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The Humble Beginnings Of The Confederate Flag
There were originally (5) Main flags flown by the Confederate Armies during the War of Northern Aggression from 1861-1865…there were also many other Individual Regimental and Corps flags utilized by various Confederate Commanders…
The first flag that was widely used was the “Bonnie Blue Flag….”The Bonnie Blue Flag” was a very popular flag and the majority of Southerners used it. It was however never “OFFICIALY” adopted by the Confederate Congress. This flag had a total blue background with a large star in the middle of the field of the flag.
The second flag used, which was the 1st “OFFICIAL” flag of the Confederacy, was the “STARS and BARS” This flag was adopted by the officials of The Southern Congress. There was a very distinct problem with this flag while it was being flown during many of the initial Battles. This flag was very similar to the present day State Flag of the State of Georgia with few differences. During the midst of the Battle of 1st Manassas (1st Bull Run) July 21, 1861, which was commanded by General Pierre Gustav Toutant Beauregard; it was noticed by General Beauregard and his Staff Officers that from a distance it could not be determined if the flag of the Armies in combat were the Union Flag (STARS and STRIPES) or the Confederate Flag (STARS and BARS). The (2) flags were so very similar in color and design that no one could determine from a distance whose flag and whose Army was in a commanding or dominating position on the Battlefield. After quite a while and much deliberation and concern by General Beauregard, a slight breeze blew across the Battlefield and both armies flags unfurled out on their flagstaffs and at that moment General Beauregard immediately saw that the Southern Army (STARS and BARS) was in a tactically superior position. General Beauregard quickly ordered all of his forces to “ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK, PRAISE GOD” and The Southern General Jubal Early won the day and completely defeated the Union Army and sent them running back to Washington, D.C., after the Yankees threw down their Muskets on the ground and ran away….
General Beauregard after the Battle of 1st Manassas” determined and resolved that the Confederacy very much needed a Battle Flag, which could be distinguished between the Northern Union Flag, while in the midst of the smoke, the destruction and the passion of the Battlefield. He contacted the Southern Officials as well as Religious Leaders of the time. It was agreed by all parties concerned that our Official Battle Flag needed to include elements of the South’s deep commitment and belief in Christianity. General Beauregard spoke to General Miles of the Confederacy to finalize a design for a Southern Flag that depicted the South’s deep Religious convictions as well as the heartfelt desires for freedom and delivery from Tyranny. After through and very long deliberations by many qualified individuals it was determined that the”2nd Official National Confederate Flag would be The Stainless Banner” … The Stainless Banner was of the same size as the original “STARS and BARS” with several changes on the flag surface. It had a Saint Andrews Cross in the upper left area of the flag with its remaining surface being completely white This was a beautiful flag but it was used only a short time. It too had some problems that could not be overlooked. In the middle of a Battle, and when the wind was not blowing, The Stainless Banner was furled and lying limp on its flagstaff, it appeared as a flag of surrender or a flag of truce; therefore it became a great concern for Southern Commanders…
It was then determined that the 3rd Official National Confederate Flag would be the same as the Stainless Banner except that the far right side of the 3rd Flag would have a large red stripe on it to differentiate it from the original Stainless Banner and to avoid it from being construed as a flag of surrender and or truce…. The 3rd National Official Confederate Flag was used until the last Official Battle Flag was adopted by all of the Confederate Armies on the Western Front as well as the Armies of Northern Virginia. The last Official Flag was the Battle Flag that we all know and Love today.
