C.S.A. Jack "Battle Flag"

The "Jack" was the flag of the Confederate Navy. It is a rectangular rather than square flag and omits the thin white border around the outside. This flag was used mainly by the Confederate Navy but also by some ground troops.

Confederate Battle (square), AKA "Southern Cross"

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 Beauregard 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.

First National, AKA "Stars & Bars"

This flag was adopted but never officially enacted. For twenty five days the Confederate States of America had no officially approved flag. In their haste to have a flag prepared for the flag raising ceremony on March 4, 1861, Congress neglected to formally enact a flag law. When this flag was first raised over the capitol building in Montgomery, it contained seven stars, representing the Confederate States. By the third week of May two more stars were added representing Virginia and Arkansas. In July the addition of North Carolina and Tennessee increased the number to eleven and finally the admission of Kentucky and Missouri in December brought the circle of stars to thirteen. During battle this flag was sometimes confused with the Union Stars and Stripes, therefore it was replaced by the 2nd National flag in 1863.

Second National, AKA "Stainless"

Not more then a year after the adoption of the Stars and Bars the issue of designing a new flag for the Confederate States was raised with the intention to create a flag that was in no way similar to the Union's Stars and Stripes. Adopted on May 1, 1863 this flag displayed the Battle Flag in the canton on a field of pure white, giving it it's name the "Stainless Banner". The white field is symbolic for the purity of the Cause which it represented. One of the first uses for this flag was to drape the coffin of General Thomas J. Jackson. "Stonewall" Jackson died on May 10, 1863 from pneumonia he contracted in the treatment of his injuries received on May 2nd. On May 12, his body lay in state in the Confederate House of Representatives, by order of the President, the first new flag manufactured draped his coffin. This "Stainless Banner" is now on display in the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond.

Third National, AKA "Last National"

Because the 2nd National's pure white field could be mistaken for a flag of surrender, on March 4, 1865 this last flag of the Confederacy was adopted. This design added a red bar to the end of the "Stainless" flag. This flag flew for thirty six days in 1865 until the South surrendered on April 9th.

Bonnie Blue

The first recorded use of the lone star flag dates to 1810. On September 11, 1810 a troop of West Florida dragoons set out for the provincial capitol at Baton Rouge under this flag. They were joined by other republican forces and captured Baton Rouge, imprisoned the Governor and on September 23, 1810 raised their Bonnie Blue flag over the Fort of Baton Rouge. Three days later the president of the West Florida Convention, signed a Declaration of Independence and the flag became the emblem of a new republic. By December 10, the flag of the United States replaced the Bonnie Blue after President Madison issued a proclamation declaring West Florida under the jurisdiction of the Governor of the Louisiana Territory. With this rebellion in mind, this flag was used by the Republic of Texas from 1836 to 1839. On January 9, 1861 the convention of the People of Mississippi adopted an Ordinance of Secession. With this announcement the Bonnie Blue flag was raised over the capitol building in Jackson. Harry McCarthy was so inspired that he wrote a song entitled "The Bonnie Blue Flag" which became the second most popular patriotic song of the Confederacy. The Confederate government did not adopt this flag but the people did and the lone star flags were adopted in some form in five of the southern States that adopted new flags in 1861.

General Lee's Headquarters Flag