The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-02-01
THE CONEEDE ERdTE EEdG,
An Interesting Account of It's Origin az
Givcn by General Dcnurec.ard

number of the "Sonthern Historical
Society Papers," writes the following
sketch Of the origin of the Confederate
battle flag, deriving his facts from a
speech Of General Beauregard:
"lt was at the battle Of Manassas,
about O'Clock Of the afternoon of the
2lst of July, 1861, when the fate of the
CoDtederacv seemed trembling in the
balance, that General Bcaurcgard,
looking across the Warrenton turn
pike, which passed through the valley
between the position Of the Confeder-
ates and the elevations beyond occu-
pied by the Federal line, saw a body
Of troops moving toward his left and
the Federal right. lie was greatly
concerned to know, but could not de-
eide, what troops they were--whether
Federal or Confederate. The SINH
larity Of uniform and Of the colors
carried by the opposing armies, aud
the clouds of dust made it almost i'm
possible to decide.
Benurcgard had received from the
signal officer, Captain Alr der, a
diSpatch that from the sig ption
| III me rcnr nc had sighted JrS
| of this column, dropping IN red
with the dust of fjournevings, ,.. could
not tell whether they were the stars
and stripes or the stars and burs. lie
thought, however, that they were
probably Pattcrson's troops arriving
OH the field and reinforcing the enemy.
General Bcaarcgard was momcntari-
~ expecting help from the right, and
the uncertainty and anxiety Of this
hour amounted to anguish. Still the
column pressed on. Calling Il staff
officer, General Bcauregard Instructed
him TO go at once to General Johnston,
, at the Lewis house, and say that the
enemy were receiving heavy rein
fprccmcnts, that the troops OH the
pIntcau were very much scattered, and
that he would be compelled to retire
to the LOWS house and there reform,
hoping that the troops ordered up
from the right would arrive in time to
enable him to establish and hold the
new line.
Meanwhile, the unknown troops
were pressing on. The day was sui
try, and only Mt long intervals was
there The slightest breeze. The colors Of
the mysterious column hung dropping
Oh the staff General Bcnurcyard tried
again hnu again to decide what cOlors
they carried lie used his glass re-
pcatcdly, and handing it to others
begged them 70 look, hoping that their
eyes might be kccncr than lis.
General l}cAurcgartl was in state
OF great anxiety, but finally determine
Od 10 hold his ground, rclving on the
promised help from the right, know
ing HAT if it arrived in time victory
might he secured, but feeling also that
II the mysterious column should be
Federal troops the day was lost.
Suddenly puffOf wind spread the
colors to the breeze. 1t was the Con-
| tGdCratc ilag-thC stars and bars. 1t
was EARLY, with the 2lth Virginia, the
Uh 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
Bcaurrgnrd turned to his staff right
amt left, saying, "See that: the day is
| ours - and ordered an Immediate adj
vance. In the meantime Earlv's bri-
Eadc dcployed into line and charged
the cnciny's right; Elzrr also dashed
upon the field, and in one hour not an
enemy WAS to be seen south of Bull
Run.
While on this field and suffering this
terrible anxiety, General Bcaurcgard
determined that the Confederate sol
ulcr must have flag SO distinct from
that OF the enemy that no doubt should
ever again endangcr his cause on the
field Of battle.
Soon after the battle l,e entered into
correspondence with Col. Wm. Porchcr
Miles, who had served on his statfdur-
ing this day, with view to securing
ms aid in the matter, and proposing a
blue field, red bars, crossed, and gold
stars.
They discussed the matter at length.
Colonel Miles thought it was contrary
10 the laws OF hcraldry that the ground
should be blue, the bars red and the
stars gold. Hc proposed that the
ground be red, the bars blue and the
stars white.
General Bcaurcgard approved the
change, and discussed the matter free
~ with General Johnston. Meanwhile
1t became known that the design for u
fiaS was under discussion, and many
designs were sent in. The matter was
freely discussed at headquarters, till,
finally, when he arrived at Fairfax
Court House, General Beaurcward
caused his dranghtsman Ga Germany
to make drawings Of all the various
designs which had been submitted,
With these designs before them the
officers at headquarters agreed on the
famous old banncr-thc red field, the
blue cross and the white stars. The
flag was then submitted to the War
Department and was approved.
The first flags sent to the army were
presented to the troops by General
Beauregard in person, he then express
ing the hope and confidence that it
wonld become the emblem of honor
and victory.
The first three flags received were
made from "ladies' dresses" bv the
Misses Carey, Of Baltimore and Alex
andria, at their residences and the res
licences of friends, as soon as they
could get description Of the design
adopted.
One of the Misses Carey sent the flag
she made to General Bcauregard. Her
sister sent hers to General Van Dorm,
who was then at Fairfax Court House.
Miss Constance Carey, Of Alexandria.
sent hers to General Joseph l.. John
ston.
Ns,n D.