Capt. Geo. W. Collins' excellent book, Memoirs of the 149th Regt. N.Y. Vol. Inft. (1995 reprint by Edmonston Publishing Inc.) notes that the national colors were presented to the regiment on 22 September 1862 by Hon. V. W. Smith, Salt Superintendent at the Salt Springs. The State colors were provided by the Jewish ladies of Syracuse. At Gettysburg the "colors" received over 80 bullet holes, with the broken staff being spliced together by color bearer William C. Lilly. (Although Collins did not specify which colors, a historical sketch in the publication New York at Gettysburg states it was the colors presented by the Onondaga Salt Springs, and further notes the same colors were [as of 1892] in the Clerk's office in Onondaga. Elliott P. Failing says in his diary that the flag was hit 84 times and the staff 7 times. A 1939 Syracuse Journal article confirms Lilly's flag at Gettysburg was the "stars and stripes.") At Lookout Mountain, color bearer John Kiggins waved the "flag" (not specified) and took two close shots, one plowing a furrow through his hair and scalp. (Lilly received a mortal wound at Wauhatchie.) At Ringgold the 149th captured a battery guidon and another CSA "stars and bars" flag. Two other CSA flags were subsequently taken, and all four were presented by Gen. Geary to Gen. Hooker circa late December 1863, which were forwarded to the War Department. On or about 15 June 1865, Collins states that the regiment marched through Syracuse bearing their "regimental flag," and the captured flags taken by the regiment during the war.