There is a very interesting documented story of how the existing Southern Battle Flag, as we all know it came into use. The Saint Andrews Cross on the Battle Flag was a most desired emblem for the Flag because it contained many elements of Christianity. Saint Andrew was the first disciple of Jesus Christ and he taught the beliefs of Jesus and of Christianity far and wide from present day Russia to present day Greece and Turkey...After Jesus was crucified on the “CROSS” (the Latin Cross) Andrew traveled long and far preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Sultan or King of what is now modern day Greece discovered Andrew teaching the Gospel of Jesus and immediately jailed him and sentenced him to death. You have to know that Andrew was approx. 91 years of age at that time and was able to persuade the Sultan who was sentencing him to death to allow him to be crucified on an X shaped cross instead of a Latin Cross that Jesus died on. Andrew told the Sultan that he was not “WORTHY” to die on the Latin Cross that Jesus died on. The Sultan agreed to the X shaped cross that Andrew requested …Andrew also requested that his feet and hands not be impaled with a stake as Jesus Christ had been. Again Andrew told the Sultan that he was not “WORTHY” to be impaled with stakes as Jesus had been. He asked that his hands and feet be tied with a rope and tied to the X shaped Crucifix, and that too was agreed to by the Sultan.
Andrew suffered terribly for (3) days and (3) nights; all the time he was tied to the X… Many people came by and listened to Andrews’s teachings of Jesus; so many people listened that the masses of people requested of the Sultan to spare his life. Andrew had convinced so many people to believe in Jesus Christ that they were moved to acquire his safe passage. The Sultan agreed to spare Andrews’s life… When they cut him down from the X shaped Crucifix he died as soon as he touched the ground. Andrews’s death came in the year 69AD in Ponchery, Greece… Andrew immediately became the Patron Saint for Scotland and for Russia as well as becoming a Martyr to Jesus Christ. At the very same instant that this happened, The Scottish people were at War and when their King; King Ungus looked up from the Battlefield and viewed the skies above he saw a cloud shaped as an X, or as the Scottish people called it, a SALTIRE… King Ungus vowed that if his Scottish people won the Battle he would forever hold Andrew as the Patron Saint of Scotland, and thus it was so… Many of Saint Andrews belongings were sent to Scotland for safekeeping and Saint Andrew holds a special place in the hearts of the Scottish people, even to this day… The X shaped cross that Andrew died on became the Saint Andrews Cross and has been in use on the Scottish and the Irish Battle Flags as well as the Flags of all the Celtic Countries of the World since that time in History.
You must know that the period preceding the Civil War that two thirds of the people in the United States were of Scottish and or Scotch-Irish Blood therefore their St. Andrews Cross Flags were already prominent within their warriors. When General Beauregard of the Southern Army and all the religious figures of the time in the South were seeking a Christian emblem for the Confederate Battle Flag they felt that they had arrived at a perfect selection with the St. Andrews Cross later called The Southern Cross. The Flag was officially adopted with the St. Andrews Cross and has long since been the most identifying feature of the Grand Old Confederacy. The Confederate Flag has since been known as a Christian Flag and as a symbol of the Sovereign God of Heaven and Earth…
It is also interesting to know that when an uneducated person of those times could not read and write it became a necessity that he enter into business matters or land deals with an X signed as his name on the business papers or contracts of the times… That signature of X designated that the man signing the X was an Honorable man and could be trusted to fulfill his end of the bargain. He was literally signing with the mark of Saint Andrew and Jesus Christ because the Greek Letter T, which is written as an X, has historically been used to represent Christ, because the Greek letter T (X) was transcribed to be the first two letters in the name Christ (CH).
I hope that this research helps everyone to realize the true meaning of the Battle Flag of the Confederacy. This Grand Old Flag represents Love, Christianity and Desire to be free from tyranny. In essence, when a person attacks this wonderful old flag, he attacks liberty, freedom and a Love for God and Jesus Christ…
Greg Land
Historian of the 43rd Regiment GBSHHA
Another adventure of Civil War and Cemetery trips!
As all of you know, I am often in Cemeteries and Civil War Battlefields. I recently completed another trip to Tennessee to photograph monuments in that fine toothless State. I hope you enjoy my experiences as much as I eventually did.
