Battle flags of texans in the confederacy by alan k. Arkansas infantry and ohio infantry veterans pictures, civil war books, unknown. After the war the confederate battle flag would persist as the mostrecognizable symbol of the confederate states of america. Information given for several south carolina regiments was found to be consistent with augustus dickerts history of kershaws brigade, published circa 1899.
Military units commonly carried distinct flags for identification on the battlefield. Second confederate national flag or regimental colors this interesting second confederate national flag, with its reversed colors in the canton, was captured at the battle of paines cross roads painesville in virginia near the end of the civil war in 1865 by sgt. Second national pattern regimental flag richmond clothing depot, 18631865 by devereaux d. Georges cross, is based on pure speculation and not an existing flag. Sikakis, stewart, compendium of the confederate armies, florida and arkansas, facts on file, inc. The united confederate veterans ucv issued a report in 1904 defining the square anv pattern flag as the confederate battle flag, effectively writing out of the historical record the wide variety of battle flags under which confederate soldiers had served. This is a second national pattern confederate flag adopted on may 1, 1863 and used until replaced on march 4, 1865. A few confederate military units published circulars favoring the proposal, but other units opposed it, and many predicted privately that white confederate troops would never consent to it. Confederate states of america flags gadsden and culpeper.
United states, civil war service records of confederate. Regimental histories are valuable research sources that offer a unique perspective for the study of the civil war. A new book, the irish at gettysburg, says the real story of the irish who fought with the confederate army is only just starting to be told. Starting in late november, 1861, the new battle flags were then presented to the confederate units at centreville and into december for other units in nearby parts of northern virginia. The flag names are listed as they appear in the book which was printed in 1905. Army of northern virginia battle flag cotton issue, 1862 by devereaux d. What we today call the confederate flag the starstudded blue diagonal cross on a field of red was born as the battle flag of what became gen. Andrews cross, the hardee design, and the van dorn design. Only book on confederate battle flags showing different unit battle flags such as van dorn pattern, hardee pattern, nva pattern and other patterns. Kentucky, maryland, missouri, the confederate units and. I knew very little about the heritage outside of the dukes of hazzard, so i found the confederate battle flag. List of books and articles about confederate army u.
It participated in many battles of the army from chickamauga to atlanta, endured hoods winter operations, and fought in north carolina. Seemingly everything possible has already been written. Black confederate myth debunked in new history book. Jul 30, 2015 the american civil war 18611865, in the united states often referred to as simply the civil war and sometimes called the war between the states, was a civil war fought over the secession of the confederate states. On february 8, 1861, delegates from southern states adopted the provisional constitution of the confederate states of america, and soon after established a volunteer army. Help needed improving arkansas civil war unit histories. Battle flags of the army of northern virginia confederate flags. The unit was part of deas alabama brigade which, sometime in late 1862 or early 1863, received flags of this type for only their brigade which i think are based on imperial french regimental col. For each military unit the service records are arranged alphabetically by the soldiers surname. Marine corps air wing skid kids flags are produced for the hmla community. Later the unit was assigned to triggs, reynolds, browns and reynolds consolidated, and palmers brigade, army of tennessee. Transcending conventional partisanship, john coski reveals the flag s origins as one of many banners unfurled on the battlefields of the civil war.
A brief history of the confederate flags mississippi history now. Arkansas confederate infantry units is nearing completion. Three successive designs served as the official national flag of the confederate states of. The confederate states of america solicited designs for a national flag early. During the autumn of 1863, the richmond clothing depot began the manufacture of confederate 2nd national flags. In addition to the national flags, a wide variety of flags and banners were flown by southerners during the war.
