SCV Camp 1437
The Confederate Battle FlagThe following fact sheet is prepared by the Education Committee of the Sons of Confederate Veterans
The most prominent regional flag of the South is the Battle Flag of the Confederate States of America. The Battle Flag was used on the field of honor to aid with the communication of the troops. Their movement during battle was often directed by where the flag bearer carried the flag. Communication was a key element of the Constitutional Cause for the Confederate soldier. Just as in those days, communication today is a key element to our cause of education of the truth. Unfortunately, the Flag itself has repeatedly come under attack because of its misuse by some people, and lack of education of its history on the part of others. The flag cannot defend itself when being misused by certain individuals. An educated public is its best defense. Defending With Honor First hand personal accounts of the period constantly reflect the courage, valor, honor, sacrifice and duty of the Southern people during the nineteenth century in their service during the War for Southern Independence. In May 1864, a young farmer nineteen years old, Thomas J. Dingler, of Spalding County, Georgia was serving as a color bearer for the 44th Regiment of Georgia Volunteers during the Battle of Spotsylvania. The Union attack was directed at his front. Pvt. Dingler waved his flag on the firing line in defiance to the invaders. Heavily outnumbered, the unarmed color bearer became a target to be taken because he held onto his beloved banner, his battle flag. Surrounded by the enemy, he still refused to surrender his flag. One of the enemy gave him the bayonet, but the young Dingler gathered the flag in close to his side. The enemy wanted to capture the trophy of the flag, so more men pushed their bayonets into his body. Undefended, he finally fell, but he held on to the edge of his blood stained flag as it was ripped from his hands. After the battle his Comrades found their blood stained color bearer with 17 bayonet wounds thrust into his young body. In his hands were only left the red shreds of his beloved battle flag. He was buried with these shreds. Private Dingler persevered to the end, devoted to his flag. I Am Not The “Stars and Bars” "I am the most popular Battle Flag of the Confederate States of America. My thirteen, white five-pointed stars represent the States of the Confederacy. I am a four foot square, with a red field covered by a dark blue St. Andrew’s Cross, edged with a narrow strip of white. You may call me the “Southern Cross.” My borders are yellow to reflect Kentucky’s neutrality. My design was approved by the War Department in September of 1861, being distributed to the regiments of the Army of Northern Virginia in October. The Battle Flag was designed to be used on the field of battle. My design, above, was never a national flag of the Confederacy. I have been referred to in error by some people as the “Stars and Bars”. I have no way of correcting them, so its up to you. The “Stars and Bars” was the First National Flag of the Confederacy, designed to favor the “Stars and Stripes” flag of the Union. The Southern people were proud of their old country during the early years of the war, and many felt the South could claim the “Stars and Stripes” too. The designs were similar thereby causing confusion on the battlefield. Confederate Perspective The Battle Flag of the Confederate States of America was carried throughout the war by the men and boys of the South. These soldiers represented the last thin Gray Line of Southern defenders during the War for Southern Independence. The survivors knew what would happen to their side of the story after the last shots were fired. Eloquently expressed, the last survivor of General “Stonewall” Jackson’s staff speaks his concern for what the future generations would be exposed to. “All that was, or is now, desired is that error and injustice be excluded from the text books of the schools and from the literature brought into our homes; that the truth be told, without exaggeration and without omission’ truth for its own sake and for the sake of honest history, and that the generations to come after us not be left to bear the burden of shame and dishonor unrighteously laid upon the name of their noble sires.” Rev. James P. Smith, Staff of General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, C.S.A. Words of Wisdom Duty - action required by one’s position, conduct due to superiors, a moral or legal obligation. The words of General Robert E. Lee were an appropriate charge to the people of the South during his day, and his words are still valid for all Americans today. “Duty is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less.” General Robert E. Lee, C.S.A. A Proud Heritage General Lee viewed duty as sublime, but what is our duty today, as Americans? As you go, take advantages of opportunities to discuss the Battle Flag and the truth of Confederate Heritage. Present the symbols of Confederate Heritage in the proper manner representing the people of the South and their sacrifices to the Confederate Cause. Educate yourselves and your families to the historical truths of the War period, and when you see the Battle Flag, pause to reflect on the honored heritage it means for all Americans. Learn More? For further readings on the Flags of the Confederate States of America: Confederate Veteran magazine (Sept.-Oct. 1988, Jan.-Feb. 1989, July-Aug. 1993), Southern Partisan magazine (Vol. XVI, Fourth Quarter, 1996), and Embattled Banner: A Reasonable Defense of the Confederate Battle Flag by Don Hinkle. The Sons of Confederate Veterans is a historical, patriotic, and non-political organization composed of male descendants of Confederate soldiers and sailors dedicated to insuring that a true history of the 1861-1865 period is preserved and presented to the public. The SCV continues to educate the public of the memory and reputation of the Confederate soldier as well as the motives for his suffering and sacrifice.
