| CONFEDERATE PARADE FLAG IN THE SOUTHERN CROSS / BATTLE FLAG FORMAT, REUNION ERA, circa 1910-1930 |
|
| Web ID: | fcj-945 |
| Available: | In Stock |
| Frame Size (H x L): | 22.25" x 22.75" |
| Flag Size (H x L): | 13" x 13.25" |
| Description: | |
| Confederate parade flag in the Southern Cross “battle flag” design. Printed on plain weave cotton, this particular example, with its square profile and white border, mimics the basic format produced in Richmond for the Army of Northern Virginia (ANV), beginning in late 1861. Released in 9 different issues, 7 of these made under the direction of the Richmond Depot, though many variants were carried by the war’s end, this basic style would become the most prevalent form distributed to the Confederate Army. Printed on cotton or silk, parade flags (a.k.a., hand-wavers) in the various Confederate designs were made to be affixed to a wooden staff, to be waved at parades and reunions of Confederate veterans, related organizations, and their subsidiaries. The most prevalent of these were United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) and the United Confederate Veterans (UCV), founded in 1884 and 1889 respectively, which served as the primary post-war fraternal and social groups for Confederate soldiers and their families. Made in the 1910-1930 era, this specific variety is also known to have been used to decorated the graves of the fallen. One of the attractive things about this particular flag is the presence of two sets of ties, made of red, silk ribbon, hand-stitched to the extreme top and bottom of the hoist, as a means of affixing the flag to its staff. In addition to their positive impact on the visual presentation of the flag, this feature is indicative of hand-held parade use, as opposed to gravesite decoration. There is a small copyright symbol, on the obverse, in the center of the star in the lower, hoist-end corner, with a small letter “W” below. I have not yet been able to attribute this mark to a specific flag-maker. Many people are surprised to learn that the Southern Cross, by itself, in the design most readily recognized today as the Confederate flag, was never the official flag of the Confederate States of America (CSA), in the way that the Stars & Stripes was the national flag of the United States. The CSA would approve three successive national designs between 1861-1865. Although none of these was the Southern Cross, two of these included it as part of their imagery. The first Confederate national flag looked much like the Stars & Stripes. Adopted by the CSA legislature on March 4th, 1861, when in session at the temporary capital of Montgomery, Alabama, the flag initially consisted of 7 white stars arranged on a blue canton, and a field of three linear stripes (bars) in red-white-red. The count of 7 stars reflected those states that left in what is known as the “initial wave of secession,” which coincided with a joint vote to adopt the CSA’s provisional constitution by 6 states, which took place in Montgomery about a month prior, on February 7th, and was ratified the following day. Although Texas was also expected to be present, its delegates failed to arrive in time for the vote. Universally considered to be in full favor, it was honorably, if unofficially included. The count of states admitted by the CSA increased to 11 among those states that formally voted to leave the Union, then to 13 by the tail end of 1861, via the acceptance of the Border States of Missouri and Kentucky. With a few notable exceptions, most war-period, Southern Cross style battle flags displayed 13 stars to reflect the same 13 states of the CSA. From a visual perspective the first national flag of the Confederacy looked a lot like the Stars & Stripes, just with fewer stars and fewer stripes. This is the flag nicknamed the "Stars & Bars" by Confederate soldiers; contrary to popular belief, this title does not apply to the Southern Cross and is a heavily misused term. It was, rather, simply a play on the nickname of the federal Stars & Stripes. Use of the Stars & Bars and the Stars & Stripes on the same battlefield led to great confusion, precipitating change to something far easier to distinguish. The Southern Cross battle flag was introduced by Generals P.G.T. Beauregard & Joe Johnston in the late fall of 1861. Though the Confederate legislature refused to sanction the design, it was approved by Johnston at the field level, who refused to permit his men to continue to be killed by friendly fire, mistaking their own flags for Union Army banners. The second national Confederate flag was adopted on May 26th, 1863. Known as the Stainless Banner, it was white in color with the Southern Cross (a.k.a. the Confederate Battle Flag or the Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia (ANV) serving as its canton. Soldiers and officers alike disliked this design because it looked too much like a surrender flag, especially if a unit was carrying it straight at a designated position and there was no cross wind. Myth surrounding the circumstance of its use on the field states that the 2nd national would be dipped in blood of the enemy at first opportunity. The reality was that it was almost never carried on foot, though it did see regular use to mark Confederate ships and small craft. 36 days before the war’s end, a red vertical bar was added at the fly end and the result became the third national design. This was called the “blood stained banner.” Officially the red did not represent blood, but instead paid homage to the France, which lent aid to the South during the war, because if one were to replace the first third of the flag, along the hoist, with a blue vertical bar, the result would be the French tri-color, the national flag of France. Mounting: For 25 years we have maintained a specialized department for this purpose. Our lead conservator holds a master's degree in textile conservation from one of the nation’s top university programs. We take great care in the mounting and preservation of flags and related textiles and have preserved thousands of examples. The background is 100% cotton twill, black in color, that has been washed and treated for colorfastness. The mount was placed in a two-part frame that consists of a step-down profile molding of shadow-box depth, that is very dark brown in color, nearly black, with reddish undertones and highlights, to which a hand-gilded and distressed Italian molding, with a cove-shaped profile, was added as a liner. Spacers keep the textile away from the glazing, which is U.V. protective glass. Condition: There are 3 tack holes along the hoist, with minor associated rust stains, accompanied by a few, tiny, pinprick-sized holes in the body of the textile. There is minor age toning elsewhere. The overall condition is nothing short of excellent for the period. |
|
| Video: | |
| Collector Level: | Beginners and Holiday Gift Giving |
| Flag Type: | Parade flag |
| Star Count: | |
| Earliest Date of Origin: | 1910 |
| Latest Date of Origin: | 1930 |
| State/Affiliation: | The Confederacy |
| War Association: | 1861-1865 Civil War |
| Price: | Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281 |
| E-mail: | info@jeffbridgman.com |
 |
|
