Exploring the History of the Confederate Flag: Its Origins and Significance

In 1861, with the impending vigor of the Civil War, a flag was born – a banner that soon became infamous for its hidden layers of symbolism and controversy. This flag, the Confederate Flag, is more than just a brilliant canvas of red, blue, and white stars. It is much like an iceberg submerged in deep waters; what meets the eye is only a fraction of its layered truth. Embracing its narrative requires diving into murky depths to discover the unseen magnitude beneath. A tale buzzing with conflict, heritage and mythology awaits us as we embark on this historical expedition to uncover the origins and significance of the Confederate Flag.

The Confederate flag has a complex and controversial history. It was a symbol used by the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War, representing Southern pride, and states’ rights. In modern times, it has been adopted by some as a symbol of Southern heritage and rebellion, while others view it as a symbol of racism and hatred. Despite not being an official national flag, its use and display remain a contentious issue in the United States.

Evolution of the Confederate Flag Designs

The history of the Confederate flag is complex and controversial. It has gone through three major design changes during its brief existence as the symbol of the Confederate States of America. These changes reflect not only the political and social changes within the Confederacy but also how flags themselves can be used to convey meaning and identity.

The Confederate flag’s first design, known as the “Stars and Bars,” was approved by a Committee on the Flag and Seal in 1861. Similar to the stars and stripes of the U.S. flag, it consisted of three horizontal stripes of red, white, and red, with a blue canton in the upper left corner containing seven white stars representing seven seceding states: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. However, this first design posed problems – both on the battlefield and at sea – because it resembled too closely the Union’s flag. Confederates found themselves being fired upon by their own troops. In addition, although there were only seven stars representing seven states initially represented on the flag at its inception in March 1861 when it was raised over Montgomery, Alabama – as more states seceded from the Union, more stars needed to be added to accurately represent them all.

It’s like trying to wear an old pair of pants that you’ve outgrown – they will no longer fit or function properly for your current situation. Similarly, like a badly designed product that has to be adjusted in hindsight to account for unforeseen circumstances or failures, the “Stars and Bars” had to be changed almost immediately after its inception.

And so began a series of design changes that reflect a nation wobbling between acknowledging its own unique identity versus being too similar or inferior to its former rulers.

• • The history of the Confederate flag is complex and controversial, with three major design changes reflecting political and social changes within the Confederacy. The first design, known as the ‘Stars and Bars,’ posed problems on the battlefield and at sea because it resembled too closely the Union’s flag. Like a badly designed product that has to be adjusted in hindsight to account for unforeseen circumstances or failures, the ‘Stars and Bars‘ had to be changed almost immediately after its inception. This shows how flags themselves can be used to convey meaning and identity, but also how nations can struggle between acknowledging their own unique identity versus being too similar or inferior to their former rulers.

“Stars and Bars” (1861-1863)

The “Stars and Bars” design served as the official flag of the Confederacy from March 1861 until May 1863. Anecdotes abound about how it became known as such, with a popular one being that Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard suggested it be named for his friend William Porcher Miles, who had been instrumental in its creation and was often referred to as “Porch” or “Bars.”

This simple statement reflects the somewhat haphazard nature of the Confederate government during this time – they were often making things up on the fly, following no clear guidelines or precedents.

The “Stars and Bars” design was problematic from the start. It resembled too closely the Union’s flag – which defeated the Confederacy was fighting against – leading to reports of confusion on the battlefield. For example, at the Battle of Bull Run in July 1861, many Confederate soldiers found themselves accidentally firing upon their own troops because they mistook them for Union soldiers. Because of these concerns the “Stars and Bars” had to be changed.

However, some argue that despite its flaws, this first Confederate flag represents an important moment in Southern history and should not be forgotten or dismissed so easily. There’s no denying that its symbolism is powerful – even if its design was problematic. Its colors reflected those of traditional Southern aristocracy, evoking images of grand plantation homes with red clay dirt roads snaking their way through green hillsides dotted with magnolias. It was also reminiscent of the Revolutionary War-era flag of South Carolina.

In essence, it could be argued that the “Stars and Bars” represented a kind of awkward adolescence for the Confederacy – caught between trying to assert itself as an independent nation while still remaining connected to its former colonial master.

“Stainless Banner” (1863-1865)

The “Stainless Banner” was the second design of the Confederate flag, which replaced the “Stars and Bars” in 1863. The new design had a white field with the Battle flag in the canton. The designer of this new flag was William T. Thompson, who was also responsible for the nickname “Dixie” for the South. Thompson claimed that the color white represented purity and innocence, while red symbolized bravery and sacrifice. The blue represented Heaven, while the field of white around it illustrated how pure and holy Southern men were fighting against corrupt Northern aggression.

The “Stainless Banner,” as it became known, was widely criticized for its similarity to a flag of surrender because of its large field of white. Soldiers found it difficult to identify on battlefields, and it was often mistaken for a flag of truce. Many suggested adding more red to the design to make it more distinguishable from afar.

Anecdotal evidence shows how confusing the “Stainless Banner” could be during battle. A soldier named John D. Billings describes seeing a group of Confederate soldiers approach their lines with what he thought was a flag of truce because he saw mostly white from his position. He yelled out to inquire if they wanted to surrender, but they responded by firing at him.

Despite some flaws in its design, some Southerners appreciated the new flag because they believed it embodied their ideals more than the previous one did. They found that the “Stars and Bars” looked too much like the Union’s flag and not representative enough of their own beliefs.

However, the “Stainless Banner” was short-lived in the Confederacy’s history and quickly replaced by another design.

