During the Civil War, battle flags were symbols of bravery, pride, and patriotism. They were also practical markers, identifying the location of battle units during military engagements. The size, shape, and colors of each regimental flag varied greatly and depended on whether the soldiers were part of an infantry, cavalry, or artillery regiment.
In the North, Union regulations required that infantry regiments carry at least two flags. The first was the national flag. Better known as the “Stars and Stripes” of 1861, this flag contained the stars of 34 states. Regiments were also required to carry a flag bearing the arms of the United States and the name of the specific regiment. This flag was blue with the national eagle emblazoned in the center. Additionally, many regiments carried “colors” that identified their state and listed the battles in which they had fought.
Union cavalry regiments were issued a blue flag with the national coat of arms and, just below, a scroll painted with the regimental name and number. Artillery units in the North carried both national and regimental colors. The flags of the artillery, however, were yellow with a crossed cannon in the center.
Flag of the Confederate 11th Tennessee Regiment (Hulton/Archive)
Shortly after the first seven Southern states seceded, the Confederate states adopted an official flag, better known as the “Stars and Bars.” This flag contained three horizontal stripes—red, white, red—with a blue section in the upper left with seven white stars. Because it was hard to distinguish the Stars and Bars from the Stars and Stripes during battle, the flag was replaced in May 1863 by the “stainless banner,” a rectangular white flag with a red section displaying a white-bordered blue cross studded with 13 white stars.
The Confederate armies also carried what became known as the “Southern Cross,” or the Southern battle flag. This was a square flag that consisted of a red field with a blue cross, bordered in white, with the necessary number of stars aligned on the bars of the cross. The only difference between the flags of the infantry, artillery, and cavalry units was size; infantry regiments carried a larger flag than artillery batteries and cavalry units. The Southern battle flag is the one most commonly identified with the Confederacy.
For both the North and South, a color bearer carried the flag into battle. The battle flag created a focal point for the regiment to rally around and to use as a guide in the midst of the fighting. However, they also provided the enemy with a large, visible target. As a result, the mortality rate of color bearers was very high. The fact that a large number of men were willing to step forward and bear the colors demonstrates how each flag not only represented a particular state and region, but also the pride of its unit’s soldiers.
Further reading: Devereaux D. Cannon, The Flags of the Confederacy: An Illustrated History (Memphis, Tenn.: St. Lukes Press, 1988); C. McKeever, Civil War Battle Flags of the Union Army and Order of Battle (New York: Knickerbocker Press, 1997).
—Fiona Galvin
World History
