At the start of the Civil War, Blacks were not allowed to serve in the Union Army although many were eager to do so. Although Congress authorized the raising of African-American regiments in 1862, it was not until early 1863—after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued—that heavy recruitment began. The First Michigan Colored Infantry Regiment, made up—like other such regiments—of black soldiers and white officers, began training in the fall of 1863. On 5 January 1864, the Colored Ladies Aid Society presented them with a flag. The following month they were mustered in as federal troops, known as the 102nd Regiment United States Colored Troops. The 102nd served on picket duty, built fortifications, destroyed railroads and engaged the enemy

Sponsor a Michigan Civil War battle flag and preserve it online at SeekingMichigan.org for a lifetime.  A $250 sponsorship of a flag comes with permanent donor recognition on the specific flag webpage. Each donor will also receive a 24x36 archival color print of their flag and have ownership in providing continuing online access of the Civil War battle flags to the public.  Funds will also support additional projects regarding Michigan’s role in the Civil War.

Visitors to the State Capitol fondly remember its rotunda ringed with battle flags. The flags now show the ravages not only of battle, but also of storage under less than ideal conditions. Now, new storage at the Michigan Historical Museum permits the flags of this 230-flag collection (160 from the Civil War) to lay flat, supported by archival fabric, in a room where the temperature and humidity are controlled. (The Capitol now features reproductions of the original flags in its rotunda cases.) 

The Michigan Capitol Committee, the Save the Flags program and the Michigan Historical Museum to save the delicate flags. Conservation work, made possible through funds raised by Save the Flags, will help preserve the actual physical flags throughout the coming years.