Morning journal and courier., 1881-02-09
The Rebel Flag.
An Incident that Suggested 1t and the
 First Made.

An Incident that Suggested 1t and the First Made.
 It was at the battle of Manassas, about o'clock of the afternoon of July 21, 1861, when the fate of the Confederacy seemed trembling, in the balance, that Gen. Beure- gard looking across the Warrenton turnpike, which passed through the valley between the position of the Confederates and the elevation beyond occupied by the Federal line, saw body of troops moving toward his left and the Federal right. He was greatly concerned to know but could not de- eide what troops they were-whetAer Federal or Confederate. The similarity Sof uniform and of the colors carried by the op- posing armies, and the clouds of dust made it almost impossible to decide. Shortly be- fore this time Gen. Beauregard had received from the signal officer, Capt. Alexander dispatch saying that from the signal station in the rear he had sighted the colors of this column, dropping and covered with the dust of journeys, but could not tell whether they were the stars and stripes or the stars and bars. He thought, however, that they were probably Patterson's troops arriving on the field and reinforcing the enemy Gen Beauregard was momentarily expecting help from the right, and the uncertainty and anxiety of this hour amounted to anguish Still the column pressed on. Calling staff officer, Gen. Beauregard instructed him to go at once to Gen. Johnson, at the Lewis house.
 
 endorsements, that the troops on the plateau were very much scattered and that he would be compelled to retire to the Lewis house and there reform-hoping that the troops ordered up from the right would ar rive in time to enable him to establish and hold the new line. Meanwhile the unknown troops were pressing The day was sul- try and only at long intervals was there the slightest breeze. The colors of the myste- rious column hung dropping on the staff. Gen. Beauregard tried again and again to decide what colors they carried. He used his glass repeatedly, and handing it to others begged them to look, hoping that their eyes might be keener than his Gen. Beauregard was in a state of great anxiety, but finally de- termined to hold his ground relying on the- promised help from the right, knowing that if it arrived in time victory might be secured but feeling also that if the mysterious column should be Federal troops the day was lost. Suddenly puff of wind spread the colors to the breeze. It was the Confederate flag the stars and bars! It was Early, with the 24th Virginia, the 7th Louisiana and the 18th Mississippi. The column had by this time reached the extreme right of the Federal lines. The moment the flag was recognized Beauregard turned to his staff right and left, saying tSeei The day is ours !'' and ordered an immediate advance. In the meantime Early's brigade deployed into line and charg- ed the enemy's right-Elzey, also, dashed upon the held-and In one hour not an enemy was to be seen south of Bull Run. While on this field and suffering this terrible anxiety Gen. Beauregard determined that the Con federate soldier must have flag so distinct from that of the enemy that no doubt should ever again endanger his cause on the field of battle. He entered into correspondence with Col. William Porcher Miles, who had served on his staff during this day, with a view to securing his aid ia the matter, and proposed a blue field, red bars crossed, and gold stars. They discussed the matter. at length Col Miles thought it was contrary to the law of heraldry that the ground should be blue and bars and stars gold. He proposed that the ground should be red, the bars blue. and the stars white. Gen. Beauregard ap- proved the change, and discussed the matter freely with Gen. Johnson. Meanwhile it be came known that the designs for flag were under discussion, and many designs were sent in. One came from Mississippi: one from J. B. Walton and B. c. Hancock, which coincidsd with the design of Col. Miles. The matter was freely discussed at headquarters, till, finally, when Le arrived at Fairfax Court house, Gen. Beauregard caused his draughts- man Ca German) to make drawings of all the various designs which had been submitted. With these designs before them the officers at headquarters agreed the famous old banner-the red field, blue cross and the white stars.