As states seceded from the Union, starting with South Carolina in December 1860, local and regional enthusiasm created a large number of potential new flags for the Confederacy. A committee of the provisional government in Montgomery solicited suggestions and the design selected, the well-known “stars and bars” remained the national flag until, having been deemed too close in appearance to the U.S. flag, it was officially replaced on May 1, 1863, by a new national flag using the Confederate battleflag as a canton on a white field.

Various rationales and symbolic interpretations were placed upon the design, but after almost two more years of fighting it was determined that the largely white flag could be misinterpreted as a flag of truce or surrender if not flying in breeze. The result was the adoption of this new national flag on March 4, 1865, the fourth anniversary of adoption of the first Confederate national flag in Montgomery. The new pattern called for a slightly more rectangular version of the Confederate battleflag than that on the second pattern, but with a similar white field, terminating at the fly, however, with a broad vertical red stripe. Naturally, given its date of adoption, not many were manufactured before the war ended.

This flag is constructed with a sleeve, and lower horizontal white panel below the canton and running its length. A separate vertical white panel then extends the fly end of the flag and a red vertical panel then ends it. The flag shows machine stitching and good color, with some small stains and just a couple of small wear spots at the upper right corner (as mounted) and about two-thirds down the fly end. It generally falls under the heading of a “U.C.V. flag,” that is: a flag that might have been used by members of the United Confederate Veterans, and likely dates from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century when veterans were still alive. This displays very well and would make a nice focal point for a collection of Confederate veterans’ memorabilia.  [sr]

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