Civil War Flags

The west wing of the Capitol houses the Hall of Flags, displaying a variety of state flags in heavy oak cases built for the purpose in 1878. 

This flag represents the 16th Infantry, Connecticut National Guard.  In a battle in North Carolina in 1864, the Confederate army was about to overrun the Union troops.  Colonel John Burnham had the flag brought to him.  Not wanting it to be captured, he tore the flag into strips and distributed them to members of his unit.  Many were captured and imprisoned for the rest of the war.  When the war was over, unit members turned in as many flag strips as could be found, and Tiffany & Co. made a new flag from the remnants.

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