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Few subjects are as confusing to most people as that of the flags of the Confederacy, and with good reason.
Historical and social reasons determined that uniformity would not be a central feature of the fledgling
nation. Northerners, with their plethora of factory workers and store clerks, were well suited to wear one
uniform and fly one flag, but Southerners were overwhelmingly self-employed, independent men -- farmers,
hunters, and settlers (also the reason they outshot the Federal troops). The iconoclastic spirit that led
them to secession also mandated a disdain for a unified flag, uniforms, or government. Units were raised
locally, by county, and usually designed their own unit flags, which were often made by local ladies from
available materials. There are known to be over 500 Confederate unit flags. A side note -- some units
elected their own officers!
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The First National Flag, the first official flag of the Confederacy, the Stars and Bars. It was
used as the official flag of the Confederacy from March 1861 to May of 1863. This flag, modelled
after the American Stars and Stripes, was often confused with Federal flag on the battlefield, and
caused some confusion. Not just decorative symbols, flags in battle were used to help soldiers
identify both the center of the line and the direction of movement. The seven stars represent the
original Confederate States; South Carolina (December 20, 1860), Mississippi (January 9, 1861),
Florida (January 10,1861), Alabama (January 11, 1861), Georgia (January 19, 1861), Louisiana (January 26, 1861),
and Texas (February 1, 1861). Notice the resemblance to the current Texas flag.
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The Second National Flag. On May 1st,1863, a second design was adopted, placing the Battle Flag
(also known as the "Southern Cross") as the canton on a white field. This flag was easily mistaken
for a white flag of surrender, especially when the air was calm and the flag hung limply. Also
called the "Jackson Flag", it was first used at the funeral of General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson,
killed by friendly-fire.
The flag now had 13 stars, as the Confederacy had been joined officially by four more states,
Virginia (April 17, 1861), Arkansas (May 6, 1861), Tennessee (May 7, 1861), and North Carolina
(May 21, 1861). Efforts to secede failed in Kentucky and Missouri, though those states were
represented by two of the stars.
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The Third National Flag of the Confederacy. On March 4th,1865, briefly before the end of the War, a
third pattern was adapted. It was essentially the same as the Second National, with a broad bar of red
placed on the fly end of the white field.
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The Confederate Battle Flag . The best-known Confederate flag, however, was the Battle Flag, the
familiar "Southern Cross". The liberal press and the NAACP consistently refer to this flag as the
Stars and Bars, which proves the value of research. It was carried by the vast majority of Confederate
troops in the field, especially in the Army of Northern Virginia, although it did not actually
represent the government of the Confederate States of America.
The Stars represented the 11 states actually in the Confederacy, plus Kentucky and Missouri.
Notice the square shape.
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Confederate Naval Jack: Used as a navy jack at sea from 1863 onward. This rectangular flag, though not
the same as the ANV Battle Flag, was sometimes used as such, and is often confused for same. It has become
a generally recognized symbol of the South.
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