What is a finial? in this context, a finial is a decorative ornament that tops a flagstaff. Modern military flags and guidons still utilize them; this was also true in the Civil War.
The 28th Massachusetts, besides carrying a variety of National and Regimental colors, also used a variety of finials atop them. Pictured below are the known finials the Regiment used – for any 28th Mass flag not listed, the finial type is unknown.
First National:
First Irish (Pilot) & Fourth Irish (Grainger)
Second Irish (Tiffany)
Third National & Second State:
Public Thanks
This page relied heavily on the work of Steve Hill of the DuPage Military Flag Company, the former historian of the Massachusetts State House Battle Flag collection.