MACHIAS, N.Y. — The Cattaraugus County Museum and Research Library has just released a new film detailing the remarkable history of one of its most significant Civil War artifacts, titled “The Journey of the 37th New York Regimental Presentation Flag.”
The film was produced as part of the education-specific branch of the “Our Veterans, Their Stories” series, and details the history of the 37th New York Volunteer Infantry regimental flag, it’s journey from New York to Chancellorsville, Richmond and back to Cattaraugus County — and its ultimate restoration and return to display.
On May 2 to 4, 1863, in a clearing on the Chancellorsville battlefield known as Hazel Grove, the 37th New York faced the heaviest fighting in its two-year history. The 37th, largely made up of Irish immigrants from New York City and known as the “Irish Rifles,” fought heroically as part of Brigadier General David Birney’s III Corps, but finally was forced to withdraw in disorder. The regiment suffered 235 casualties — roughly one third of its strength at the start of the battle. Nearly 100 men were captured in the confusion. Also captured was one of their regimental flags.
While most of the 37th NYVI were men from New York City, two companies came from Cattaraugus County: Company H, known as the “Chamberlain Guards,” recruited in Allegany; and Company I, known as the “Cattaraugus Guards,” from Ellicottville. It was to veterans of these companies that the flag would finally be returned some 30 years later.
In September 1893, the Rev. William Stone Hubbell, then a minister of North Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, presented the flag to the Civil War veterans of Cattaraugus County. Hubbell’s account of how the flag came into his hands is an integral part of the story told in “The Journey of the 37th New York Regimental Presentation Flag.”
This film, as well as the rest of the “Our Veterans, Their Stories” series, is available for viewing on the museum’s YouTube channel. It will also be incorporated into the flag’s display at the museum.
For more information, call (716) 353-8200 or visit the museum’s webpage, cattco.org/museum.
