December 23rd (1862) – An order was read on dress parade from General Birney complimenting us on our conduct in the late fight and admitting us to the order of The Red Patch, an organization including all the regiments in Kearney’s old division. We didn’t know we’d done anything especially meritous, only tried to do our duty as we understand it. But if this is cause for special commendation, we accept it.
Each man in this order is expected to wear in a conspicuous place on his cap a bright red patch, diamond shape. Kearney’s division flag was of this color, and when Jeff Davis’s minions saw it on the field, it gave notice that the “one-armed devil,” as they called Kearney, was coming. …
Excerpt from, The Rebel Yell & the Yankee Hurrah