A bibliography of confederate flag publications the last flag of the confederate states of america. Battle flags with such wonderful history rarely are offered and confederate flags associated with the historic and monumental battle of gettysburg never become available. Confederate and civil war flags united states flag. What began as a symbol of southern valor carried by veteran units at postwar. Not all csa flags were the army of northern virginia st andrews cross pattern as commonly thought by most americans. Intense public debates have erupted over confederate flags flying atop state capitols, being incorporated into state flags, waving from dormitory windows, or. As southern morale suffered, deserters from both sides took refuge in florida, often attacking confederate units and looting farms. This is an extraordinarily rare opportunity to own a very historic, unit identified flag. It begins with the flags conception as the battle flag of gen. Bonners book provides valuable new historical context for the confederate flag controversies of our own time. The 1st regiment minnesota volunteer infantry mustered for a threeyear term 18611864 in the union army at the outset of the american civil war when the prevailing enlistment period was three months. Tmp how many flags would each confederate regiment. Jun 24, 2015 the racist massacre in a south carolina church has tipped the balance in a decadesold tug of war over the meaning of the confederate battle flag. During the civil war twentysix batteries of field artillery organized in texas for service in the confederate army.
Despite the states secession from the union it would supply them with third most troops from a southern state next to tennessee and north carolina along with the newly created west virginia totaling at 22,000. This flag was designed to have a distinct difference from the unions stars and stripes. Many of those flags possessed unique designs incorporating regimental designation numbers. Its companies were from the counties of clarke, frederick, floyd, jefferson, and berkeley. The last flag of the confederate states of america. Author richard rollins substantiates this information in his book the damned the red flags of the rebellion. The state flag of mississippi integrated the battle flag as its canton, while the flag of georgia, in its various permutations, included elements of both the battle flag and the stars and bars. Confederate infantry units taken from tennesseans in the civil war, this section gives a descriptive history of the tennessee confederate infantry units. Confederate battle flags were carried by soldiers to represent the.
In addition, many military units had their own regimental flags they would carry. Nearly all know gettysburg associated flags are in museums or institutional collections. Confederate field artillery the handbook of texas online. This finding aid focuses on civil war regimental histories located in the librarys general collections and is arranged by union and confederate state units. Many states had soldiers and units fighting for both the united states and the confederate states confederate states army. The confederate battle flag was created so it would not be mistaken for the union flag in battle. Drew gilpin faust, author of creation of confederate nationalism and mothers of invention this book describes more than the story of a flag. Troianis famous lone star painting shows texas regiment at antietam with the lone star and a battle flag. Trouble for confederate reenactors civil war memory.
Aug 30, 2019 a new book uncovers the history of body servants, neoconfederate propaganda, and one of the internets favorite racist memes. Tennessee confederate civil war flags tennessee secretary. Only one of its kind with the entire army of tennessees battle flags. The marsoc flag is available in the redwhiteblue version, white on black and the historic yellow background. Many confederate units served under battle flags that looked nothing like the red flag with the starstudded blue cross. Confederate battle flags, rebel printed nylon flag 3 x 5 ft. I was a confederate reenactor because those are the units i was close enough to drill with. The stars represent the seven seceded states of the u. One of the four sizes produced was intended for field use. Confederate army flag 1865 in 1860, shortly after the election of abraham lincoln, southern states began seceding from the union. The handtoforehead salute is correct for flag ceremonies for any person wearing a uniform of the. The first confederate national flag bore 7 stars representing the first seven states to secede from the u. Since the end of the american civil war, private and official use of the confederacy s flags, and of flags with derivative designs, has continued amid.
The myriad of battle flag patterns shown, all created by the author based on. From the bonnie blue flag, the unofficial state flag of secession in arkansas, to the first national flag of the confederate states and the numerous other company and regimental flags the men of arkansas bore into battle, each banner is presented in full color, accompanied by a history of its unit and creation. The very heart of the confederate fighting unit was its flag, which came in a variety of designs and colours. Despite being ten years old, the book is still relevant to todays discussion about confederate symbols and monuments. Jun 22, 2015 the second national flag of the confederacy was issued by the confederate congress on may 1, 1863. Confederate battle flags were carried by soldiers to represent the confederate states of america during the civil war. In 1865, at the wars conclusion, the furling of the defeated confederate banners signalled the end of that episode in history. Battle flag of the 16th south carolina infantry regt.