Confusion was caused by the commanders not being able to distinguish their troops from those of the enemy and adding to these difficulties was the fact that the "Stars and Bars" was so similar to the "Stars and Stripes" . General Beaurgard was determined to remedy the flag problem, he attempted to have the Confederate flag changed but Congressman William Porcher Miles suggested that the army adopt its own distinctive battle flag, and recommended the design he had presented to the Congress as the Confederate Flag on March 4, 1861. This flag was agreed upon but it was recommended that it would be more convenient and lighter as well as less likely to be tore by bayonets or tree branches if made square. This flag was issued in different sizes; 48 inches square for the infantry, 36 inches for the artillery, and 30 inches for the cavalry. Other flags such as State regimental colors were used by the Confederacy on the battlefield, but the Battle Flag, although it was never officially recognized by the Confederate government, came to represent the Southern "cause" to most people. The battleflag of the famous Confederate Army of Northern Virginia was altered in the design phase in order to make it easier to manufacture. By tradition, American flags had been rectangular in shape. The design for the ANV battleflag was originally submitted as rectangular - 12 gold stars on diagonally crossed blue bars - on a field of pink or rose (originally) - the Southern Cross. The man who came up with this design, South Carolina Congressman William Porcher Miles, had been inspired by the South Carolina secession banner that was similar but had a St. George's cross rather than a St. Andrews cross. It also had the state coat of arms in the upper left quadrant. It was origionally planned to use versions of that secession flag for military use and to put each state's coat of arms in the upper quadrant. But Miles, who also submitted a design for a National flag to the Committee on Flag and Seal, which he chaired, decided to go with a St. George's cross instead without state coats of arms. His National design was rejected as, at the time, the Confederacy only had 7 states and the star layout looked asymmetrical. When CS Generals Beauregard, Joseph Johnston and Gustavus Smith met to create a purely military flag for the Eastern army they settled on Miles design - only after failing to get the Confederate Congress to change the First National flag - the Stars and Bars - as it looked too much like the US flag (it was an intentional copy of it). By this time, the Confederacy consisted of 11 states (October, 1861) and had also recognized the delegation from Missouri. So the flag would have 12 stars on a rectangular field. One idea was for the flag to be blue with crossed red bars but this was shelved in favor on the more well known flag (although that pattern would show up in 1864 for Gen. John Walker's Texas Division in the Trans-Mississippi). Gen. Johnston suggested that the flag be made square rather than rectangular for two reasons: 1) to save on materials in the construction and, 2) to make it easier to manufacture. A rectangular flag of this design would have to deal with obtuse angles rather than right angles, thus slowing down the construction of the flags. This harkens back to how quilts are made - most are square and have square segments since right angles are easier to sew. Curiously, in early 1864, the battleflags for Johnston's new command, the Army of Tennessee, would receive rectangular Southern Cross flags from the Atlanta Depot - who evidently erred in making them since Johnston's orders called for "flags like those of the Virginia army." These, of course, as we now know, were square. The first 120 silk battleflags were issued in November, 1861. They had 12 gold painted stars on blue bars edged with white on fields of pink or rose. The exterior borders of the flags were yellow. The materials used were dress silk bolts purchased from Richmond area merchants in bulk. The hoist edge of the silk flags was blue. Since these colors were popular trim for ladies dresses (the latter red color of these flags would not be available in silk since that color was for the "ladies of the evening") they were what the later issues of this famous flag were to be. Some CS officers did not care for the colors and were told by Beauregard, in no uncertain terms to, "dye it red sir, dye it with your blood!" This famous square battleflag would see 8 more variant issues before the end of the war: one cotton (for three brigades only including the famous Texas Brigade) and 7 wool bunting issues that varied from one to the other by sizes, star seperations and color of the exterior borders. These latter variants were all the deep red color that we now know best. Most folks west of the Appalachians never knew about the ANV pattern flags - for the western troops had created their own distinctive battle flags to use. It was in the 1905 UCV booklet that put the stamp on the ANV flag as what has come to be known today as "the battleflag". No one single flag can make that claim. |
