69th Pennsylvania Infantry The 69th Pennsylvania Infantry ( originally raised as the 2nd California ) was a volunteer regiment in the Union army during the American Civil War . Part of the famed Philadelphia Brigade , it played a key role defending against Pickett ' s Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg . Companies I and K wore a very Americanized Zouave uniform . This uniform consisted of a dark blue Zouave jacket with green trimming , green cuffs , and sixteen brass buttons down the front on both sides of the jacket , a sky blue Zouave vest , chasseur sky - blue trousers , and a dark blue kepi . This was one of the few Zouave uniforms that did not use red as the jacket trimming . History . The 69th Pennsylvania was recruited from Philadelphia Irish militia companies of the 2nd Regiment , Pennsylvania Militia . It was mustered into service on August 19 , 1861 , with Joshua T . Owen as its first colonel . Many of its members had served in the 24th Pennsylvania , a three - month volunteer regiment . The unit was first designated the 2nd California . It left for Washington , D . C . that September , before being assigned to the Army of the Potomac in October as part of Colonel Edwin Baker ' s California Brigade . The regiment ’ s first action was at the Battle of Balls Bluff . After this battle , its name was changed to the 68th Penna . for a short time and then the 69th . They made an attempt with the 69th New York to form an Irish Brigade , but Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin of Pennsylvania opposed the idea , which led to the proposal being dropped . The 68th had their regimental designation changed to the 69th in honor of the 69th New York Infantry . The 69th served in the Peninsula Campaign , during which it was complimented by Maj . Gen . Joseph Hooker for making “ the first successful bayonet charge of the war . ” Its next major action was at the Battle of Antietam . It lost heavily at the Battle of Fredericksburg , but missed any major action at Chancellorsville , seeing only minor skirmishing . The unit played a large role at the Battle of Gettysburg , helping repel both Brig . Gen . Ambrose Wright ’ s charge on July 2 and Pickett ' s Charge on July 3 . Its casualties over the last two days of the battle were enormous , losing 143 men out of 258 , including its colonel , lieutenant colonel , two captains , and a lieutenant . The regiment ' s ranking officer , Maj . Duffy , was seriously wounded but refused to give up command until the battle was over . The 69th finished the campaign under the command of a captain . The 69th fought in Grant ’ s Overland Campaign , again losing heavily . At the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House , Lieutenant Charles McAnally of Company D captured a Confederate battle flag . He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for this act , becoming the only soldier of the 69th so decorated . After the Battle of Cold Harbor , the 71st Pennsylvania was merged into the 69th . During the Siege of Petersburg , the Philadelphia Brigade was broken up , with the 72nd Pennsylvania mustered out of service and the 106th reduced to a single battalion . The 69th participated in the pursuit of the Army of Northern Virginia during the Appomattox Campaign . The regiment was mustered out at Ball ’ s Cross - Roads , near Washington , D . C . , on July 1 , 1865 . The 69th was the only Pennsylvania regiment to carry a green " Irish " flag into battle . Reenactors . The 69th Pennsylvania Irish Volunteers and other reenactment groups portray the regiment at various reenactments . Bus tours and the preservation of sites relating to the 69th also among the group ' s activities . Additionally , they also have a musical group performing traditional Irish and Civil War music . One of their most important projects is the location of unmarked gravesites of men who fought with the regiment during the Civil War . New gravestones are then placed upon these " final resting places " in a public ceremony . Full information and photos on this year ' s schedule of events can be found at http : / / www . pa69irish . com / classic _ tan . html .