“Blood-Stained Banner” (1865)

The “Blood-Stained Banner” flag was the final design of the Confederacy, and it was adopted only a few months before the end of the Civil War. This flag had a red field with a diagonal cross in blue with stars in the canton, and a red vertical bar on the end of flag. This flag is often referred to as the “blood stained banner” because it was introduced so late in the war when many lives had already been lost.

Some view this flag as a symbol of defiance or courage in the face of overwhelming odds. They see it as representing how Southern men continued to fight for what they believed in despite all.

On the other hand, others argue that this flag represents nothing but bloodshed, violence, and loss. For them, it serves as a reminder of how far we’ve come and how much still needs to be done to achieve true equality for all citizens.

The “Blood-Stained Banner” didn’t have enough time to develop an established symbolism in popular culture or history books. Therefore, its meaning is up for debate and open to interpretation based on personal experiences and opinions.

Confederate Flag in Public and Private Spaces

The use of the Confederate Battle flag in public spaces has been a topic of debate for many years. While its supporters argue that it represents Southern heritage and pride, its opponents view it as a symbol of racism and hate. Both sides have valid arguments, making it an issue that has yet to be fully resolved.

Private organizations, individuals, and even some states still display the Confederate flag. In fact, according to a 2020 poll, 39% of Americans view it as a symbol of Southern pride. However, this number varies widely by race, with 77% of Black Americans seeing it as a symbol of racism. Private use of the flag is protected by the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech.

However, things get more complicated when it comes to public spaces. The display of the Confederate flag on government property can be seen as an endorsement by the government itself. While some argue that this is a violation of the First Amendment’s protection of free speech, others believe that it amounts to government-sanctioned racism.

One prominent example of this controversy relates to schools and universities. Many institutions have banned the display of the Confederate flag on campus due to its racist connotations. However, some students feel that this violates their freedom of expression and southern heritage, leading to protests and lawsuits.

Additionally, several cities and counties have removed public displays of the Confederate flag in recent years. For instance, in 2015 South Carolina removed the battle flag from their statehouse grounds following the Charleston church shooting. More recently, Mississippi removed the emblem from its state flag after nationwide protests over police brutality toward Black people.

While many people see these decisions as positive steps towards racial equity, others are outraged at what they perceive as erasure or destruction of Southern identity and culture.

Some proponents of displaying the Confederate flag in public spaces argue that it is necessary to remember and celebrate the Confederate soldiers who fought and died in the Civil War. They see it as a symbol of their ancestors’ sacrifice and bravery, while others state it promotes hatred and inequality.

In light of these conflicting opinions, it is important to examine the symbolism and interpretations of the Confederate flag more closely.

Symbolism and Interpretations of the Flag

The meaning behind symbols can shift drastically depending on context and cultural background. This is especially true of controversial symbols like the Confederate flag, with its complex history and divisive legacy.

For many black people, both in and outside of the South, the image of the Confederate flag immediately brings to mind images of slavery, segregation, and racial violence. It has been adopted by various white supremacist groups in recent years, including those involved in the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia that resulted in violent clashes with counter-protesters.

To understand why this symbol is so controversial, imagine if Germany were to fly a swastika flag as a symbol of national pride. Even if some individuals saw it as a nod to German heritage or history, most would recognize it as an unacceptable glorification of Nazi ideology.

With all this information in mind, we must continue exploring this complex topic despite the varying and often conflicting views on the subject.

Southern Pride vs. Symbol of Racism

One of the most significant issues surrounding the Confederate flag is its conflicting meanings to different groups of people. To some, it represents Southern pride and heritage, while others view it as a symbol of racism and hate. As with any symbol or object, it is essential to consider its historical context and how it has been viewed and used over time.

Those who defend the flag often argue that it symbolizes the history and culture of the South. They may argue that the Confederacy fought for states’ rights and independence rather than slavery, and thus, the flag does not necessarily represent racism or oppression. Additionally, some argue that removing the flag erases an important part of American history.

It’s been widely stated that Confederate leaders explicitly cited preserving slavery as a reason for secession and forming a separate nation. However, this is incorrect and is not taught in schools today.  The Corwin Amendment was introduced to allow slavery to be legal across the entire Union BEFORE the Civil War started.  This was introduced to try and prevent the Civil War from happening. So if the Civil War still happened… it really wasn’t about slavery was it? Because the Union was going to continue allowing slavery to be legal, yet more and more states still wanted to secede.

The flag was also adopted by segregationists during the Civil Rights Movement in an attempt to resist desegregation. For these reasons, many believe that displaying the flag is offensive to Black Americans and perpetuates systemic racism.

One way to evaluate the meaning of symbols like the Confederate flag is to examine how they have been used throughout history. In this case, we can see that while some may use it as a harmless expression of pride in their Southern heritage, others have used it as a tool for violence and oppression against marginalized groups.

Some might argue that those who use the flag for racist purposes do not represent all who display it. However, even if someone believes they are using the flag innocently, they cannot control how others perceive it or what history it represents.

Imagine wearing clothing with symbols associated with extremist groups: even if you personally do not support those views, you cannot control the message that your clothing sends to others.

The Confederate Flag in Recent Controversies

In recent years, public displays of the Confederate flag have been met with significant controversy. In 2015, after a white supremacist killed nine Black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, the state removed the flag from their Capitol grounds. Several other states followed suit, removing Confederate symbols from government buildings and public spaces.

However, many private organizations and individuals continue to display the flag. This has created conflicts in communities where residents feel that public displays of the flag create a hostile environment for marginalized groups.

