The second of two regimental flags or “state colors” carried by the color-guards of the 139th.¹⁾Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flags

Pittsburgh businessman William Semple, who was instrumental in the formation of four companies of the 139th, presented a national color to Company I, which was used as the regimental color from the time of the regiment’s muster September 1, 1862.²⁾Advance The Colors: Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flags, Vol. 2, Richard Sauers, Capitol Preservation Committee, 1998

The first state flag was made Horstmann Brothers in September 1862 but somehow was lost and did not get to the regiment until sometime after the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863.  A replacement was requested during the winter of 1864-65.  The original was never returned to the state and its fate is unknown.³⁾Id.

The second state color was also made by Horstmann and was forwarded to the regiment in February 1865.  This flag, pictured above left, was carried during the final assault on Petersburg (April 2) and at Saylor’s Creek (April 6).   It was officially returned to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on July 4, 1866.⁴⁾Id.

In May of 1863, during the Chancellorsville Campaign, Color-Sergeant James S. Graham of Company E was severely wounded as the regiment charged forward.  Two other corporals were hit before a third color-guard grabbed the flag and kept it aloft.⁵⁾Id.

Major Robert Munroe was breveted lieutenant-colonel for retrieving the fallen banner after the color bearer was badly wounded during the Battle of Winchester in September 1864.⁶⁾Id.

David W. Young of Company E was promoted to Color-Sergeant on March 30, 1864.  He was wounded three times, at Wilderness, Fisher’s Hill and during the Siege of Petersburg.

Shortly after the end of the war, Young was honored by General Grant for his gallantry in the Petersburg assault.  The general had received a donation of $460 from a group of patriotic citizens who wished the money to be given to the man who raised the first flag over Richmond.  Since Richmond was evacuated and not taken by force, Grant decided to split the money among the three soldiers most conspicuous for gallantry at Petersburg.  Major-General Horatio Wright forwarded Young’s name and on July 22, 1865, Young received $153.33 for his gallant act of planting the first Yankee flag on Petersburg defenses.⁷⁾Id.

Flag ribbon commemorating the 139th’s being the first flag planted at Petersburg.⁸⁾Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flags

Officers of the 139th with the state colors to the left and the national colors to the right.⁹⁾Library of Congress