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RESOURCE GUIDE
#14
Confederate Stars and Bars
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The First Official Flag of the
Confederacy Although less well known than the
"Confederate Battle Flags", the Stars and Bars was
used as the official flag of the Confederacy from March,1861
to May, 1863. The pattern of colors of this flag did not
distinguish it sharply from the Stars and Stripes of the
Union. Consequently, considerable confusion was caused on the
battlefield. The seven stars represent the original seven
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)
Texas (February 1, 1861) |
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The Confederate Battle Flag
The best known confederate flag, however, was the Battle
Flag, the familiar "Southern Cross". It was
carried by a vast majority of forces under the Confederacy.
The Stars represented the 11 states actually in the
Confederacy plus Kentucky and Missouri. Kentucky and
Missouri did not officially secede but secessionist
governments were formed in those two states. Also, large
numbers of Kentuckians and Missourians fought for the
Confederacy. |
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The Second Official Flag of
the Confederacy
On May 1, 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. The flag now had 13 stars having been joined
officially by four more states:
- Virginia (April 17, 1861)
- Arkansas (May 6, 1861)
- Tennessee (May 7, 1861)
- 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 Official Flag of the
Confederacy
On March 4, 1865, a short
time before the collapse of the Confederacy, a third pattern
was adopted; a broad bar of red was placed on the fly end of
the white field.
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Educational Resource Site Main Page |
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If you have any
questions or comments about the Mansion,
please contact Jim Turner either by phone or e-mail-
(478)
445-4545 /
jim.turner@gcsu.edu
or by mail -
The
Old Governor's Mansion
120 South Clarke Street
Milledgeville, GA 31061 |
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Last updated: 2/5/07
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