DEVELOPMENT OF THE BATTLE FLAG
The smoke of battle often obscuring the field made identification between friend and foe very difficult. In some
cases the Stars and Bars so resembled the U.S. flag that troops fired on friendly units killing and wounding fellow
soldiers.
As a result, Confederate army and corps level officers all over the South began thinking about creating distinctive
battle flags that were completely different from those of the Union Army, which would help make unit
identification a lot easier. The first of these - and the most famous - was created in September, 1861 in Virginia.
Gathering at the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac (later renamed the Army of Northern Virginia) were
generals Joseph Johnston, G.T. Beauregard, Gustavus Smith and Congressman William Porcher Miles, then an
aide on Beauregardʼs staff. The conversations turned around the idea of creating a special “battle flag”, to be
used, in the words of Gen. Beauregard, “only in battle” for their army. Miles offered the design with the St. Andrews
cross he had submitted for consideration as a national flag. The competition was a design from Louisiana
with a St. Georgeʼs cross (horizontal/vertical). With the number of states that had seceded now reaching eleven
(and with Confederate recognition of Missouri as well), 12 stars were now available for use on a flag. Thus, it
looked a lot better than it had in February when only seven stars were added. Milesʼ design was adopted by the
council.
Gen. Beauregard first suggested the colors be a blue field with a red cross, but Miles countered that this was
contrary to the laws of heraldry. Gen. Johnston suggested that it be made in a square shape to save materials
as well as ease manufacture, and this was accepted. The flag was supposed to come in three sizes - 48 inches
square for infantry units, 36 inches square for artillery units and 30 inches square for cavalry - but as the war
progressed this was not always followed.

Happy Trails!
Tom Martin