Do you know why and how the Confederate battle flag was created 154 years ago?

2015-06-25T02:49:57-04:00

The Confederate battle flag, a controversial symbol that was condemned this week by much of the political spectrum, was born a few miles outside Washington during the first major land battle of the Civil War.

A simple roadside marker in Fairfax City describes how “amid the smoke of combat” during the First Battle of Manassas in 1861, Confederate soldiers had trouble distinguishing which troops were carrying the American flag and which were hoisting what was then the flag of the rebellious Southern states.

That’s because the first Confederate flag resembled Betsy Ross’s Colonial-era flag, with red and white stripes aligned next to a ring of white stars on a blue field.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/why-and-how-the-confederate-battle-flag-was-created-154-years-ago/2015/06/24/aedcf21a-1a98-11e5-ab92-c75ae6ab94b5_story.html?hpid=z3

Why and how the Confederate battle flag was created 154 years ago

A roadside marker in the City of Fairfax shows that this is where the symbol was born during the Civil War.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 25 at 2015 2:55 AM

2015-06-25T02:55:39-04:00

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, I do remember reading about this not too long ago. Thanks for the important history lesson.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Jun 25 at 2015 7:18 AM

2015-06-25T07:18:40-04:00

Gunny, our actual history no longer matters and things like the confederate flag are persona non grata in our political correct and charged country. We are in the age of symbolism over substance. We do things that make people feel good but do not actually fix anything so we can say we made progress when we really didn't.

The only real good to come of the last couple of weeks is to see how the families of those killed have handled this. There is a lesson to be learned here and an approach that should be embraced. Their grace and forgiveness and rejection of the race baiters has been good to see and hopefully can be emulated by others when a crisis arises.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2015 8:34 AM

2015-06-25T08:34:48-04:00

Gunny,

No one cares about history anymore. Racial Groups Hijack it and automatically it is a symbol of racism and one of battlefield necessity.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jun 25 at 2015 10:54 AM

2015-06-25T10:54:43-04:00

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, Now we know who y'all really are! Us Yankee we'uns chose to remember the Battle of Bull Run!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 25 at 2015 12:15 PM

2015-06-25T12:15:43-04:00

Thank for posting this discussion GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad.
I was interested to learn I live within 10 miles of the "birthplace" of the flag which has caused such an uproar recently. I was profoundly saddened by the murder of the pastor and parishioners at the historic black church in Charleston, S.C. I expect that each of those martyrs are in the presence of their Lord and Savior.
In a free society conflicts between what something stood for over a century ago and its historical significance can be resolved by discussion and wise legislation.
My primary concern is not what the State and Federal Government decides about how they display the Confederate Battle Flag born in Fairfax City, VA or the others displayed in the picture. I am concerned that the Federal Government and or State/Local governments will begin to declare possession of Confederate memorabilia beginning with the flags and works down to anything associated with weaponry from the Civil War.
One clue will be to see the level of protests which accompany civil war battle reenactments this summer and fall.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2015 1:50 PM

2015-06-25T13:50:31-04:00

I believe it was General P.G.T. Beauregard that pointed out the need for a more distinguishable flag on the battlefield. Someone check me on my history on that if I'm incorrect, it's been awhile since I studied the Civil War in great depth.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2015 9:11 AM

2015-06-26T09:11:16-04:00

Thank you, it's nice to see not everyone is ignorant of the difference in confederate flags.

Response by SSG(P) D. Wright Downs made Jun 28 at 2015 1:52 PM

2015-06-28T13:52:17-04:00

An editorial in "The Week" July 3, 2015, by William Falk brought a different thought to me as I read it. In short, it summed up that the Confederate Battle flag was a symbol of division in the United States. At first it was the division of the country and states rights and that had to do with slavery. It was to do with other things with states rights, but today we see it mostly the Civil Rights movement. Today it has to do with social change and defiance. Today it still has to do with the south's feeling about gay marriage, gun control, and other issues. The country is divided--often it is divided between the population and the elected. That is what the battle flag represents--the division of the people in our country.
I think he might have a point. It was because of that division 9 people were gunned down, massacred in cold blood...and after the gunman sat with his victims in prayer and Bible class. That makes it even colder, more vicious to me. He was sick, no doubt about it. Divided in the head, not put together right. I don't condone his actions. I have mixed reactions over the Battle Flag. It is historical but it is associated with the Klan and other activities. There is a historical place for it. It must be disassociated with hate.
What bothers me is that one can not purchase a battle flag, but ISIS flags are at your disposal any where flags are sold, such as Amazon and Walmart will make a cake with the ISIS flag but not one with the battle flag.
I have never been one to fly the battle flag, even when I lived in the south. My family were Union members just as they were northern Revolutionary War folks. My ancestors were picky about their revolting. I think perhaps people are jumping on the bandwagon too quickly without banning the ISIS flag. People are allowed to burn the American flag as a freedom of speech...or did the Amendment pass? We have been wishy-washy about the rules. Let us get it together and think about it before acting emotionally and then pass the laws.
I know I will get voted down on this, but I am tired of so many laws and emotional reactions that make actions questionable.

Response by Cpl Dr Ronnie Manns made Jul 2 at 2015 1:24 PM

2015-07-02T13:24:43-04:00

Confederat Flag was initially created to be a banner for those who truly believed in the south's way of life to rally under, fight under and if necessary die under. It was never design to depict any particular part of the conflict but those who were around when it was hijacked was too afraid to say anything and what we have now is the result.

Response by Sgt Adam Jennings made Jul 2 at 2015 3:03 PM

2015-07-02T15:03:25-04:00

I know this history well. They also didn't want to use the Second National or Third National flags because they looked too much like flags of surrender because they were mostly white with the battle flag emblem in the top corner. Commanders also thought it would be great to minimize how many different battle flags there were such as the Hardee flag and other such flags. The Battle Flag of the Confederacy (which ironically was never officially adopted by the Confederate Government) fixed these issues.

Response by SFC Raymond Cannell made Jul 2 at 2015 8:35 PM

2015-07-02T20:35:15-04:00

I find the history of the flag interesting and I am a little bit impressed. The most aggravating thing about all of this is the media. They tend to find one little thing and run with it. Most of the time they are not even close to being right or accurate but they never get outlawed or banned. The majority of our issues weather it be racism or symbolism or even criminal behavior are actually rooted in some media story. Look at Joe Paterno look at the white officer shooting a black man an now this. What about racism from the blacks towards the whites. You very seldom if ever hear about that. Yes history is ignored and symbols are hijacked but a lot of the issues are just what has been stated. Political correctness is tearing the fabric of our great nation apart.

Response by SSG John Jensen made Jul 4 at 2015 5:25 PM

2015-07-04T17:25:31-04:00

I am a member of Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, descended from a German immigrant who left the old country after the failed European Revolution of 1848 ( why Karl Marx was banished to England) - some members of the post are also members of SCV - they are referred to Sons of Both (SOBs)

Response by Jose Cornejo made Aug 17 at 2017 5:15 PM

2017-08-17T17:15:12-04:00

Anyone who think this flag offends them, they really need a complete lesson of history!

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Aug 24 at 2017 5:55 PM

2017-08-24T17:55:26-04:00

I suppose we could just ask the creator and designer of the flag...