 Confederate
Flags used during the Civil War
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| For most people the image of the Confederate
flag conjures up the “blue cross with white stars and a red background.”
Which is more properly known as the Confederate battle flag, but in fact
there were a number of Confederate flags. |
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| The infantry flags were 51” square. The
cavalry flags were smaller and did not display the compressed star pattern. |
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| The 2nd bunting issue, with thirteen stars,
came early in 1862. The Richmond Clothing Depot had on hand a large quantity
of orange material used to border the bottom, top, and fly edges; only
the hoist edge and stars were white. For about six months this was the
predominant flag of northern Virginia. Even though the most common flag,
the 3rd bunting issue was already being made. |
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| The 3rd bunting issue began to see increasing
service. Bringing back the white border of the 1st bunting issue, this
flag saw extensive action in late 1862 1863. It was the predominant Confederate
flag at Gettysburg. The large infantry flags retained the compressed small
star pattern of the 2nd bunting issue. It saw service the rest of the war
although in 1864, it saw it’s own replacement come fourth the 4th bunting
issue. |
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| “The battle flag.” Identified as if it
were the only Confederate battle flag. The 4th bunting issue had bigger
stars that were spread out over the cross. |
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| A common replacement of the 4th bunting
issue in late 1864 and 1865 was the twelve star battle flag. The 1st Texas
infantry lost one of these 12-starred flags near Appomattox. It was a bit
unusual in that it was considerably larger than most of the Confederate
infantry flags, about 60” square. |
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| Four National Flags of the Confederate
States of America were used during the Civil War The flags were Flown at
all CSA naval vessels, all CSA fortifications, and in numerous Civil governmental
applications. |
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That is
a considerable amount of flags (31 flags to be exact) for 11 seceding states.
Some of them are still used today for state flags, even though
the majority of them are not used, and have long been forgotten, they still
hold history.
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(2nd bunting issue)
(3rd bunting issue)
(4th bunting issue)
(12 star variant)
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sumrall, All "2nd bunting issue, ANV, early 1862-1863."
Battle
Flags of the Confederacy. 1995 <http://home.txcr.net/~flags/flag3.htm>
(10/30/00)
Sumrall, All "3rd bunting issue,ANV, 1862 to 1864."
Battle
Flags of the Confederacy. 1995 <http://home.txcr.net/~flags/flag4.htm>
(10/30/00)
Sumrall, All "4th bunting issue,ANV,1864-1865"
Battle
Flags of the Confederacy. 1995 <http://home.txcr.net/~flags/flag5.htm>
(10/30/00)
Sumrall, All "12 star variant,ANV, 1864-1865"
Battle Flags of the Confederacy. 1995 <http://home.txcr.net/~flags/flag6.htm>(10/30/00)
Sumrall, All "National flags of the CSA" Battle
Flags of the Confederacy. 1995
<http://home.txcr.net/~flags/flag31.htm>
(10/30/00)
Austin Stum
8th grade
2000
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