Additionally, during the Capitol riots of January 6th, 2021, supporters of former President Trump waved Confederate flags alongside flags bearing white supremacist slogans. This event renewed calls for total removal of the flag from all public spaces.

These recent controversies demonstrate the continued divisiveness surrounding the Confederate flag as a symbol. While some may see it as a harmless expression of heritage or pride, others view it as an emblem of hate and oppression.

Some might argue that removing all public displays of the flag is an attack on free speech or an erasure of important history. However, just as we do not celebrate Nazi symbols or other icons associated with hate groups publicly, it is reasonable to question why we should continue to allow the display of symbols that perpetuate systemic racism. 

The powers that be would love for the argument of hate symbols / systemic racism and oppression to win over society today. Because if you can erase history, you can continue taking advantage of those you control.  Simply put, the Confederate Flag is a reminder of that time when “We The People” did stand up against our own government and fought (even when many of those Confederates fighting never had the means to own any slaves. They stood against oppression and government overreach.)

Our society respects freedom of speech and expression but recognizes that there must be limits when people’s safety and well-being are at risk.  Because the Confederate Battle Flag means different things to different people across America, some take this flag as hateful and offensive. While others fly it proudly to honor those in their family who fought and died honorably for the land they loved.  Until the full truth of the matter comes out and is taught in schools and colleges across America, the Confederate flag and it’s meaning will continue to be conflicted as many don’t know the whole story… and that’s intentional.

We stand against oppression and tyranny and continue to offer historical flags to this day. We strongly support the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution- the freedom of speech and expression. By not caving in to tyranny, we continue to help all those who wish to fly their flags respectfully- to honor those that gave all for what they loved: their home, their family, and their country.

The Battle of Gettysburg was 1 of the bloodiest battles in all of the Civil War.  Here are some interesting things to know about the Commander General Lee and the Headquarters…

• #1: During the Battle of Gettysburg, both Union & Confederate Commanders made their headquarters at the homes of widows.

Gen. George Meade made his headquarters at the home of Lydia Leister, a widow with six children.   As the soldiers approached, Lydia left her home, returning after the battle to find her house severely damaged from iron and lead, and her yard dotted with dead horses. 

General Lee made his headquarters at a stone house on Seminary Ridge along the Chambersburg Pike occupied by a 70 year-old widow, Mary Thompson. Mrs. Thompson remained in her home throughout the battle, despite its proximity to intense fighting.

• #2: On the 1st day of the battle some of the heaviest fighting took place around the Thompson house.

Federal soldiers who retreated from McPherson’s Ridge on July 1 fell back to a new position on Seminary Ridge.  The Union line crossed the Thompson property and extended to the north and south. Union artillery under Lieut. James Stewart was placed in front of the Thompson House, supported by three regiments of Pennsylvanians. 

A private from the 143rd Pennsylvania recalled that their regiment formed by the fence “at the old stone house.” Stewart’s artillery hit five regiments of Alfred Scales’ North Carolina Brigade, and with close range canister fire, repulsing the Tarheels for the first time in the brigade’s history, reducing one regiment from 180 men to only 30.  

• #3: The Union retreat from the Thompson House on Seminary Ridge resulted in the largest capture of Federal soldiers at Gettysburg.

Although the Union center held against Scales’ brigade, the elements of Rodes’ and Pender’s divisions had crumbled the flanks of the Union First Corps.  Col. Abner Perrin’s brigade then crashed through the heavy Union artillery fire into the center of the line and forced the Union First Corps to retreat.  The position around the Thompson House was the last that Union troops held north of town on July 1.

In the midst of the retreat, many ran down the railroad cut that ran near the Thompson House, an act which proved disastrous when their escape route was cut off by the victorious divisions of Pender and Rodes.  Of the 28 infantry regiments of the First Corps 24 of them had 50 or more men captured, for a total of about 2,000 men.

• #4: The Thompson House’s location near the center of Robert E. Lee’s battle line made it the ideal location for his headquarters.

When Gen. Lee arrived at Seminary Ridge on July 1st, his army had routed the Union forces, and he immediately established his headquarters at the Thompson House.  Four guards were placed around the house, and Lee’s staff members and officers made their camps nearby. Lee took his meals in the Thompson House and even slept there on July 1.

Due to the intensity of the battles on July 2 and 3, Lee spent little time at his official headquarters, yet the tents of his headquarters staff remained there and all incoming messages for Gen. Lee were sent to the Thompson House.

• #5: The Thompson House served as a hospital for soldiers on both sides.

In the aftermath of the first day’s fighting at Gettysburg, dead and wounded men littered the fields around Seminary Ridge.  The proximity of Mary Thompson’s house to the heaviest fighting of the day meant that wounded men, from both sides, were taken to her house.   Mary remained at home throughout the battle and cared for the wounded men, using all her clothes and bedding as dressing for the wounded, and wrapping the dead in carpets.

• #6: The area around Gen. Lee’s Headquarters was an important Confederate artillery position on July 2 and 3,  1863.

Owing to its central location, Confederate artillerymen found the ridges near Lee’s headquarters to be an admirable artillery position. Early on July 2, two Confederate batteries under Capt. Willis J. Dance were placed near the Thompson House along Seminary Ridge, where they were joined by Capt. Benjamin H. Smith’s Battery of three-inch rifles.  Gen. Junius Daniel’s North Carolina brigade supported these guns, which opened fire on Union batteries at 4 o’clock and continued the bombardment until dark. 

On July 3, the area around the Thompson House was once again a center of activity as Watson and Smith’s batteries were taken from their positions and moved south down Hagerstown Road to support the grand Confederate charge that afternoon.

