The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-03-06
The Fated Flag.
History of the Confederate Battle Flag.
GENERAL BEhUREGARD's presently
TIoN OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN TO
ESOUTHERN HISTORICAL AS
ISOLATION SOME INTER
ESTING FACTS.

fOunu not OHly CT local out or hlStOri-
cal Importance. A flag, baptized in
blood and torn in battle, where man
meets man, and might encounters
might, is something more than a mere
piece of bunting. Though it termina-
ted in disaster, no one will deny that
the Confederate fight was very bravely
fought. It's flag carried with it, for a
time, the sentiment of people, but,
consecrated by disaster, it is laid away
tenderly in historic archives as the
first-born of q household in the mar
row bed.
Apart from the beauty of tho Con-
fcderate battle flag, it possessed other
distinguishing qualities of a practical
nature. Its size and shape made it
easy of carriage, and prevented it's be-
ing torn by the soldiers: bayonets. 1t
could also be seen at great distance,
toqaote an expression used by General
Beauregard, in allusion: "Through the
trees it tluttered like red bird in the
sunlight" We are assured by general
officers, that its use upon the system
adopted of providing every regiment
with one of these flags, enabled the
tide of battle to be watched with tho
rough precision and facility, thus con-
tributing no little to the celebrity of
military movements. Whatever it's
merits may have been, it now only
lives in recollection, but clustered so
thickly with hallowed memories and
golden laurels that this little scrap of
its history must commend itself to all
those who followed it so many years
over the invaded soil of Southland
LETTER OF DONATION.
NEW ORLEANS, La, }
February 3, 1872.
Dear Sir "A few weeks since / re-
ceived a letter from Captain George II.
Preble, United States Navy, making
some inquiries relative to the origin of
the Confederate battle flag used during
the late war by our Southern forces,
and the devices of the secession flag of
Louisiana. Supposing that the infor-
nation contained in my answer Of the
Oath ult. might be OF historical interest
hereafter, take the liberty of inclos-
ing you, for preservation in the ar
chives of the Southern Historical Socie-
ty, a copy OF my letter to Captain Pre-
BILE, accompanied by the original ''flag
design" prepared by Mr.. E. G. Han
cock, of this city, and presented for
examination and adoption by Colonel
j. B. Walton, then commanding the
New Orleans Washington Artillery
battalion, to General Joseph E. John
ston, at Fairfax Court House, Va, in
September, 1861. 1 inclose you also
the letter of Mr.. Hancock, donating
said design to the Southern Historical
Society, and one from Colonel Walton,
identifying that drawing as the one Of
fered to General Johnston; also let
ter to me from Colonel VIM. Porcher
Miles, Chairman of the House Military
Committee, dated August 81, 1861, rel
alive to the change recommended by
me of our first Confederate national
flag, and submitted by me to General
Johnston, and G.. w. Smith before we
adopted the well known "Battle Flag
of the Army of the Potomac" which
became, after having been consecrated
by many a hard fought battle, the
union" of the second and third Con-
federate national flags.
remain, dear sir,
Yours, most truly,
g. T.BEAUREGARD.
Rev. B. M. Palmer, President Southern
Historical Society, New Orleans.
ENCLOSURE NO. /.
NEW ORLEANS, La, I
January "a, 1872.
Dear Sir In answer to the inqui-
ries contained in your letter of the Sd
inst, relative to the Confederate battle
flag and the design of the Louisiana
State flag flying on the City Hall of
New Orleans when Commodore Farra-
gut appeared before this city, in April,
1862, give you with pleasure the fol-
lowing information
At the battle of Manassas, on the 2lst
of July, 1861, found it difficult to dis
tinguish our then Confederate flag
from the United States flag 1.-THE two
being so much alike,) especially when
General Jubal A, Early made the flank
movement which decided the fate of
the day, and 1 resolved then to have
ours changed, if possible, or to adopt
for my command battle flag, which
would be entirely different from any
State or Federal flag. After the battle
1t was found that many persons in both
armies firmly believed that each side
mad used as a stratagem the flag of his
opponent. General Joseph E. John
SION, commanding the Confederate
otates forces, determined to have the
troops furnished with their State flags,
aad l entered into correspondence with
1oionel William Porcher Miles, Chair