The colours carried by soldiers during the American Civil War showed a surprising amount of variation, considering that it was the first mass participation, overtly technological war in history. The Union Flag Civil War soldiers carried went through several versions, though the changes were nowhere near as drastic as those the Confederate colours underwent.
The banner of the Confederacy is usually perceived as being the blue on red St Andrews cross with white stars. While this design has become iconic and immediately recognisable, it was actually the banner of the Army of Northern Virginia and was adopted generally because of the victories won by that army early on in the war. The actual national banner of the Confederate States was actually much more similar to the Stars and Stripes of the USA in its design.
The St Andrews cross design was then incorporated as a canton in the corner of a 'stainless' white banner. It was this design which was draped over the coffin of Stonewall Jackson as he lay in state. The white section later had a red line added to its white section so that it did not resemble a flag of truce on still days with no wind.
The Stars and Bars was the original national colour of the Confederacy was called the Stars and Bars. This design had a blue canton in the corner, with a star representing each of the Confederate states, and three bars on the rest of the flag, a red one, white one and blue one. This later dropped from use, largely because of its overt similarities to the banners carried by Northern troops.
Yet another colour had preceded these when it came to the Southern forces, with the 'Bonnie Blue' being a banner which was carried into action in the early days of the war. This pale blue effort was decorated with a solitary white star, which symbolised the first state to break from the Union, South Carolina. This was discarded in favour of other designs because it was perceived to be better for each state to have its own star.
Union banners during the conflict remained much more consistent in design, though there were still some considerable variations which were seen. At the beginning of the war, in April 1861, the banner would have looked familiar to modern eyes, though there were some key variations. This was the Stars and Stripes which carried 33 stars, in five rows, four of seven stars and one middle row of five.
Kansas had already become the 34 state of the Union by this juncture, but a star for that state was not added to the banner until the Fourth of July 1861. The stars which represented states which had seceded were retained as part of the design, as the Confederates were regarded as rebels rather than a separate country. A 35 star banner was later adopted in 1863, following West Virginia's statehood, and used to the end of the conflict.
It was this Union Flag Civil War Confederate soldiers surrendered to at Appomatox, bringing a destructive and nation-shaping conflict to an end. The turbulent nature of the period is reflected in the range of banners which the war spawned. This iconic period of American history was the crucible out of which much of the American character was created.
The banner of the Confederacy is usually perceived as being the blue on red St Andrews cross with white stars. While this design has become iconic and immediately recognisable, it was actually the banner of the Army of Northern Virginia and was adopted generally because of the victories won by that army early on in the war. The actual national banner of the Confederate States was actually much more similar to the Stars and Stripes of the USA in its design.
The St Andrews cross design was then incorporated as a canton in the corner of a 'stainless' white banner. It was this design which was draped over the coffin of Stonewall Jackson as he lay in state. The white section later had a red line added to its white section so that it did not resemble a flag of truce on still days with no wind.
The Stars and Bars was the original national colour of the Confederacy was called the Stars and Bars. This design had a blue canton in the corner, with a star representing each of the Confederate states, and three bars on the rest of the flag, a red one, white one and blue one. This later dropped from use, largely because of its overt similarities to the banners carried by Northern troops.
Yet another colour had preceded these when it came to the Southern forces, with the 'Bonnie Blue' being a banner which was carried into action in the early days of the war. This pale blue effort was decorated with a solitary white star, which symbolised the first state to break from the Union, South Carolina. This was discarded in favour of other designs because it was perceived to be better for each state to have its own star.
Union banners during the conflict remained much more consistent in design, though there were still some considerable variations which were seen. At the beginning of the war, in April 1861, the banner would have looked familiar to modern eyes, though there were some key variations. This was the Stars and Stripes which carried 33 stars, in five rows, four of seven stars and one middle row of five.
Kansas had already become the 34 state of the Union by this juncture, but a star for that state was not added to the banner until the Fourth of July 1861. The stars which represented states which had seceded were retained as part of the design, as the Confederates were regarded as rebels rather than a separate country. A 35 star banner was later adopted in 1863, following West Virginia's statehood, and used to the end of the conflict.
It was this Union Flag Civil War Confederate soldiers surrendered to at Appomatox, bringing a destructive and nation-shaping conflict to an end. The turbulent nature of the period is reflected in the range of banners which the war spawned. This iconic period of American history was the crucible out of which much of the American character was created.
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