|
The Confederate Seal
 |
The Confederate Seal was the seal
of the government, styled Confederate
States of America, of the eleven states
that attempted secession during the War
for Southern Independence.
The seal
features George Washington on horseback,
in the same position as a statue of him
in Richmond, Virginia. Washington is
surrounded with a wreath, which is made
of some of the main agricultural
products of the Confederate States,
including wheat, corn, tobacco and
cotton. The margin of the seal features
the words "The Confederate States of
America: 22 February 1862" and the
national motto, Deo Vindice
("Under God, Our Vindicator" or "With
God as [our] Champion"). The date on the
seal represents when Jefferson Davis was
inaugurated after the first and only
Confederate general election, and is
also Washington's birthday. |
|
|
|
The Confederate Flag
"This banner, the witness
and inspiration of many victories, which
was proudly borne on every field from
Manassas to Appomattox, was conceived on
the field of battle-lived on the field
of battle-and on the last fatal field
ceased to have place or meaning in the
world.
But the men who followed
it, and the world which watched its
proud advance or defiant stand, see in
it still the unstained banner of a true
and generous people, whose deeds have
outlived their country, and whose final
defeat but added luster to their
grandest victories.
It was not the flag of
the Confederacy, but simply the
banner-the battle flag-of the
Confederate soldier. As such it should
not share the condemnation which our
'cause' received, or suffer from its
downfall. The whole world can unite in
a chorus of praise to the gallantry of
the men who followed where this banner
led."
from a
speech by General P.G.T. Beauregard,
C.S.A.
|
|
1st National Flag
1861-1863
 |
The First Official Flag
of the Confederacy.
The 'Stars and Bars' was
used as the official flag of the
Confederacy from March 1861 to May of
1863. The pattern and colors of this
flag did not distinguish it sharply from
the Stars and Stripes of the Union.
This caused confusion was
caused on the battlefield.
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).
|
|
2nd National Flag
1863 - 1865
 |
The 'Stainless Banner'
was adopted in 1863 by the provisional
government of the Confederate State. The
design change came because the 1st
Nation was sometimes misidentified as
the US Federal flag on the battlefield
when it was hanging down a pole. This
flag is sometimes referred to as the
Stonewall Jackson Flag. This was the
flag the draped General Jackson's his
casket
|
|
3rd National Flag
1865-present
|
The 3rd National Flag
would be the last official flag of the
Confederate States of America. Also
known as the 'Final Edition', the flag
was modified from the 2nd National. The
red bar was added to remove the
resemblance of flag of surrender from
the 2nd National. |
|
South Carolina
Sovereignty Flag
December 1860
|
Popular flag that was
raised after the South Carolina
Secession Convention voted to secede
from the Union. The flag was used as
inspiration in the designing of the
Confederate battle flag. |
|
Army of Northern
Virginia Flag
"The Battle Flag"
December 1861 - present
|
At the First Battle of
Manassas, Gen P.G.T. Beauregard noticed
the confusing of due to similarities of
the First National Flag and the US Flag.
His troops had also brought their own
colors. This enhanced the confusing.
Beauregard called on his aide William
Porcher Miles to design a flag that
would be used for guiding the troops
into battle. Miles drew inspiration from
the South Carolina Sovereignty flag in
the design of the flag that would become
synonymous with the Confederacy.
The flag would be used in battle for the
first time in December 1861.
|
|
1st Confederate Naval
Jack
1861-1863
|
The First Confederate
Navy Jack consisted of a circle of seven
5-pointed white stars on a field of
light blue. |
|
Second Confederate
Naval Jack
1863-present
|
The Second Confederate
Naval Jack was an elongated version of
the Confederate Battle Flag. The Naval
Jack saw service by several
Confederate Army units. Gen Braxton
Bragg ordered the flag to be used by
troops falling under his command within
the Army of Tennessee. |
|
Bonnie Blue Flag
|
The Bonnie Blue never
gained recognition as a true secession
flag. The flag gained prominence after
Irish songwriter Harry Macarthy penned a
song bearing the name. Macarthy wrote
the song after seeing the same flag
raised in Jackson, Mississippi following
the states secession from the Union. The
song, Bonny Blue Flag, became the second
most patriotic song in the Confederacy.
After the war, the flag was displayed
outside houses to signify safe house for
traveling Confederate soldiers.
|
|
South Carolina State
Flag
Adopted 26 Jan 1861
|
Following South
Carolina's secession from the union,
discussions emerged on a flag to
represent the new Republic. The Senate
and House discussed many ideas. A joint
committee agreed on the flag show. It
was formally adopted on Jan 26, 1861. |
|
South Carolina State
Flag
Adopted 28 Jan 1861
 |
Two days later, the flag
was changed to make the palmetto tree
white. No other flag change has been
adopted since. in the 1900's, the
historical commissioner for South Carolina
changes the crescent to face in the
direction that is synonymous with
today's South Carolina Flag. |
 |
Big Red - The official
flag of the Citadel. IS this the
original flag depicted? The document Big
Red: A Timeless Symbol of Duty, Honor
and Courage written by Lt Col Andrew D.
Kullberg, USAF (Retired) Member, Citadel
Historical Council
Class of 1983 brings some very
interesting facts. A fund has been setup
to try and bring the flag home. Download
the article here:
Big Red |
