New Civil War Exhibit
New Civil War Exhibit
Restored Flag of the 37th NY Volunteer Infantry on Display at County Museum
PHOTO / Katya Zinsli at Cattaraugus Museum, May 20, speaking about the three years of work she and fellow student Nhat Nguyen did through the Patricia H.and Richard E. German Art Conservation Department at Buffalo State University to restore the 37th New York Volunteer Infantry flag - part of Cattaraugus County’s history.
162 years ago, on June 12, 1861, the 37th New York Volunteer Infantry was presented a flag at Camp Weed near The Battery in Manhattan. Their flag depicted the New York City shield of arms painted in the center with a red scroll above the seal with the regiment’s name and below a light gray-blue banner with the words, “Presented by the City of New York.”
The 37th NYVI, mainly composed of Irish immigrants from New York City, also consisted of two companies recruited in Cattaraugus County - Company H from Allegany, known as “Chamberlain Guards,” and Ellicottville’s Company I, known as “Cattaraugus Guards.” The flag was carried in and out of many battles of the Civil War but then, at the battle of Chancellorsville (April 30 - May 6, 1863) the 37th suffered casualties reducing its strength by one-third. It was here that the flag was captured by the Confederate Army and effectively ended the 37th NY. Yet, the mystery was the whereabouts of the flag at the end of the war. It was gone. Who had it?
In a newspaper article in the Ellicottville Post, dated 9/20/1893, reference was made to the flag being “presented to the veterans association of Cattaraugus County by the Rev. W.S. Hubbell of Buffalo, who secured the flag at the taking of Richmond and who has since had it in his possession.”
The article goes on to tell that the rebels captured it at Chancellorsville and it was not recaptured until Capt. Hubbell saw it in the rebel senate chamber during the fall of Richmond and reclaimed it. In 1914, the flag was then donated to the new Cattaraugus County Museum in Little Valley. Unlike many small municipalities, Cattaraugus County found a way to raise funds necessary to put up a building dedicated to the Civil War veterans from the county rather than various monuments. Veterans themselves donated items which made up the original collections, many with little information, if any at all. Without a curator for several decades, items were not catalogued so many items were a mystery, including the flag which had been donated with very little useful information attached.
Displayed for many years, folded in an 18 by 20-inch case, it began to deteriorate and was removed from display. It sat in a box with acid-free paper for thirty years, when in 2020 it was entrusted to the Patricia H. and Richard Garman Art Conservation at Buffalo State University and placed into the hands of Buffalo State grad student, Katya Zinsli who began the laborious work of restoring the flag. When Zinsli was done with the program, she passed the delicate operation into the able hands and keen eye of fellow student and second year fellow in the Garman Art Conservation program, Nhat Nguyen.
Ms. Zinsli, presently the Lunsler Conservation Fellow in Objects Conservation at the Smithsonian Art Museum in Washington D.C. was on hand for the unveiling ceremony of the semi-restored flag on Saturday, May 20th at the Cattaraugus County Museum in Machias, located at 9824 Route 16.
Upon my visit, I was shown the box that holds the precious remaining bits and scraps of the flag which, frankly, look like a miracle would have to take place to put the rest of the pieces together. Seeing those scraps gives an even greater appreciation of the work, patience, steady hands, and sharp eyes necessary to restore the artifact. The flag, and several other local Civil War relics, are currently on display at the Museum. You must stop and consider a saddle that is on display and imagine yourself riding on it in battle.
The museum has converted quite a few of its cases into Civil War memorabilia displays. Personal items, letters, coins, rifles, uniforms all help to paint the picture of a terrible time in our history that must not ever be forgotten. History is a great teacher. Carl Jung said, “History is not contained in thick books but lives in our very blood.” Visit the Civil War exhibit and get to know your own history.
If you are interested in hearing more about the Civil War, you are invited to a talk on Cattaraugus County Civil War Soldiers by Brian McClellan on June 19th at 6:30pm on the side yard of the Olean Point Museum, rain or shine. For more information visit cattco.org or call 716-353-8200.
Sources: Many thanks to Susan Allen at the museum for her help and Western New York Heritage Magazine, spring 2023 edition.