The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1872-03-21
A LEAF FROM HISTORY.


From the New Orleans Picayune.
The letter which We publish below from
Gen. Beauregard, was written in reply to
a communication received by him from
Capt. Preble, Z. S. ~, in which the Gen.
eral was requested to furnish information
concerning the origin of the Confederate
battle flag. Gen. Beauregard's letter con-
tains much that is new on this interesting
subject.
In this connection we would state that
the General has been furnished, we under
stand, by Mr.. Z. c. Hancock of the New
Orleans Tintes, original drawings to show
| that Mr.. II. designed for the use Of the
Washington Artillery Battalion, when that
picked corps left here, under CO... J. B.
Walton's command at the breaking out of
the war, q battle flag that is the counter
part OF that which was subsequently select
ed By the General himself. AS shown in
his letter, Col. Walton had the original
drawing by Mr.. Hancock. This and all
the other papers alluded to, including
very interesting letter to Gen. Beauregard
on the adoption of a battle fac by Col.
Porcher Miles of the Confederate Congress
in 1861, are now on file in the archives of
the Southern Historical Society, of which
Rev. DR.. Palmer of this city is the Presi-
dent and Dr.. Caldwell the Secretary.
GEN. BEACREGARDs LETTER.
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. "A, 1872.
DEAR SIR-In answer to the inquiries
contained in your letter of the 81 inst, re-
lative to the origin of the Confederate
battle flag and the devices of the Lou
isiana State flag on the City Hall of New
Orleans when Commodore Farra-ut appear
ed before this city in April, 1862, give
you with pleasure the following informa-
ton:
At the battle Of Manassas, on the 2lst
of July, 1851, found it difficult to distn
guish our then Confederate flag from the
United States flag (the two being so much
alike especially when Gen. Jubal \. Early
made the flank mOyemen which decided
the fate of the day, and | 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 it was found
that many persons i'll both armies firmly
believed that each side had used asa strata.
gem, the flags Of his opponent. Gen. Jo-
serh +. Johnston, Commanding the Con
federate forces, determined to have the
troops furnished with their State flags, aud
| entered into correspondence with Col.
William Porcher Miles, Chairman of the
House Military Committee, to have our ma
tonal flag changed. But that was found
to be iinpractic4ble at that time, and none
of the States, except Virginia, having fur
nished flags to their troops, Gen. johnson,
on consultation at Fairfax Court House,
Va, with Gen. &. W. Smith, commanding
the army Of the Shenandoah (Second
Corps and myself, commanding the Army
Of the Potomac First Corps, decided to
adopt battle flag for our forces. Many
designs were presented, and we gave the
preference to of those offered by Col.
). B. Walton, commanding the Louisiana
Washington Artillery, which correspondent
closely to the enc recommended by Col.
Miles to Congress as our first national hag.
Both We're oblong, the field was red, the
bars blue, and the stars white; but Col
Walton's had the Latin cross, and Col
Miles ; the St. Andrews which removed
the objection that many of our soldiers
might have to fight under the former sym
boi. Gen. Johnson preferred a square flag
to render 1t more convenient to carry, and
We finally adopted in September, lo6l, the
weli-known "battle tiag Of the army of the
Potomac as 1t was first called, to which
our soldiers became SO devoted. It's field
was red or crimson, its bars were blue,
running diagonaliy across from one corner
to the other, and the stars on them were
white or gold, their number being equal 20
the number Of States IN the CoufederacY:
the blue bars were separated from the red
field by small white tillet. The size Of
the flag for infantry was fixed at by
feet, for artillery at 3 by feet, and for
cavalry at > ID by II feet. 1t had the
merit of being small and light, and Of be
ing very distinct at great distances. But
it was not accepted by the Confederate
Government until it had been consecratcd
by many harI-fought battles, when 1t be
came the .. Union of our second and third
Confederate national flag.
When | assumed command of the troops
in Western Tennessee, February, 1862, |
found that Gen. Polk had adopted for his
forces a flag nearly similar to the one l
had designed for the Army of the Potomac,
l. e., blue field with a white st. Andrews
cross, and blue or gold stars. Gen. Ilardee
had for his division blue field with full
white circle IN its centre. ! gave orders to
have them replaced as soon as practicable,b by
the battle flag Of the Army OF the Potomac.
In September 1862, when | returned to
Charleston, | substituted the same banner
for the State flags, then prime pally used in
the apartment of South Carolina, Georgia
and Florida; it, became thus in our armies
the emblem Of Southern valor and patriot
ism. Should we ever be compelled to have
IA foreign war | trust that this standard
will be adopted as our national battle flag
to which Southerners will always gladly
rally in just cause.
The State flag referred to ~ you was
adopted by the Secession Convention, and
contained thirteen stripes-four blue, six
white and three red, commencing at top
with coors as written. The "Union
was red, with its sides equal to the width
of seven stripes; In its centre was single
pale yellow star, with five points.
| remain yours very truly,
G. L. BEAUREGARD.
Capt George Henry Preble, United States
Navy, Naval RENDEZVOUS, Boston Navy
! Yard, Mass
Some Nose.
| Deacon C-of Hartford, Conn, is well
| IN ho ,rnriIoI