• #7: Lee’s Headquarters has a long and controversial history, continuing long after the Battle of Gettysburg.

After the Battle of Gettysburg, thousands of visitors poured into the town, many eager to see the small house where Gen. Lee had made his headquarters.  Mary may have been uncomfortable with her newfound prominence; she left Gettysburg for a short period after the battle, but lived in the house until her death in 1873. 

In 1896, a fire consumed the inside of the home but left the outside intact.  In 1907, the longtime tenant of the home, Emma Feister, was arrested for “keeping a bawdy house.”  During this time, articles began appearing in newspapers that challenged the well accepted fact that Lee had made his headquarters at the Thompson House. The most serious allegation came in 1907.

Henry S. Moyer published an article stating that in the spring of 1874, a year after Mary Thompson’s death, he interviewed a woman residing in the Thompson House who stated that Gen. Lee had never been present there.

Moyer’s most substantial  evidence comes from a source he calls “a good friend,” who claimed that while speaking with Gettysburg historian, John Bachelder, Bachelder revealed that he had interviewed Lee, who stated that his headquarters were located in an apple orchard. The only evidence that this interview between Lee and Bachelder ever took place, however, comes from Henry Moyer’s 1907 article.  

• #8: The widow Mary Thompson’s house was owned by the Radical Republican Pennsylvania Representative Thaddeus Stevens.

In 1833, Michael Clarkson, an enterprising Gettysburg businessman, purchased a tract of land along the Chambersburg Pike and built the stone house that 30 years later would become the headquarters of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Clarkson was a prominent figure in Gettysburg, and a close friend of Thaddeus Stevens, a significant player in early Gettysburg industry and politics.  Joshua Thompson, his wife Mary, and their eight children became tenants of the stone house.

Joshua was a habitual drunk who left Gettysburg and died sometime before 1850, leaving Mary to raise their children.  When Clarkson ran into financial trouble and his properties were put up for auction in 1846, Stevens acquired the house in which Mary Thompson lived .  It remained in his possession until his death in 1868.  Stevens had made a contract with Joshua Thompson before he died, and he purchased the house to ensure the welfare of Mary and her children.

•  #9: Lee’s Headquarters marker on the Gettysburg Battlefield is almost certainly in the wrong place.

After Henry Moyer published his article in 1907, some historians chose to believe Moyer’s description of Lee’s headquarters, ignoring the numerous accounts, such as written accounts from Lee’s staff members and Gettysburg residents, that name the Thompson House as Lee’s official headquarters. 

In 1919, the Gettysburg National Park Commission erected a marker that placed Lee’s headquarters across the street from the Thompson House.  Inscribed on the marker is a quote from the Moyer article: “‘My headquarters were in tents in an apple orchard back of the Seminary along the Chambersburg Pike.’-Robert E. Lee.”

This quote was fabricated by the War Department and was never actually spoken or written by Lee.  Despite this marker’s falsification, the National Park Service’s position is that Lee’s headquarters were established in a small tent on the south of the Chambersburg Pike, along with his staff and aides. 

• #10: Lee’s Headquarters and the previously un-preserved acreage around it was saved in early 2015 by the Civil War Trust

Even though the house has been consistently referred to in first-hand accounts as Lee’s headquarters, and it was in the center of fierce fighting on July 1, the house was not purchased by the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association, the War Department, or the National Park Service. It was converted into General Lee’s Headquarters Museum in 1921, and remained privately owned until 2015.

After completing the acquisition of the property in early 2015, the Civil War Trust undertook an effort to restore the landscape to reflect its appearance on July 1, 1863.

Where do you believe General Robert E. Lee’s Headquarters REALLY was? No matter whether it was IN this house or in an apple orchard… we know that many men fought & died on this land and should be honored and remembered for their ultimate sacrifice.

Brought to you by UltimateFlags.com We love sharing stories about the Civil War to honor and remember those brave individuals for fought honorably and stood against tyranny.

Source

General Robert E. Lee Headquarters Flag

Buy the General Robert E. Lee Headquarters Flag Available Here!

Rebel General Robert E. Lee Flag Available – Click Here!

Lee Headquarters Outdoor Nylon Embroidered Flag – Available Here!

Buy Robert E. Lee Pride of the South Cap / Hat

Available Here!

You see the Confederate flag whipping back and forth in the wind, and your heart leaps, as you immediately feel a connection to it.

You’re not the only person who feels this way.

Research shows that 17% of Black people view the Confederate flag as a symbol of Southern pride, and 66% of white people embrace “Old Dixie” in this way.

The flag lives on. If you’re curious about the Rebellion, here are eight facts about the Confederate flag you may have never known.

This flag became the Confederacy’s first official flag after the Confederacy was created in the early part of 1861.

A special committee was charged with designing the flag. Although one approach was to develop a flag that mirrored the United States’ flag at that time, another approach was to produce a completely different flag. A variety of designs ended up being used to represent the Confederacy in the following years.

1. The Flag Started Out with an “X” Design

The flag’s first version featured a large blue “X” dotted with 13 white stars, all on a red background. The 13 states represented by the stars were South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Virginia, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina.

This was a Christian flag and the X design was a throwback to the St. Patrick Flag.  However, this version was flown for just two years.  Why?

Because soldiers on the Civil War’s two sides frequently confused the “Stars and Bars” of the Confederate flag with the “Stars and Stripes” of the Union flag. And this, of course, led to confusion on the battlefield.

Another reason for the design change is that the Congress of the Confederacy was simply unhappy with it, as they craved a flag that they felt was “more Confederate.”

