Photo Credit: Massachusetts State House Battle Flag Collection
Second National. The Second National was issued to the Regiment on January 20, 1863. As with the First National, the maker was Charles Eaton. The 34-star flag was silk, painted, and measured 71 by 60.5 inches, with the canton measuring 38 by 37 inches. The gold painted stars were arranged in a 7-7-6-7-7 pattern. The flag was machine sewn with the canton set in by hand. The Regiments name (“28th Regt Massachusetts” ) was painted in gold lettering on the red stripe adjacent to the bottom right corner of the canton, 7th stripes down from the top. The flag is housed in the Massachusetts State Flag Collection, along with a one-piece, wooden staff without a finial; the staff measuring 118.5 inches.
The Second National was returned to the Massachusetts Sergeant-at-Arms on January 5, 1865. This then was the National Color
carried by the Regiment throughout 1863 and into early 1864, when the Third National was issued (more below). The date of issue suggests that it was not carried by the Regiment during the infamous “Mud March” (January 20-24, 1863) but was certainly carried at the Battle of Chancellorsville (May 1-5, 1863); on the Gettysburg Campaign (June-July 1863), including the Battle of Gettysburg
where it was carried in fight at the Wheatfield (July 2, 1863); at the Battle of Bristoe Station (October 14, 1863); and in the Mine Run Campaign (November-December 1863) – battles and engagements where the Regiment suffered a total of 151 casualties.