Hello Edward, & all

There are several lone star flags that survive, some from Texas but a few from other western States. Some had white, some yellow stars or a lone star on a field of blue in the canton of a flag, some associated with the secession movement others as company or regimental flags early in the war. Its probable that any of the blue field flags, even the Hardee pattern flag could have been mistaken for a “Bonnie Blue” flag. However, the “Bonnie Blue” even with the song was not as popular as the “Palmetto” flag, per war, as a secession flag and during the war, maybe not on land but at sea.

The white saltire (St. Andrews Cross in this case) on a blue field became popular in the 1970 or 1980’s. The earliest known use was in 1180 but it was a religious symbol not a National one. In the 1860’s Scotland was represented by a British flag or the King James VI / I, design with the saltire and cross of St. George in the canton, this changed a bit in 1801 with the addition of the Cross of St. Patrick. The Scots used a saltire on their British uniforms but the background was black not blue.

To presume that a blue flag with a white saltire had a connection with Scotland and the Confederacy in the 1860’s is a stretch, posable but not probable. Sure, some of the Armies General’s had Scottish heritage but what is your guess that they or the common man had knowledge of the Religious symbol of the seal of St. Andrews?

Happy Trails!
Tom Martin
www.Piedmontflag.com
www.Confederate-flags.org