As a result, in May of 1863, a second Confederate flag was introduced that integrated the banner of the Northern Virginia Army, led by General Robert E. Lee, with a white plane. It got its name — “The Stainless Banner” — from the white midsection present on the banner.

Then, in 1865, a third flag was unveiled that added a red-colored bar at the edge of the flag. It’s this red bar that led the flag to be called “The Blood-Stained Banner.”

Not many third version flags were produced prior to Lee’s surrender to Union troops in April of that year.

The good news is that the various versions of the Confederate flag are available today for purchase. Shop now to find the perfect flag to showcase with pride or keep in your personal collection of historical items.

2. Some State Laws Protect the Flag

Specifically, five states feature laws designed to protect the banner of the Confederacy: South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida.

In other words, if you decide to deface this flag in any of these states, you’ll receive the same punishment you’d receive for defacing the state flag or the American flag.

3. The Flag Is Still Part of the official State Flag of Mississippi… until a new one is proposed and approved that is.

South Carolina recently bowed to vocal public pressure to remove the Confederate banner from the state capitol. However, until just recently, Mississippi kept using the flag of the Confederacy on the state flag of Mississippi.

Back in 2001, the state did go through a period where efforts were made to change its flag. These efforts, though, failed, as flag proponents saw the flag as an important part of the state’s achievements and history.

To this day, students in school learn not only the United States banner fledge but also the Mississippi banner pledge. What will become of the official Mississippi State Flag now? Designs are currently being worked on for approval.

4. The Flag Represented Resistance to the Federal Government

Back in 1948, a party known as the Dixiecrats adopted the flag of the Confederacy as its party’s flag.

The party, which promoted segregation but was short-lived, chose this flag because the party’s members supported states’ rights. And this is exactly what the states of the Confederacy pushed for at the time of the Civil War.

Unfortunately the mainstream media chooses to align the Confederate Flag with racism. However, racism was not the original true purpose and meaning of this flag.  Those who represent resistance to the Federal government still to this day fly the Confederate flag along with the Gadsden flag.

5. Confederate Flags and Slave Ships Didn’t Mix

Confederate flags from the South were never flown on slave ships.

Rather, New England, English, Dutch, and Portuguese ships were utilized in the trading of slaves.

6. The Majority of Americans Don’t See the Flag as a Racist Symbol

According to a CNN survey conducted back in 2015, over 50% of Americans did not view the flag as racist. Rather, most Americans viewed the banner as a powerful symbol of pride in the South.

These results no doubt surprised critics of the flag. However, the results were actually no different from those of a similar 2000 study examining people’s perceptions of the Confederate banner.

Nowadays, due to so much fake news being reported, it’s hard to tell what’s true and accurate in the mainstream media anymore. 1 thing is for sure though, many Americans have a strong sense of pride and love of the Confederate Flag. 

Within the last few months, millions of Americans across the nation have ordered Confederate Flags to show their support against Nascar banning it, Mississippi banning it, and the Federal government trying to ban it. 

7. Georgia’s Previous State Flag Is Strongly Tied to the Confederacy

Many Georgians have no clue that their state’s flag was actually the Confederacy’s first flag.

If you take a close look at the old Georgia flag, you’ll see a Georgia “Coat of Arms” emblazoned between stars. This is a spitting image of the Confederacy’s first flag.

8. The Flag Continues to Strongly Represent the South

The Confederacy’s flag remains an iconic symbol of the South — one that continues to instill strong feelings in both its opponents and its proponents.

No matter who says what, the Confederate Flag is a part of our history and cannot be erased.  What we, as Americans, should be focused on, is how to come together as 1 and ensure this part of our pledge stays true: “indivisible, with liberty and justice for ALL.”

Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoyed our post. Please share our posts on social media with other proud Confederates.

Brought to you by: Ultimate Flags

Source

January 19th is a State Holiday in Florida, Monday in Alabama and Mississippi, Friday Nov 29th in Georgia.

Robert E Lee was born on January 19th 1807 in Stanford Hall Virginia. He was a Colonel in the US Army and a General in the Confederate States of America. He was best known as a commander of the  Confederate States Army. He commanded the Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War from 1862 until his surrender in 1865. A son of Revolutionary War officer Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee III, Lee was a top graduate of the United States Military Academy and an exceptional officer and military engineer in the United States Army for 32 years. During this time, he served throughout the United States, distinguished himself during the Mexican–American War, and served as Superintendent of the United States Military Academy.

His father was known as “Light Horse Harry Lee”, a Revolutionary War hero. In 1812, Harry Lee was badly injured in a political riot in Baltimore and traveled to the West Indies. He would never return, dying when his son Robert was eleven years old.

His mother was the daughter of a plantation owner and grew up at Shirley Plantation, one of the most elegant homes in Virginia

Robert E. Lee graduated second in his class at West Point, earning no demerits for discipline infractions during his four years there. At the time, the focus of the curriculum was engineering; the head of the Army Corps of Engineers supervised the school and the superintendent was an engineering officer. In June 1829, Lee was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers.

Abraham Lincoln, who later became president of the United States, offered Robert E. Lee command of the Union Army in 1861, but Lee refused. He would not raise arms against his native state. Lee resigned his commission and headed home to Virginia, where he served as adviser to Confederate leader Jefferson Davis, and then commanded the Army of Northern Virginia.

After the (corrected from death) wounded of Joseph Johnson in the Battle of Seven Pines, June 1st 1862 Lee became the commander of the army, which he renamed Army of Northern Virginia, his opportunity to lead an army in the field.

