C

2nd Michigan

Volunteer Infantry

Regimental Colors
(Flags)
Updated February 18th 1999

"Thank you, ladies, for honoring us with this beautiful flag. May our names be forgotten if we ever desert it. If dying on the battlefield, our last look shall be directed towards this beautiful emblem and our last breath shall utter, if called upon to surrender it: Never, Never Never!"

Captain Robert Bretchschneider, 2nd Mich. Vol. Inf. to the ladies of Nile Mich. after receiving our first colours

"I kept the colors in my little dugout day and night, sleeping with them in my arms at night for fear they might be stolen from me."

Color Sergeant William Gundlack. 2nd Mich. Vol. Inf.

Members of the Color Party

Click to Open flag #1
Click to Open flag #2


Click to Open flag #3
Click to Open flag #4

For a larger picture hit the word flag under them.

Flag #1 Within ten days after the fall of Fort Sumter in April 1861, the Second Michigan was recruited from Adrian, Battle Creek, Flint, Niles and Kalamazoo. Its soldiers received this flag emblazoned with a gold eagle clutching in its beak a scroll that read: "At the Union's sacred call, her Patriot Sons Will Peril All."

Flag #2 This tattered fragment--the second national flag of this regiment--survived thirty-three engagements. During the siege of Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1861, William Gundlach planted the flag on the enemy works and fought off the rebels with his revolver. He carried this flag to safety through many conflicts and had the names of the regiment's principal battles painted on it.

Flag #3 The 2nd Mich. entered Petersburg, Virginia, in the early morning of 3 April 1865, on the heels of the First Michigan Sharpshooters. The Second raised the second Union flag over Petersburg over the Customs House. This flag was issued to the Second in September 1864 to replace one lost at the Battle of the Crater. Battle honors cover the flag, but the Second had seen continuous action since May 1861 and there was not enough room on the flag for all the regiment's honors.

Flag #4 In 1993 eighty-three-year-old Father John Hardy and his ninety-seven-year-old sister, Sister Frances Claire, presented Governor John Engler with the flag their father, Captain John Hardy, a color guard with the Second Michigan Infantry, carried during the Civil War.

Color Party

  1. William Gundlack, Senior Color Corporal. Was in charge of the Colors in November 1863 at Knoxville Tenn. during the assault on Confederate rifle pits. After being warned not to unfurl the colors for fear they would be lost declared "the colors must fly,". He planted the colors of the enemy works and used his Colt revolver to fight off the Confederates attempting to seize it. Two other Color Corp. were killed. For his actions William Gundlack was promoted Color Sergeant.

  2. Alfred Rowe, Color Corporal, On June 18th 1864 Color Corp. Rowe being in charge of the Colors at Petersburg. Color Sergeant appointed in Color Sgt Gunlack place being wounded already. He was shot through the head. Lt Frederick Schneider volunteered to rescue the Colors. He carried both the Colors and a wounded soldier he found near Color Corp Rowe. By the end of the day the entire Color Party had been killed or wounded.

  3. Jesse Gaines, Color Sergeant. On July 30,1864 at the battle of the Crater he was surrounded and faced with the flag being captured. He launched the Colors like a Javelin towards the union lines in an attempt to save it. His attempt failed and the Colors were captured for the one and only time. To his dying day Jesse Gaines said that the Colors were not Captured but Caught.

  4. John Hardy, Color Corporal. He had been wounded twice while carrying the flag. On the night of March 25,1865 the Confederates succeeded in Capturing Fort Steadman. Hardy, I believe carrying the Colors, counterattacked. He gained the Nom de Guerre of "The Hero of Fort Steadman" for capturing Thirty-Five Rebels single handedly and assisting in the capture of three hundred more.

  5. Joseph Richardson, Color Sergeant. On the morning of April 3rd,1865 after months of siege at Peterburg entered the city with the 2nd Mich. Vet. Vol. Inf. After loosing the race to be the First to raise a Union flag over the city to the 1st Mich. Sharp Shooters unfurl the flag over the U.S. Customs House.

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2nd Michigan Head Quarters

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