As a true Southerner, I am very aware of what the springtime brings to us in our fields (Battlefields) and pastures (Cemeteries). Frolicking Critters! I do not mean playing tag. I mean making baby critters. So, when I wander around these vast expanses in the South, I am very aware of my surroundings. I have met many a snake, Fox, birds and even a Zombie Deer. On this recent trip I had the pleasure of meeting 2 breeds of critters for the 2nd time.
The flying rattlesnake! Well it sure did sound like a flying rattlesnake when it brushed my leg and FLEW by. However, it was a Turkey hen. I was in some mid-calf length grass at the Brice’s Crossroad’s Confederate Cemetery, when I heard this rasping rattling noise. Something bumped my leg as it flew by me making the rattling noise. It stopped a few feet away but was making the same noise. I was posed in my sprint a way form when I caught a glimpse of the Hen. She was pulling the old injured bird trick on me to draw me away from her nest. I have actually had this very same thing happen before. The difference was that my son Drew and my Nephew Thomas were with me before. Never knew 2 White Boys could run that fast in flip-flops. I looked around, and sure enough, there was the nest with a bunch of eggs. I slowly backed up and then walked away. Took the ole heart a few minutes to get back to normal.
Now the next day I am in a Cemetery, ironically named Oakland, photographing a 1895 CSA monument and Memorial Slab to the Boys who gave the ultimate sacrifice from that City. I was finished with that when I noticed what seemed to be an unusual monument/grave stone just up and over the hill. Well I just had to go see it. I walked on over, oblivious to everything around me but that stone. BAD mistake! As I crested that small hill, I ran into a gaggle, flock, herd, pride, …..well heck, A BUNCH OF GEESE! I had not seen them and they had not seen me. Now the problem was/is that I had made my entrance at a point that was between the adult Geese and a whole bunch of baby Geese. I actually knew immediately that I was in deep Goose poop!
NOW LET ME DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE NEXT 60 TO 90 SECONDS! There were 6 to 10 adult Gooses/Geeses! I have no idea how many adults there were because things happened so fast. ALL of the adults’ heads and long necks jerked straight up. They ALL commenced to angrily honking at the same time. I can assure you that I have NEVER heard such a ruckus in my life. Louder than all 13 of Grandma’s Great Grandkids screaming at the same time. The noise was deafening! Then things start getting dicey! A HUGE, I assume, male Goose steps forward and then all of the rest start slowly moving forward. Now picture Ole Bob here doing the backing-up Jack move when, straight out of the Movies, here comes the Nathan Bedford Forrest charge of the Goose Cavalry!!!!! I mean with all of them honking like there is no tomorrow, they charged. Ole Nathan Bedford in the lead! I now know how it must have felt to be a Yankee Infantryman trying to load his Springfield Musket with Nathan Bedford’s Boys riding down him. Because I had been moving backwards, I was about 20 yards away from the charge. Now all I had to defend myself with was my camera. As I am panicking and flaying around with my camera with my arms swinging wildly, they started to break off and go back to the CHILLUNS. Even Nathan Bedford turned and was wobbling back to the kids. I guess it was in the Herd, pack, gaggle defensive plan to have 1 Goose (female I think) keep the attack going to allow the rest of the Gang to exit the battlefield. Well this ole girl was relentless at my feet and legs. I keep backing up and she keeps trying to whack my legs. Finally I get the camera in my hand and swing the strap at the Goose to scare it away. Just the strap hit the girl on top of her head. THE STRAP! Well Friends and neighbors……THAT WAS A REALLY BAD MOVE! This Goose goes crazy! That incredible ruckus noise I had just heard when I walked up on them and surprised them was nothing like what exploded now. The Lady Goose starts a wailing honking noise like I have never heard before. Then she starts running in place and keeps up the wailing honking!!!!! Just picture a 2 to 4 year old throwing a tantrum, screaming at the top of their lungs with their little tiny feet just a running in place. Triple that noise and that’s what I had in front of me BUT IT WAS A GOOSE! It gets worse! Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ole Nathan Bedford’ s neck and head shoot up. He turns his head to us and……We made eye contact. Trust me when I say this is a frightening thing. He turns around to face us and Holy Cow…….. His wings go up and straight out. This is a BIG bird! He looks like that Kid in the Movie Karate Kid when he went into that dragon birdlike stance at the end of the movie. All the other Geese commenced to hollering and honking like death was upon us. Evidently the Gal Goose had been hollering in Goose language “He hit me! Kill him.” THEN Ole Nathan Bedford launches himself at me. Now I have to say, it was an amazing site. Looked like a 32 lb. Parrot shell exploding out of a Civil War Cannon. This Boy hit mach speed in .04 seconds! Fortunately I had been backing up all this time towards my car. I honestly do not know if that Goose was flying or running. It was amazing how fast he got in such a short time frame. The Lady Goose is still in front of me doing the perfect imitation of my Granddaughter Lilly throwing a temper tantrum. Feet just a stomping and honking as loud as she could. Ain’t to worried about her though. As Nathan Bedford was getting close, I had to make a decision as what to do. Run? Scream? Duck? Fight? I skedaddled! I was standing close to a waist high gravestone and when the Ole Boy was close, I just ducked to my left and behind the stone. He flew/ran by me at an amazing speed. I could feel the air get sucked up by his movement by me. As he slowed down to turn and return, now not being a fool, I did not give Nathan Bedford time to reorganize another Cavalry charge. If I had been a Yankee, I would have probably lingered around and been hit in the rear by the rest of the Goose Cavalry. No sir! I skedaddled with the best of them. I got in my car! Nathan B. sauntered back to me after he had stopped his missile flight, looked me in the eye….Said in Goose language…”Hit my main Squeeze again and I will kill you next time”. Nathan and dancing Lilly, literally looked at me, gave me a HUGE 1 time honk and scampered back to the Gang. Then they were gone. JUST LIKE NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST. Disappeared! Silence! No time for a photo! I swear that Goose was wearing Gray Hat with yellow cords on it. Plus a feather plume was on the side of the hat! Yep! Nathan Bedford Forrest Goose!
I get really nervous now when I hear a gaggle of Geese go by. I have got to be more careful out in those Cemeteries!
Skedaddled Bob
Bob Price has compiled a listing of Civil War Monuments in the southern states to be published soon.
Bob is a member of the Civil War Commission, is on the board of directors of Oakland Cemetery, and graduate of the University of Alabama.
HARVEY O. STOWE
The following letter received from Harvey O. Stowe, is of interest to the GBSHHA members.
Sir:
I n the interest of historical accuracy I have some information about the Stovall Brigade andtheir part in the Battle of Atlanta on 22 July, 1864. In your July 2009 Newsletter you write,"The 42nd Georgie charged into the guns of Battery H, 1st Illinois Artillery, commanded byCaptain Francis DeGress. DeGress Battery had four 20 pounder Parrott rifles that had beenshelling Atlanta earlier in the day. the rest of Stovall's brigade was close by as they come up theslope. Manigault's brigade, again next to Stovall as at Jonesboro came at the battery from theside and was able to capture it briefly." I have studied the Battle of Atlanta in depth more thanany other battle of the war, so when I read that the 42nd had captured the Degress Battery withits "four 20 punder Parrott rifles" I was surprised because I had always understood it was Manigault's brigade that captured these guns. Every major historical source I can find, as wellas the Cyclorama in Atlanta gives Manigault the credit. So, being a Stovall brigade "fan" Ibegan looking into what had happen during the battle in hopes of giving the 42nd credit for theiractions that day.I recently spent time in Atlanta doing some genealogy and Civil War research. The following is information about Stovall’s brigade and the 42nd’s part concerning the DeGress Battery that I’d like to share with you. I will give you a somewhat long explanation in place of a short answer.The 42nd web site has the following description this action:
The 42nd Georgia marched one and a half miles through whistling shells and balls until
Sherman’s line was broken by their solid front and De Gress’ battery of four 20 pound Parrott guns was captured. Colonel Thomas led the Regiment in this desperate charge. He won great praise for conspicuous gallantry and heroism for the capture of that great battery. This Regiment was the first to carry the enemies’ works, fighting hand to hand against fearful odds-one man killing a Federal with a shovel. De Gress’ battery, beside many prisoners and accouterments were captured and held for nearly two hours, and until then they were left along when a retreat was ordered.
