During the American Revolution, each regiment had a flag carried into battle by a color company or color guard. The color company was composed of unarmed men, selected based on their courage and steadiness under fire, and tasked with protecting the colors during combat. When a unit’s commander captured one of the flags, it became a symbol of that victory for the whole regiment and became a source of pride and inspiration for the troops.Source:https://ultimateflags.com/collections/revolutionary-war-flags/
Only four of these remarkably intact regimental standards survive today. They are a window into the Revolutionary War, allowing us to see not just the events that made America but also the historical threads that continue to weave the fabric of our nation – slavery, religious intolerance, and Native American relations.
Honoring Heroes: Revolutionary War Flags Collection
Four of these rare and prized battle flags are now on display in the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. This exhibition, “Captured Colors: Four Revolutionary War Flags,” is generously funded by an anonymous donor. The exhibit is open through July 19, when the flags return to their owner.
The Massachusetts Historical Society is grateful to the anonymous donor for their support of this exhibition and other state-wide programs. The Society would also like to thank Atlas Print Solutions for printing and installing the in-gallery wall text, and Restoration Dry Cleaners for cleaning and mending the flags on display. Additional support for this exhibition was provided by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.