What were al the flags used by the confederate staes?

Answer 1

There were three different "National Flags" authorized by the Confederate government, none of which is the "Rebel Flag" you see today. That flag seen today called the Confederate Flag or the Rebel Flag is actually the Confederate Battle Flag. It was created by an officer of the Confederate Army, for use by the Army. Rach regiment of civil war armies had its own flag, which was an important item, not just a symbol. The armies used linear tactics, and the flag near the center of each regiment was a visible indicator of where the soldiers were supposed to be. The unit's flag was also important as a rallying point, if the unit attacked and was driven back. There is a famous Civil War song, "Rally 'Round The Flag, Boys" which is what the soldiers did after an unsuccessful attack. The Rebel Battle Flag, so popular today, was created after the First Battle of Bull Run (or Manassas), because during that battle it became apparent that the "First National" Confederate Flag looked a LOT like the US Flag, under the smoky conditions of thousands of men discharging black powder weapons all over the field. So, General Beauregard designed the Confederate Battle Flag for use by army units, a design which could not be confused with the US flag. Confusion over the flags was a serious issue, because it could cause "friendly fire" incidents, or cause troops to allow an enemy unit to draw too near believing they were friends due to misidentifying their flag. In the east, in General Lee's army, the Battle Flags were usually square, four feet on each side. In the west, the more familiar rectangular patern flag was used. Sometimes today people will call the Rebel Flag (the Confederate Battle Flag) "The Stars and Bars", which is wrong. "The Stars and Bars" were the First National Confederate Flag, the one which cold be easily confused with the US flag under battlefield conditions. It had a blue field with stars on it in the upper left, just like the US flag, but instead of 13 stripes it had three broad "bars", one red, one white, and one red. The "Second National" Flag was designed for use by the Confederate Navy. It was a white flag, and instead of a blue field with stars on it in the upper left corner, it had a representation of the army's battle flag. But because it was a white flag, it could be confused as a completely white flag signifying surrender, so a broad red vertical stripe was added up and down the other side of the flag from the field, and this was the "Third National" flag.