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The Confederate Flag

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Salah ad-Din View Drop Down
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Joined: 15-Apr-2011
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  Quote Salah ad-Din Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: The Confederate Flag
    Posted: 21-Jun-2013 at 19:55
The stereotypical 'Rebel Flag' has become an instantly recognizable image of Southern identity. Both historically and modernly, white supremacists as well as rednecks (those with a glorious lack of sophistication according to Jeff Foxworthy) have also adopted it as their emblem. However, it was first used as the battle-flag of the Confederate forces in the Civil War.

A variety of flags were used by Confederate soldiers before, and alongside, the traditional Rebel Flag. In 1861, the South adopted the so-called 'First National Flag', which was the inspiration for the popular song Bonny Blue Flag. This banner was eventually abandoned because it bore too close a resemblance to the Yankee colors, thus resulting in incidents of friendly fire. The civilian world also resented this early Confederate flag; in December of 1861 the Daily Richmond Examiner claimed that 'the resemblance of the Confederate flag to that of the United States renders it displeasing in the eyes of more than three-fourths of our population'.

The South's 'Second National Flag' was formally adopted in April of 1863 though it had already been in use, at least in the Virginia Theater, in the year before. This flag was white, except for one corner, which bore the emblem of the Army of Northern Virginia (the Confederate flag as we modernly recognize it). This was the flag that was used to cover the coffin of Thomas Jackson - it was also unpopular, however, due at least in part to its partial resemblance to a surrender flag. Its modified version, the 'Third National Flag', was only adopted in the final months of the War, and seems to have been rarely used.

The 'Confederate Battle Flag' is the flag we now recognize as the Rebel Flag. This consisted of a blue St. Andrew's Cross against a field of red, and decorated with thirteen white stars, one for each Confederate state. It may well have been the brainchild of William Porcher Miles, a Confederate congressman who described it in a letter to Pierre Beauregard in August of 1861. In November, it became the flag of choice in the Army of Northern Virginia, and would remain so until the end of the War.

A variety of other flags were used, locally. Like their Federal enemies, some regiments carried both state and national/battle flags. In the War's Western Theater, the 'Southern Cross' (usually consisting of a white cross against a field of blue) was common.

Like soldiers throughout history, Confederate troops took pride in carrying their battle-flags, and would defend them with a devotion bordering on fanaticism. Many regiments took to painting or embroidering the names of their battles on their regimental colors. The colors of the 6th South Carolina Infantry, for instance, loudly proclaim 'SEVEN PINES!'

The precise coloration of the Confederate flag is apparently up for debate - though naturally, like Confederate uniforms, it would have varied between commands and theaters. In regard to his painting First Battle Flags, Civil War artist Don Troiani makes the following comment: 'I was surprised to receive some criticism about the color of the battle flags in the painting. Some people thought they looked washed out, as they did not fit into the preconceived notion of what a "real" Confederate battle flag should be. Even after constant explaining, I am fairly certain that some still cannot bring themselves to accept the fact that the Confederate army used pink battle flags.'
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