Since the battle on 22 July 1864, there have been claims that the 42nd was the first unit to capture the “DeGress Battery”. The significance of capturing this Battery seems to be that this was one of the pivotal and important moments of the battle and the unit that captured the Battery carries some degree of fame. The Cyclorama in Atlanta has made this episode in its painting the most prominent and climactic point in its depiction of the battle. A quick overview of unit placement on the 22nd of July might help in putting the following explanation in perspective. Clayton’s Division, which Stovall’s brigade was part of, was placed on the extreme left of the Confederate line north of the Georgia Railroad. Baker’s Brigade was on the extreme left with Stovall to his right. To the right and south of Stovall was Manigault’s Brigade (Brown’s Division) with the railroad to his right.
The earliest written account I can find about the 42nd attacking and capturing DeGress’s battery is found in a book published in 1899, “Confederate Military History, Vol. VI” (this volume is specifically about Georgia units involved in the war.), page 332. “The Forty-second regiment had the honor of capturing a number of guns supposed to be that of Degress’s Battery.”
The “Order of Battle, Federal Forces Engaged in the Campaign for Atlanta” found in William R.
Scaife’s book “The Campaign for Atlanta”, page 160:
ARTILLERY Captain
Francis DeGress
1st Illinois Light Battery A (4 Napoleons & 2 – 10 pounder Parrott rifles) – Lt. S.S. Smith
1st Illinois Light Battery B (6 Napoleons} – Lt. Israel P. Rumsey
1st Illinois Light Battery H (4 – 20 pounder Parrott rifles – Capt. Francis DeGress
Since Degress was in command of three Batteries and also his own Battery H, any unit capturing guns from any of these Batteries might claim they had indeed captured the “famous” Degress Battery “H”. The two Batteries of concern here are “A” and “H”. It’s important to remember that it was the DeGress Battery “H” with four Parrot rifles that were stationed at the Troup house north of the railroad.
From Vol. II of the “The Georgia Confederate 7,000”, page 77: “ Captain William T. Smith writes that while he was in brief command of the Georgia 42nd, Co. B for Captain L,P, Thomas….that the 42nd alone can claim the honor of capturing the DeGress Battery.” Later on the same page, it states “The Georgia 42nd then moved on forward; and was right in front of the DeGress Battery and continued to move forward until the confederate soldiers were at, and across the Union forces works! Georgia 42nd Pvt. Wesley Clower, the oldest man of Co. B, was the first to get on top of a piece of DeGress artillery. Adjutant H.M. Wylie, of the 42nt tried to use the guns that we had captured but they were spiked.”
On this same page are two “Notes”. The first, “Note; It would appear that in the confusion of battle that the Georgia 42nd, Co. B, had actually captured the 1st Illinois Battery H.” The second one, “Note; Current research shows that this reported capture of the DeGress by the Georgia 42nd was actually their capture of the 1st Illinois Battery H.” I don’t think these notes are correct and only add to even more confusion since the DeGress Battery was “H” north of the railroad, and as you will see Stovall’s Brigade fought south of the railroad.
