The Road So Far: Part 1

When the Civil War broke out, the most popular symbol of the South was the so called 'Bonnie Blue Flag'.

However, it could not maintain its position to represent the Southern states. Many states of the Confederacy adopted it as their own flag or/and battle flag; still, the Bonnie Blue was not accepted as the official flag and was defeated by the 'Stars and Bars'.

William Porcher Miles came up with his own design what we call the Confederate Flag today. This soon became the battle flag of Virginia.

There were many variations on the first flag and in 1863. After several debates and discontent, Committee Chairman Alexander Boteler said: "True, the battle flag was endeared to every Confederate heart, but what meant the white field? If any border were adopted, let it be red, symbolizing the bloodshed on our frontiers". But Jefferson Davis signed the bill into law, so the Stainless Banner became the second flag of the Confederacy.  The 'Stainless Banner' (also referred to as the 'white men's flag') was born, although it did not live long. During battles on windless days, it looked like a pure white flag which meant surrender.

The third banner adopted a red bar on the left.

The battle flag remained the same, and it was the one what soldiers followed. They described this in their letters, and their families respected this flag as it was the banner of their fighting soldiers'. According to John M. Coski, the Confederate Flag "preserved and perpetuated the Confederate nationalism, linking the flag to slavery and racism requires only linking the cause to slavery". As veteran Carlton MacCarthy wrote in his Detailed Minutiae of Soldier  Life in the Army of Northern Virginia, that the banner " was not the flag of the Confederacy but simply the banner of....the Confederate soldier. As such it should not share in the condemnation which our cause received, or suffer from its downfall. The whole world can unite in the chorus of praise to the gallantry of the men who followed where this banner led".