Lee’s fame soared when he beat back McLellan out of Virginia in a a series of battles. Subsequently he pushed back into Maryland and Pennsylvania to the battle of Gettysburg in the summer of 1863. The Confederates suffered great losses and beaten back. McLellan flinched and did not finish the job allowing the war to continue. On February 6, 1865, Lee was appointed General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate States.

After four years of death and destruction, on April 9th 1865  Robert E. Lee met Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia, where the generals ended their battles. Lee told his comrades, “Go home and be good Americans”.

While Lee held slavery to be an evil institution, he also saw some benefit to blacks held in slavery. While Lee helped assist individual slaves to freedom in Liberia, and provided for their emancipation in his own will, he believed the enslaved should be eventually freed in a general way only at some unspecified future date as a part of God’s purpose. Slavery for Lee was a moral and religious issue, and not one that would yield to political solutions

Andrew Johnson issued a Proclamation of Amnesty and Pardon to persons who had participated in the rebellion against the United States. Though there were difficulties on December 25, 1868, Lee was fully pardoned. 

Lee was asked to serve as the president of Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) in Lexington, Virginia, and served from October 1865 until his death. His name was used in large-scale fund-raising which transformed the University’s curriculum. During his tenure he is depicted with dignity and respect he commanded among all.

Death:On September 28, 1870, Lee suffered a stroke. He died two weeks later, shortly after 9 a.m. on October 12, 1870, in Lexington, Virginia, from the effects of pneumonia.

A number of monuments, heritage sites, and institutions (including schools) are named after General Robert E. Lee. Among the a prominent statue in New Orleans, sadly torn down in 2017. Arlington House, Robert E Lee Memorial was Lee’s home the Curtis Lee Mansion, the grounds were selected for Arlington National Cemetery in part to ensure that Lee would never again be able to return to his home. In 1953, two stained-glass windows – one honoring Lee, the other Stonewall Jackson – were installed in the Washington National Cathedral

Political leaders in modern history have been quoted to honor him. Winston Churchill said that Robert E. Lee was one of the noblest Americans who ever lived. Lee’s motto is known to be “Duty, Honor, Country.”

General Lee was a great American, American soldier, confederate solider, statesman, leader and figure. He was dignified, respectful and honorable. Today we say HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Thanks for reading. Please share our posts with your friends and family so they too can learn more about Southern Heritage and History.

Brought to you by: Ultimate Flags

Union General Garrard’s cavalry had occupied Roswell, Georgia.

The tiny town had two cotton mills that manufactured sheets, canvas and rope. But they also made grey-colored cloth used for Confederate uniforms.

The men off to war, women and young girls were doing the mill work.

A Frenchman had temporary ownership of one of the mills. He hoped that flying a French flag over it might save the mill. It was not to be: Garrard ordered the mills burned.

Garrard reported what he had found to General Sherman, who wanted revenge on the Frenchman for raising the flag. Sherman wrote to Garrard:

“Should you, under the impulse of anger, hang the wretch, I approve the act beforehand.”

Sherman also ordered Garrard to “arrest all people, male and female, connected with those factories, no matter what the clamor… I will send them to the North… The poor women will make a howl. Let them take along their children and clothing, providing they have the means of hauling, or you can spare them.”

Sherman said the women were “tainted with treason” and “are as much governed by the rules of war as if in the ranks.”

Hundreds of women and children were loaded into boxcars and sent north, where the women struggled on their own to live. Not all of them survived the war.

Only a few were able to make their way back home after the war. Husbands returned to find their wives gone with no way to trace them.

Adeline was heavy with child when she was exiled. But there is a happy ending to her story. It took her five years but she and her child Mary made their way back after the war, mostly on foot.

The outrage was reported in several northern newspapers, but Sherman just went on and burned his way to the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1998, a group of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans did a project to identify the Roswell women and their descendants. Most were identified, and many of the descendants were located, mostly in the North.

The City of Roswell erected a monument to the women, shown here.

Let’s hope no one thinks it should be torn down.

Brought to you by Ultimate Flags where EVERY flag tells a story.  We hope you enjoyed our post.  Please share with family and friends so we may NEVER repeat this history.

Old Georgia Flag – Buy Now!	Current Georgia Flag – Buy Now!
17th Infantry Georgia Cotton Flag Buy Now!	Georgia 2nd Infantry Cotton Flag Buy Now!

“When you charge, yell like furies!”

That’s the order Stonewall Jackson gave his men at the Battle of First Manassas (Bull Run to the Yankees out there).

Many a Federal learned to dread that sound.

Shouting during a charge was as old as war, but the Southern Boys in Gray created their own distinctive sounds. A Union captain at Chancellorsville explained “the heavens seemed filled with hot-breathed, shrieking demons.”

One Rebel tells us this:

“I always said that if I ever went into a charge, I wouldn’t holler. But the very first time I fired off my gun, I hollered as loud as I could and I hollered every breath until we stopped.”

Today we imagine that there was only one sound that was the Rebel Yell. Yes, Johnny Reb everywhere made it his business to adopt a terrifying holler, but it varied from one group to another.

The one we know best today was a “quick succession of high-itched yelps.” Another was an “ape-ilke grunt that rose gradually into a piercing howl.” Then again there was the “blood-curdling, full-throated caterwaul.”

Whatever was used, anyone who heard it knew Confederates were coming.

Rebels even had names for them. One officer told his men at Chickamauga to charge “with a regular Mississippi yell.” At the same battle, a Tennessee colonel ordered “three times three of Old Tennessee and charge.”

