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The image of the Confederate Flag conjures up the "blue cross with white stars on a red background" which is more properly known as the Confederate battle flag, although, in fact, there were a number of Confederate Flags used during the war, and many regiments and companies had their own unique flags. The earlier Confederate flags were far more similar to the "Stars and Stripes" design of the Northern US states and often caused confusion. Therefore, it was decided to take on a different design, which had been inspired by the South Carolina secession banner and was created by South Carolina Congressman William Porcher Miles.
At that time, October 1861, the Confederacy consisted of 11 states and had also recognized the delegation from Missouri. Therefore, the flag would have 12 stars on a rectangular field. In order to make it easier to manufacture, and to save on materials, the flag was made square. The first 120 silk battle flags were issued in November 1861. They had 12 gold-painted stars on blue bars edged with white on fields of pink or rose. The exterior borders of the flags were yellow. The hoist edge of the silk flags was blue. Some officers did not care for the colors and were told by General Pierre Beauregard to "dye it red sir; dye it with your blood!" There were eight more variations of this famous square battle flag before the end of the war, with the latter variants all the deep red color that we now identify with the flag.
This version of the Confederate flag was used as a navy jack at sea from 1863, before it became the generally recognized symbol of the South.
Last updated: March 05, 2007.
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