Kentucky, maryland, missouri, the confederate units and the indian units compendium of the confederate armies hardcover january 1, 1995 by. Volume four is a scrapbook for the years 18591866, which includes newspaper accounts, invitations, ribbons, and other memorabilia related to the unit. It has become the single most identifiable symbol of. The first national flag of the confederate states of america was adopted at the. The states that made up the confederate states of america basically went with either older militia colors like south carolina, whose militia flag dates from the act of 1839, or georgia, which used a postcolonial flag, revivals of older political flags like texas, or flags created specifically to represent the secession of that particular. This is the first confederate flags book written as a serious discussion of all the flags used by both the confederate national and the military forces she raised for her defense. Because of its large white field this pattern flag was nicknamed the stainless banner. In the six months preceding passage of the march 1865 act, soldiers, civilians, newspaper editors, and public servants debated the proposal to arm the slaves. So from to 18 i did confederate civil war reenacting. Hoke rose to the rank of major general during the civil war. Courtesy the american civil war museum, richmond, virginia. Flags of the confederate states of america wikipedia. In recent years, the confederate flag has become as much a news item as a civil war relic.
The flag was issued to the unit on september 20, 1863 on the field of. Corrections made by the tennessee state museum are given in parentheses. The third national flag was the adopted flag of the confederacy. Entries are provided for every known confederate unit, establishing its identity and presenting a brief narrative of its service, war record, and commanders. Our inventory of reprints of rare confederate books and southern history books is one. In south carolina, which has become ground zero in the confederate flag debate, 16 of the army guards 150 flag streamers date back to the confederacy, lt. This fascinating book features on each page a color illustration of an alabama civil war era flag, along with brief notations about the history of the unit and its. Its really sad that folks dont want to investigate truth anymore. Flag of the confederate states of america britannica. Flags of the civil war confederate states of america, confederate flag, military art. Historic flags of the texas state library and archives tslac 3064032 matamoros battalion tslac 3064033 guerrero battalion tslac 3064034 toluca battalion tslac 02872 austin national flag tslac 02873 commission national flag tslac 223860 lone star flag tslac 199193 maritime auxiliary flags tslac 3064064 u. Confederate states of america flags in 2015, american heritage was censored. The confederate battle flag meet your next favorite book.
It was carried by confederate troops in the field which were the vast majority of forces under the confederacy. Cannon details the texts of the flag acts adopting national banners and also covers the creation of the many patterns of battle flags used by confederate forces. Flags of civil war southern regimental and unit flags. They provide details on the organization and achievements of a particular unit, often focusing on wartime activities. Lees army of northern virginia, then shows how it became the primary confederate symbol, despite never being the national flag of the confederacy. Three successive designs served as the official national flag of the confederate states of america the confederate states or the confederacy during its existence from 1861 to 1865. Confederate and union flags from the book, the flags of the confederate armies. The flag act of 1865 describes the flag in the following language. The flag was the rallying point on the field of battle and it marked the unit headquarters in camp. Many of the flags in the collection of the american civil war museum were damaged over time. The batteries numbered from fifty to one hundred men, normally commanded by a captain, and usually armed with four to six cannon, which fired from sixpound to twelvepound projectiles. The museum that keeps nowobscure confederate flags atlas. The confederate battle flag was never a national flag of the confederacy. Most famously, the bonnie blue flag was used as an unofficial flag during the early months of 1861.
This book was developed by cross referenceing units listed in several sources including. The bestknown confederate flag, however, was the battle flag, the familiar southern cross. In 1861 the confederate generals ordered silk battle flags for issue to the units of the confederate army. The stars represented the 11 states actually in the confederacy plus kentucky and missouri. Readings the confederate flag black bibliography suggested. The van dorn battle flag was also carried by confederate troops fighting in the transmississippi and western theaters of war. The width twothirds of its length, with the union now used as the battle flag to be in width threefifths of the width of the flag, and so proportioned as. Was also used as a naval jack by the confederate navy.