Whatever version, it was a mighty weapon. General Jubal Early was preparing a charge at Richmond when his officers told him the men were out of cartridges. Early roared, “Damn it, holler them across.” Bayonets fixed, his men charged, yelling like the devils they appeared to be.

One Billy Yank recalled it as “that terrible scream and barbarous howling.” Another said the sound “made the hair stand up on my head.”

The Union boys often shouted things like “Huzzah!” But they were no match for the Rebels.

The Rebel Yell made many a man’s blood run cold.

(The photo was taken at a 1904 Reunion in Crawfordville, Florida.)

Thanks for reading! By UltimateFlags where EVERY flag tells a story.  What’s your favorite Confederate States of America flag?  Tell us your favorite in the comments below. Be sure to share our posts with other proud Confederates!

Sherman was confident of a quick and easy victory. He had forced General Hood back, at the Battle of Kolb’s Farm north of Atlanta.

The Union General was only a couple of dozen miles from Atlanta, sure that the Rebels were now stretched too thin to resist him.

At eight in the morning 27 June 1864, the Union attack began. Troops charged forward to storm the Rebel trenches.

Within 90 minutes it was evident that the assault had failed.

Sherman had miscalculated. The Confederates were dug in at Kennesaw Mountain, with fortifications that blunted everything the Yankees could throw at them. You can see the mountain and some of the earthworks below, in a photo taken not long after the fight.

The Federals lost 3 men for every Confederate loss. Sherman said it was “the hardest fight of the campaign up to that date.”

His frontal assault failed. It was a bloody lesson for Sherman. The Rebels were far from a defeated rabble that he could run over.

When Sherman got to Atlanta, he took a different tactic. The scoundrel didn’t want another black eye from a direct assault, so he had his artillery begin a bombardment that lasted for months.

Confederate army positions were forward of the city itself. Sherman targeted them, but he also rained fire on the populace and their homes – civilians well behind the military fortifications.

While negotiating the treatment of civilians in Atlanta, Hood wrote to Sherman:

“…there are a hundred thousand witnesses that you fired into the habitations of women and children for weeks, firing far above and miles beyond my line of defense.”

General Hood knew the horrors of battle, having lost a leg and the use of one arm already. But now his enemy was taking the battle to women and children.

Hood knew evil when he saw it. Sherman slashed and burned his way through Georgia, then moved on to South Carolina where he burned a couple of dozen towns. Southerners will NEVER forget what evil this man was.

We hope you enjoyed our post. Thanks for reading! Please like & share with all your fellow Confederates.

Brought you by: UltimateFlags.com.  What’s your favorite Confederate States of America flag? We love the Bonnie Blue! Tell us your favorite in the comments below.

Share and Enjoy !

If you are a regular reader you know I like history as seen through the eyes of the men who lived it.

David Johnston was 15 when Virginia’s debate on secession began. But he was 16 and a Confederate soldier when the first shots were fired on Virginia soil. You can see him in the photo below. He fought to the bitter end.

David tells us that Virginia sentiment strongly leaned in favor of remaining in the Union, even after Fort Sumter:

“Virginia was still for peace and the Union, endeavoring by every means within her power to avert the awful calamity of civil war.”

Then word spread “that the Federal Administration was anxious to see her shorn of her power… by the formation of West Virginia out of her territory, and this by the aid of the Federal power.”

David explains that Virginians did not take kindly to the notion of being split asunder.

“Virginia’s son was foremost in fanning the flames of revolution, leading to the overthrow of British tyranny and the establishment of American independence.

“Her son had written the Declaration of Independence.

“Her son had led the Continental armies during the Revolution, and her son was active in the framing and ratification of the Federal Constitution.”

David was speaking of Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and James Madison.

Here was a state with a long tradition of great contribution to the nation, including seven Presidents of the United States. Virginia had already given up territory stretching northwest to Canada, from which six more states had been formed. And now there was talk of taking more of its land away.

Still, the Virginia Secession Convention voted 89 to 45 to remain in the Union.

Then on the 15^th of April, 1861, the newly installed president called for states to raise troops to put down the rebellion. Virginia was to contribute 2,400 men.

In David’s words:

“Virginia was a Southern state, in sympathy with her sister states of the South, and could not be induced to make war on them, nor on the Northern states of the Union.

“The conduct of the Federal Administration had not only forced her out of the Union, but to take sides in the impending crisis. It was not a Southern Confederacy that Virginia sought or her people fought for, but to uphold and maintain the integrity and sovereignty of the state, and this necessarily meant separate government.

“I am sure at no time did the people of Virginia think of becoming the aggressors upon the rights of the other states of the Federal Union.

“….The die was cast. There could be no further hesitation. On April 17th the Ordinance of Secession, amid anguish and tears, was adopted by a vote of 81 to 51.”

Five weeks later the people of Virginia ratified the Ordinance of Secession by a yes vote of 96,750 out of a total vote of 161,1018, sixty percent.

Eight days later, David’s company of volunteers was formed.

Thanks for reading. Please share our posts with your friends and family so they too can learn more about Southern Heritage and History.

Brought to you by: Ultimate Flags

Major John Harman (above) was described as a “man of strong convictions and uncompromising in his beliefs, caring little for the opinion of others.”

A good summary, but I would add he was short-tempered and his language turned the air blue.

Harman had been many things before the Civil War: butcher, farmer, and stage line operator among them. Unafraid of adventure, he had joined the Texas Rangers and served in the Mexican War.

In 1861, Harman became Stonewall Jackson’s Chief Quartermaster.

