While not actually Friday, this post is part of a weekly series honoring Civil War flags and the stories sewn into their fabric. I’m reviving this series after Instagram removed my previous post — this time, it’s staying.
A Regiment Forged in Fire
The 26th North Carolina Infantry Regiment was formed in August 1861, largely composed of young men from western North Carolina. By 1863, it had grown into the largest regiment in the Army of Northern Virginia, with nearly 900 men under arms. Their commander, Colonel Henry King Burgwyn Jr., was just 21 years old, a boy in age and was known as the “Boy Colonel.” As someone who turned 21 in the Army I could not imagine leading 900 men when I could hardly lead myself…
The regiment’s legacy would be defined by a single brutal day: July 1, 1863, on the outskirts of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, you have probably heard of it and if you have not you must be looking up color combos for your wedding (Blue and Gray get it…).
Gettysburg: The Slaughter at McPherson’s Ridge
As the Battle of Gettysburg opened, the 26th North Carolina advanced as part of General Heth’s division, crashing into Union troops of the famed Iron Brigade, specifically the 24th Michigan Infantry, one of the toughest and best equipped regiments in the Union Army.
The two sides fought at point-blank range through the woods and open fields of McPherson’s Ridge, exchanging fire in a near-suicidal contest of will. Muskets overheated. Trees splintered. Men collapsed in rows.
Colonel Burgwyn, leading from the front, personally took the regimental colors after multiple color bearers had fallen. He was struck in the side and died shortly after, uttering only, “Tell my mother I die with my face to the enemy.” Honestly, some of the most incredible last words you could imagine.
Casualties That Shocked Both Sides
By the time the smoke cleared, the 26th had lost 588 men out of roughly 850 engaged—more than 70% casualties in a single day, the highest regimental losses suffered by either side at Gettysburg. Over 13 color bearers were shot down while carrying the flag.
The 24th Michigan, though victorious on the field, suffered nearly 400 casualties themselves. The fight between the two regiments was so intense that it’s still cited in military studies of small unit combat.
Two days later, the remnants of the 26th participated in Pickett’s Charge, advancing again under fire. Only around 80 men answered roll call after the battle ended.
The Flag That Would Not Fall
The regiment’s battle flag, a Confederate standard, was pierced by dozens of bullets, soaked in blood and gunpowder, and nearly captured several times. After the war, it was returned to North Carolina and has since become one of the most iconic Confederate flags in existence. Not because of what it symbolized politically, but because of the story it tells about sacrifice, command, and loss. (Can’t be banned here Instagram HA!)
Legacy and Memory
The 26th North Carolina is memorialized today with monuments at Gettysburg and in North Carolina. Their story is often cited not to glorify war, but to illustrate the devastating human cost of loyalty, leadership, and civil conflict.
The flag of the 26th North Carolina still exists. It has been preserved and displayed, most notably in Raleigh during special exhibitions. The blood on it is real. The holes are real. The deaths were real.
