when he was captured by Union Cavalrymen near Milledgeville, Georgia, in May. It was taken to Washington and incorporated in the War Department’s collection of recaptured flags. Several prominent Pennsylvanians, among them Simon Cameron, made repeated attempts to release the flag to state care. Finally, the War Department relented and released the banner on October 25th, 1869. The flag, together with the letter returning it to the state, was installed in the new flag when it opened in 1873.
NATIONAL COLORS
Following the capture of the state color, the 150th seems not to have requested a replacement flag from the state government. Instead, the regiment appears to have used three national colors for the remainder of its term of service. The first was probably acquired soon after Gettysburg. Of the 417 officers and men taken into the July 1st fighting, 264 were casualties. The survivors took part in the Bristoe Station Campaign (October) before going into winter camp near Culpeper.
The 150th formed part of the Fifth Corps when the old First Corps was discontinued in the spring of 1864. The regiment fought in the Wilderness (May 5-6), Spotsylvania (May 8-18), North Anna River (May 23), and in the Cold Harbor area (May 30-June 1) before taking part in the initial attacks on Petersburg defenses (June 18-21). The regiment next fought the rebels at the Weldon Railroad (August 17-21). Six weeks later, on October 6th, the regiment retired it’s flag, “having been too much exhausted by storm and battle to hold together longer. It’s retirement was the subject of much regret in the regiment.” This flag seems not to have survived it’s eventual postwar disposition.
A 35-star national color served as replacement. This flag included a listing of battle honors. The 150th carried this flag on the field at Boydton Plank Road (October 27) and Hatcher’s Run (February 5-7, 1865). Shortly after this latter affair, both the 149th and 150th were relieved from active duty and sent north to guard the draft rendezvous camp at Elmira, New York. The 150th was mustered out of service here on June 21st, 1865. Apparently, Major George W. Jones took this national color home with him. It remained with his heirs until it was recently sold at auction. It is now owned by a private collector.
The 35-star national color in the state collection was carried in the 1866 ceremony. Nothing else has been found to document it’s use by the 150th.
COMPANY K FLAG
While the regiment spent time in Washington during the fall of 1862, Company K was detached to guard the Soldier’s home, about three miles north of the White House. President Lincoln spent most of his time at this place during the summer, and the men of this Crawford County unit kept a watchful eye on the President and any guests he might have. Sometime in 1865, Tad Lincoln presented a 34-star wool bunting into the possession of Henry W. Hoffman, one of the company’s privates. It has remained in the family and is currently on loan to the Venango Museum of Art, Science and Industry, located in Oil City, Pennsylvania.
SOURCE:
"Advance the Colors!" - Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flags. Volume II, Pages 450-452. Author Richard A. Sauers ~ Capitol Preservation Committee
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