Part three of our continuing series on Confederate Flags and Symbols. This series aims to increase accurate knowledge of Confederate History and further pride in our Southern Heritage.  This article features the history behind the second national flag of the Confederacy often known as The Stainless Banner which happens to be my favorite of the national flags.

     The second national flag also known as the “Stainless Banner” was mustered into service on May 1, 1863 to replace the first national flag.  The first national flag had increasingly come under fire for the reason that its design was decided upon in the first place, its similarity to the flag of the United States. This similarity had caused grievous mistakes on the battlefield when units were unable to tell friend from foe. This flag is also sometimes called the “Stonewall Jackson Flag” because the first use it saw was to cover the casket of General Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson at his funeral.

     By 1863, the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia had become widely known and popular with the Confederate public. Nearly all proposed designs for the new national flag incorporated the battle flag in some manner. The Confederate Congress specified that the new flag was to have the following qualities.

“a white field with the union (now used as the battle flag) to be a square of two-thirds the width of the flag, having the ground red; thereupon a broad saltier [sic] of blue, bordered with white, and emblazoned with mullets or five-pointed stars, corresponding in number to that of the Confederate States.”

     The reason that the flag was spoken of as “stainless” referred to the white field that makes up the majority of the flag.  Even though the flag committee never expounded upon the meaning of the white field, many speculated that it symbolized the purity of the Cause.  It was debated as to whether the flag needed a blue stripe added or for the flag to be bordered in red but William Miles argued that the Battle Flag must be used but it should be presented upon a flag that was as simple as possible.

    The public’s first opinion of the new flag was very favorable but their attitudes eventually changed and it was said that the flag was “too white”. It was observed that the new flag was essentially a battle flag upon a flag of surrender and that it might send a mixed message. The military also made clear its opinion that the flag was “too white” and presented the danger of it being mistaken for a flag of true. The flag was ill-suited to a life in the field and frequently became easily soiled despite its reputation as “Stainless”.  Because of all these reasons, the 2nd National Flag was retired in March of 1865 shortly before the conclusion of the war and the fall of the country it represented. 

     I hope you are enjoying our Southern Heritage and Confederate History series regarding the flags and symbols of the CSA.  I hope to bring you the continuation of the series in the near future.