The confederate reprint company specializes in providing primary source literature relating to the antebellum, war between the states, and reconstruction periods of american history. It was carried into battle by several armies such as the army of northern virginia and the army of tennessee. Civil war flag photo confederate flag battle regiment rebel. Sep 10, 2017 i was a confederate reenactor because those are the units i was close enough to drill with. During offensive movements, it sustained high percentages of casualties at the battles of first bull run 20% and antietam 28% and a catastrophic 82% at the battle of gettysburg. Florida had joined the confederacy in advance of the american civil war, as the third of the.
The list of union mississippi units is shown separately. The congress of the confederate states of america do enact, that the flag of the confederate states shall be as follows. This is a list of mississippi civil war confederate units, or military units from the state of mississippi which fought for the confederacy in the american civil war. The confederate flag is an honorable flag with an honorable beginning. Confederate rebel flag 3ft x 5ft printed polyester. Virginia provided the following units to the virginia militia and the provisional army of the confederate states pacs during the american civil war. In fact confederate units carried a great number of different various looking flags compared to the federal forces. Online books resources in your library resources in other libraries. This is the first work to document the known existing flags of texas units in the war.
The very heart of the confederate fighting unit was its flag, which came in a variety of designs and. Volume one is a record book of the company from 17941883, which includes minutes of its meetings, an early history of the unit, muster rolls, and a unit roster. Books battle flags of texans in the confederacy by alan k. Original wartime battle flags, therefore, are associated with the confederate. On april 9, 1865, it merged into the 54th battalion virginia infantry. My infantry unit also had a secondary federal unit for instance when we had to galvanize. At the time it was built the flag was the largest confederate flag ever made. It became part of the stonewall brigade and served under generals t. That doesnt make the flag itself evil and it shouldnt be reflected as evil just because of that. Historical flags of our ancestors american civil war flags. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. Historic flags of the texas state library and archives.
The unit was part of deas alabama brigade which, sometime in late 1862 or early 1863, received flags of this type for only their brigade which i think are. Jun 30, 2009 the confederate battle flag is the first comprehensive history of this contested symbol. As many as eight more stars were later added to represent states admitted to or claimed by the confederacy. Presented to the confederate veterans at their reunion. Flags of civil war alabama, the flags of the civil war. Flag of the confederate states of america national flag consisting of seven white stars on a blue canton with a field of three alternating stripes, two red and one white. Jan 17, 2018 state flag from the 15th virginia cavalry. Its owner, marion lambert, descendant of three confederate soldiers, said the origin of his project was when thengovernor jeb bush took down the confederate flag that flew over a door at the florida state capitol. They merely repurposed it for their own evil intentions. That was the stars and bars, which fell out of favor due to its similarity to the american flag. List of american civil war units by state wikipedia. In recent years, the confederate flag has become as muc. In richmond the quartermaster bought the entire silk supply of richmond for making the flags. List of confederate monuments and memorials wikipedia.
This unit modified the flag by adding two parallel red bars in the field of white to avoid confusion of surrender. List of mississippi civil war confederate units wikipedia. Civil war, see james mcpherson, battle cry of freedom ballantine books. Cannons book has inspired flag makers to revive the old flags in addition to the 3 national flags, the battle flag and the naval ensign. This collection is a part of rg 109, war department collection of confederate records and is national archive microfilm publication m258. The confederate cruisers built or bought in england were a scourge to the u. This book is must have for flag gurus, civil war buffs and southern partisans.
Three successive designs served as the official national flag of the confederate states of america the confederate states or the confederacy during its existence from 1861 to 1865 since the end of the american civil war, private and official use of the confederacys flags, and of flags with derivative designs, has continued amid philosophical, political, cultural, and racial. The unit was accepted into confederate service in july. The unit served in the department of east tennessee and the department of western virginia and east tennessee, and skirmished in various. The flags also served as sources of unit pride and morale. The border states had both confederate and union units, and in many of the confederate states union forces organized union units from individuals who swore loyalty to. The military unit field may also display the surname range ag as found on the microfilm.