The First National Flag
GALLERY

Replicas of First National flags made by CSA Flags

The First National flag was adopted by the Provisional Congress of the Confederacy on 4 March, 1861. It was first hoisted in Montgomery on the day of President Lincoln's inauguration. Our First Nationals are all-sewn, outdoor quality, 100% colour-fast cotton bunting. A 7-star 3' x 5' is $80.

As more states joined the Confederacy, stars were added to the First National Flag in varying patterns. If the flag was new, often the stars were in a circle such as this one. If flags were of the 7-star variety, they were stiched on as seemed fit.

The flag of the C.S.S. Curlew. Though rare, there were some First Nationals with star patterns in lines, reminiscent of the U.S. flag. This small flag will appear in a museum display. Information on the flag is found in Dr. Madaus' Rebel Flags Afloat.

First National Flags were also used as headquarters and battle flags by military units. Even after the First National was retired as the official national flag of the Confederacy, units would continue to use their First National flags in battle. As units were issued newer battle flags, the older ones were often stored and then brought back out for use should the newer ones be lost. This flag is supposed to have been used by Gen. John Hunt Morgan. If anyone has documentation of this flag, I'd appreciate the reference.

Units would also add lettering and other art work to their First National flags. The 5th Kentucky regiment had the letters "C" and "G" embroidered on their flag in beautiful knot work to stand for their name: "Citizen's Guard." It was also common for Kentucky units to use the Roman Cross motiff, symbolising their Christian heritage, in contradistinction to the Northern humanistic beliefs which fueled their hatred of Bible-believing Southerners.

The famous Colonel John S. Mosby owned a First National flag for use as a headquarters flag. It was not used very much, however, due to the secretive way he had to conduct his campaign. This flag is 51" high and 114" long.

This is the battle flag of the Benjamin Infantry, a Company of the 10th Georgia regiment. It was made after the drawing in the book The Returned Battle Flags. The white stars are trimmed in red.

The battle flag of the "Columbia Rifles," Company C of the 2nd Florida Infantry. The lettering was done in an unusual fashion by using a white cotton cord. It had three ties, from top to botton: blue, white and red.

This star pattern is called the "grand illuminary" pattern. It was used on U.S. flags, the idea being to arrange the various stars into a pattern that would make one big star. This First National star pattern appears on the cover page of the sheet music for the song "The Bonnie Blue Flag." It's one of my favourites.

There were several First Nationals that used the wreath-like star design of the 7th Tennessee.

For a picture of Gen. Lee's First National Headquarter's Flag, see our Army of Northern Virginia Flag Gallery.

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