The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-05-31
Story Of the Southern Flag,

DlOTy vi tllo NoutlloTu ldS'
The flag of the late Confederate
States of America has a history. 1t Is
furled now forever, and is no longer
the symbol of struggling people.
But its memory is still alive, and is
brought out fresh at times like the
present when the remnant of those
who followed it through four years
have Just met in annual reunion.
The author Of the new design adopt
ed by the Confederate congress was
Maj, A. l.. Rogers, Confederate States
artillery, who, while disabled from
active service in the field, devoted
some Of his leisure hours to improving
the national emblem. After much
attention to the subject, and the laws
Of heraldry, Maj. Rogers, in January,
1865, submitted his design to congress;
and on the 18th Of that month, Mr..
Semmes, Of Louisiana submitted the
following bill in the senate:
A Bill to Establish the Flag Of the
Confederate States.
The congress of the Confederate
States Of America do enact, That the
flag Of the Confederate States shall be
as follows: The width two-thirds of
its length, with the union (nOw used
as the battle flag to be in width
three-ffths Of the width of the flag,
and so proportioned as to leave the
length Of the field on the side Of the
uLlUn twice the width of the field be-
low it: to have the ground rcd, and Il
blue saltier thereon, bordered with
white, and emblazOnod with mullets
or iire-pointed stars, corresponding in
number to that Of the Confederate
States; the field to be white, except
the outer half, from the union, to be
red bar extending the width OF the
flag.
Before Offering the bill, Mr.. Scmmcs
addressed a letter to Gen. Lee, com
manding the army OF Northern Vir-
einia, and requested his views on the
proposed alteration. Gen. Lee replied
that he thought 1t every pretty, and
it certainly added distinction to the
flag" but, with his usual modcsty,
said he mistrusted his own Judgment
in such matters, and that the naval
committee were the proper gentle
men to be consulted. The bill was
accordingly referred to the commit
tee on naval affairs, and after various
plans had been submitted, and the
opinions of leading officers Of the navy
obtained, said committee unanimous
ly recommended its adoption.
Among the distinguished Confeder-
ate officers who approved the design
Of Maj. Rogers, and recommended his
proposed alteration in the national
symbol Of the Confederate States,
were Gen. Joseph T.. Johnston, Gen,
S.'Cooper, Lieut.. Gen. Ewell, Lieut.
Gen. Longstreet's spector-gencral,
Maj, Gems. Fitz Lee, Rosser and Lo-
max of cavalry; Brig. Gems. Pendleton
and Long of artillery, Maj. Gen. Ileth,
Maj. Gen. Smith, superintendent of
the Virginia Military Institute; Capt.
n. W. Parker, acting chief Of signal
bureau; Capt. Wilbourn, of signal
corps; Orig. Gen. Wharton, Col. j. s.
Mosby and many other distinguished
officers of the army.
AS descriptive of the flag, following
are some extracts from a letter OF
Maj. Rogers, addressed to Hon. Ed.
ward Sparrow, chairman Of the com.
mittee on naval affairs, Confederate
States senate:
"The portion Of the flag proposed
to be changed to red bar is the part
too, most rapidly defaced. 1t is
strongly urged by naval officers OF
high standing that our flag is liable
to be mistaken for Il flag of trace,
particularly in a calm, when 1t hangs
dead against the mast and the union
is obscured by the white bunting
When seen at distance flags are
generally displayed against the white
clouds beyond, hence want OF distinct
ness is a great defect in the present
flag, the union being the only portion
seen.
"Thc battle flag selected by Gen
Johnston and recommended by him
self and Gen. Beaurcgard, under
which so much blood has been spilled
in our struggle for independence, Is
fully displayed as the union of the
proposed flag, which can only be done
by surrounding it with white, and the
white bar, forming the outer half oil
the field from the union, Is suggested
as the best design for its improve.
ment. ] am opposed to all stripes,
many or few, red or blue. Instead Of
the stars and stripes let us have
the stars and bars Tho col0rs OF
the new flag would he chiefly white
and red, with as little as possible OF
the Yankee blue.
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