The following note is from “Confederate Military History”, Vol.VI, 1899, page 332, which describes the placement of the Illinois Batteries. “*The location of these guns was described as follows by the adjutant-general of M. L. Smith's division (Official Records, serial No. 74, p. 189): "Friday, July 22d—pushed forward and occupied [Confederate] works with our main line at 6:30 a. m., the First brigade on the left and Second brigade on the right [north] of the railroad. The skirmish line was pushed forward supported by a section of Battery A, First Illinois light artillery. Then the works were reversed, and Battery A, First Illinois light artillery, placed in position, two guns on the right and two on the left of the railroad, which at that place runs through a deep cut, and Battery H [DeGress'] of the same regiment, on the extreme right [north] of the line." This “extreme right (north) of the line” was at the Troup house where the four Parrott guns of the DeGress Battery were placed. It was Manigault’s Brigade that fought north of the railroad at the Troup house and captured the “famous” DeGress Battery “H”. Stovall’s Brigade fought south of the railroad and never attacked the Troup house where the DeGress Battery H was. To add even more confusion to which unit captured which “Battery”, William Saife writes in “Campaign for Atlanta” on pages, 98-99; “Manigault then realigned his brigade and dashed forward, capturing four Napoleons of Battery A, 1st Illinois and cracking the federal ine……….Continuing on, Manigault’s men captured the two story brick Troup Hurt House and the four 20 pounder Parrott rifles of Frances De Gress’ Battery H, 1st Illinois Artillery, which was posted just north of the house. Jacob Sharp’s brigade, advancing in support of Manigault, wheeled to the right, smashing James Martin’s brigade in flank and capturing the remaining two Napoleons of Battery A, 1st Illinois Artillery, near the railroad.” Stovall’s Brigade was originally assembled, in the present day Inman Park/Springvale Park area, north of the Georgia railroad and slightly SW of the DeGress Battery. The Union lines were about to a mile up a slight incline. Col. Abda Johnson who was in temporary command of the Stovall Brigade writes that around 4:00p.m. “I was instructed to move forward, keeping the sun at my back, as nearly as possible and drive the enemy and occupy their line. I was assured that I should be supported; and deployed the Georgia 43rd as skirmishers, under the command of Capt. Joseph M. Storey. I moved out. It was known that the enemy’s sharpshooters were in our front, but they retired without firing a shot, nor did his skirmishers engage ours at all.” About half way up the slope before they would have reached the Troup house where the Degress Battery H of four Parrott guns were station, they were ordered at a “R oblique” which caused them to cross the Georgia railroad to the south. As soon as they crossed the railroad Col. Johnson changed direction and moved forward perpendicularly to the railroad. Col. Johnson, “Moving a few hundred yards we found the enemy in force and strongly entrenched with two guns (Napoleons) just by the road.” (This should be the 1st Illinois light artillery, Battery A. which had four Napoleon guns assigned) “We drove the enemy entirely from our front and many of my men passed the works some distance. I expected support, which would of course have been thrown to my right, and then I intended to resume an advance, which I supposed was only suspended, but failing to receive it, I was compelled to withdraw”.
This part of the battle is depicted in the Cyclorama painting of the Battle of Atlanta. It shows Stovall’s Brigade leaving the trenches described and descending the slope to meet the enemy near the railroad cut and almost directly across the railroad track from the Troup house and the DeGress Battery “H”. “Decision in the West”, page 412, addresses the losses in Claytons Division, “Stovall’s and Bushrod Jones (Holtzclaw’s Brigade) the only heavily engaged lost 298 and 128 respectively. Col. Johnson writes, “The number of casualties, as reported from the regiments amounted to 298, a heavy loss for the number carried into action.”
Please understand that in no way am I trying to diminish the bravery and accomplishments of the 42nd on that day by showing they did not capture the “famous” four Parrot guns of the DeGress Battery “H”. I was a hoping to find out and show they had in fact been the unit that captured Battery “H” and give them credit. I would truly welcome any documentation that shows my conclusion is wrong. .
So my short conclusion to a long narrative is, that it appears the 42nd captured two Napoleon guns of “Battery A, 1st Illinois Artillery” which was part of DeGresses command of three Batteries, but not the famous “DeGress Battery H” of four Parrott rifles at the Troup house. If you think this would be interest to the association you have my permission to share it.
Thank you for your time
Harvey O. Stowe
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