* Federal
* Union
* North
Union Flag
Of The
United States
Of
America
The Union flag
of the
Civil War period
had
thirty-five stars
in the
field
of
blue
with West Virginia
being the thirty-fifth
state.
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*
Confederate
* Rebel
* South
The First
Confederate
Flag
The seven stars in the blue field represented
the
states then in the confederacy. This flag was known as the
"Stars
and
Bars".
The congress of the "Confederate States of
America" appointed a committee to review the large number of designs
coming to them from citizens of a flag that would symbolize the
sovereignty of the southern states.
When Jefferson Davis was
inaugurated in February, 1861, the Alabama state flag was still flying
over the capitol.
Because of the sentimental attachment the people
of
the south held for the "old flag" one of similar design was finally
selected in March, 1861. This new flag, known as the Stars and Bars,
had 3
broad bands of red and white, with a circle of 7 stars in a field of
blue,
representing the 7 states which formed the confederacy and that by this
time had seceded from the union.
The Confederate Congress adopted
the
new flag soon thereafter. By December the number of stars had grown to
13,
with Kentucky and Missouri among them.
Second Confederate Flag
This flag known as the "Stainless Banner" was adopted on May 1,
1863.
This flag had the disadvantage of being mistaken for the white flag of
surrender.
Third Confederate Flag
This flag was adopted on March 4, 1865. The flag was simular to the
second national flag, but a red bar was added to the fly end of the
flag.
Confederate Battle Flag
This flag was used after the first battle of Bull Run
(manassas,
Virginia). Designed by General Beauregard, the thirteen stars
represented
the states claimed by the confederacy. This flag is known as
the "Southern
Cross".
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