Religion had a strong influence on the Army of Northern Virginia, and General Jackson was one of the fiercest faces of religious conviction. Stern and disciplined, he didn’t tolerate impiety around him. Cursing in his presence did not go unrebuked, repeated only at one’s personal risk.

Harman was a man of strong opinions and force of will. He had raw manners and liked to get things done with unrestrained enthusiasm, intimidation and profanity fit for a sailor.

Managing a 14-mile-long wagon train during a military campaign was not a job for the weak of will. A fellow officer said Harmon was a “big-voiced, untiring, fearless man who would have ordered Jackson himself out of the way if necessary to obey Jackson’s orders.”

On a hot day in 1862, Lee’s army was crossing the Potomac to invade Maryland during the Antietam campaign. When Jackson rode up he found the fording of the river completely blocked by Major General D. H. Hill’s wagon train.

Jackson rebuked Hill for the mess. Apparently Hill explained something to Jackson that implied “it was no part of his business to get tangled wagons out of the river.”

Jackson instantly had Hill placed under arrest and summoned Major Harman.

Harman splashed into the water and the tangled mass of wagons. Brigadier General Imboden tells us that the Major “poured out a volume of oaths that would have excited the admiration of the most scientific mule-driver.

“The effect was electrical. The drivers were frightened and swore as best they could, but far below the Major’s standard. The mules caught the inspiration from a chorus of familiar words, and all at once made a break for the Maryland shore, and in five minutes the ford was cleared.

The General witnessed and heard it all. Stonewall Jackson was not known to ever let cursing go without a rebuke.

Harman rode back to the Stonewall, steeled for dressing down. Touching his hat, Major Harman said:

“The ford is clear, General! There’s only one language that will make mules understand on a hot day that they must get out of the water.”

The General smiled, said, “Thank you, Major,” and dashed into the water at the head of his staff.

Thanks for reading. Please share our posts with your friends and family so they too can learn more about Southern Heritage and History.

Brought to you by: Ultimate Flags

It happened just south of Nashville, right in the middle of Tennessee. The Rebels called it the Second Battle of Murfreesboro. The Federals called it the Battle of Stones River.

(The Union Army frequently named battles after rivers and creeks that played a role in the fighting. Confederates generally used the names of nearby towns or farms.)

Private Sam Watkins, Company H of the First Tennessee Infantry tells us his “line of battle was formed on the north bank of Stone’s River—on the Yankee side. Bad generalship, I thought.

It was Christmas. John Barleycorn was general-in-chief. Our generals, and colonels, and captains, had kissed John a little too often. They couldn’t see straight. They couldn’t tell our own men from Yankees. The private could, but he was no general, you see.

But here they were—the Yankees—a battle had to be fought. We were ordered forward. I was on the skirmish line. We marched plumb into the Yankee lines, with their flags flying.

It seems there was some confusion about who was who.

“I called Lieutenant-Colonel Frierson’s attention to the Yankees, and he remarked, ‘Well, I don’t know whether they are Yankees or not, but if they are, they will come out of there mighty quick.’ “

But at this point the Yankees marched back over the hill, out of sight. Sam’s regiment moved forward, and suddenly they right on the Federal lines.

“The Yankees were shooting our men down by scores.”

Of course, the Rebels shot back.

It seems, however, that the Confederate officers, experiencing the aftereffects of whiskey, had not figured out that they were in them midst of the Federal lines, and called out for the Yankees to cease firing “on your own men.”

Sam knew better:

“I hallooed; in fact, the whole skirmish line hallooed, and kept on telling them that they were Yankees, and to shoot; but the order was to cease firing, you are firing on your own men.

“We were not twenty yards off from the Yankees, and they were pouring the hot shot and shells right into our ranks.”

The confusion continued. Orders were still going out to cease firing.

“Oakley, color-bearer of the Fourth Tennessee Regiment, ran right up in the midst of the Yankee line with his colors, begging his men to follow.

I hallooed till I was hoarse, ‘They are Yankees, they are Yankees; shoot, they are Yankees.’ “

Finally everyone got on the same page.

General Cheatham came up and advanced. I did not fall back, but continued to load and shoot, until a fragment of a shell struck me on the arm, and then a minnie ball passed through the same paralyzing my arm, and wounded and disabled me.

“General Cheatham, all the time, was calling on the men to go forward, saying, “Come on, boys, and follow me.”

Despite his wounds, Sam was inspired by the sight.

“The impression that General Frank Cheatham made upon my mind, leading the charge, I will never forget. I saw either victory or death written on his face.

“When I saw him leading our brigade, although I was wounded at the time, I felt sorry for him, he seemed so earnest and concerned, and as he was passing me I said, ‘Well, General, if you are determined to die, I’ll die with you.’

“We were at that time at least a hundred yards in advance of the brigade, Cheatham all the time calling upon the men to come on. He was leading the charge in person.”

Then it was that I saw the power of one man, born to command, over a multitude of men then almost routed and demoralized. I saw and felt that he was not fighting for glory, but that he was fighting for his country because he loved that country, and he was willing to give his life for his country and the success of our cause.”

It was not just Sam that caught the excitement of the general. The rest of the Rebels “raised a whoop and yell, and swooped down on those Yankees like a whirl-a-gust of woodpeckers in a hail storm, paying the blue coated rascals back with compound interest.”

The Southern boys charged, overwhelming the Federals

“The victory was complete. The whole left wing of the Federal army was driven back five miles from their original position.”

Sam was patched up to fight another day.

Thanks for reading. Please share our posts with your friends and family so they too can learn more about Southern Heritage and History.

Brought to you by: Ultimate Flags