This unique flag was created in Richmond, Virginia, for the 5th Texas Regiment: the “Bloody Fifth.” This was one of three Texas regiments that fought with Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Their flag was based on the design of the Confederate First National Flag, the Stars and Bars. Instead of a circle of stars representing
The Lone Star and Bars Flag of the Texas “Bloody 5th” Regiment Read More »
It was the winter of 1861 – 1862. The 5th Texas was encamped on the Potomac River, the 5th New York across the river. The New Yorkers were a Zouave regiment, meaning they wore uniforms modeled after French Colonial soldiers. The men on both sides were known for their courage. Choice words were exchanged, explaining
Vortex of Hell: How the Texas “Bloody Fifth” Regiment Got its Name Read More »
When the war came in 1861, the Confederacy’s western frontier bordered the lands of the Five Civilized Tribes: the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole Nations in Indian Territory, today’s Oklahoma. Each of the five nations signed treaties of alliance with the Confederate government, and thousands of tribal members took up arms. Among them, none
Cherokee Confederate Soldiers Read More »
It may be of interest to read words from letters written home by Confederate soldiers during Christmas. The first is a letter by Henry Kyd Douglas, who was being held at Johnson’s Island Prison in Ohio. Henry had been with Stonewall Jackson at Gettysburg, where he was injured and the captured. In a Christmas 1863
Civil War Confederate Christmas Letters Read More »
Private Valerius Giles had picket duty on Christmas day, 1861. A member of the 4th Texas Regiment, Giles “had a splendid view of the river for two or three miles in each direction.” Across the river was a Union brigade from New York. The day was bitterly cold, with snow “gently and silently falling, deepening
A Christmas Visitation to a Confederate Sentinel Read More »
It was the winter of 1862, and the little Virginia town of Warrenton – a village, really – was in the hands of the Yankees. But the people of Warrenton were trying to make the best of it as Christmas approached. One of the women living there was the wife of a Confederate General. He
A Confederate Christmas Present Story Read More »
If you have been following this search then you know that in Part II the evidence began to point to a lone star on a blue field as being the Confederate flag of Alabama at secession. In this final segment we will see what this flag actually looked like. The turbulent times of 1860-1861 called
Alabama’s Confederate Flag: Part III Read More »
The general wisdom among scholars is that Alabama did not have an official state flag during the Civil War. Consequently, modern authorities simply don’t recognize the people of Alabama as having had a flag symbolizing their state. Insert the sound of my sigh here. It is hard to imagine a fiercely independent and proud
Search for Alabama’s Civil War Flag: Part I Read More »
Confederate batteries opened fire. The first shots missed their target, but gunners soon established the range and shells began bursting on the ramparts of Fort Sumter. Soon the stronghold was ringed with fire and smoke, geysers of stone, brick and mortar flying skyward. This was the scene in Charleston harbor in the early hours of
Civil War Flags of Fort Sumter Read More »
It was 4:30 in the afternoon of July 2nd, 1863. General Hood shouted, “Fix bayonets, my brave Texans. Forward and take those heights.” This was the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, and Hood’s Texas Brigade was part of a large Confederate attack. Lt. Colonel Work, of Hood’s 1st Texas Regiment, pointed to his
Devil’s Den and the Texas Scout Read More »
