Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-26
Interesting Letter rom General Bradley
7. Johnson.
ACTS OF TIE SOUTHERN CONGRESS-.
The Red Bar Added 10 the Wnlle
Fled.
RELIC OF MALVERN HILL.
Mis-. stiles Gift TO the Georgia
Hussars-some Noted War songs
vo,,en Of the War Reposing in
Top,bs of Veterans.

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
The Confederate flag, with the memo
RIGS n arouses. is very dear to many peo-
ple. and we think 1t but justice to per-
petuate a true and accurate description
OF 1.-THE Stars and Bars" ] can fnd
no record OF 1t In the acts OF Congress
It was used by companies and regiments
in Virginia In 1861 without authority ana
Just as a matter Of taste.
After Manassas Beauregard had pre-
pared at his headquarters design for
flag, which was painted In water-colors
It was a red square, on which was dis
played blue ST. Andrews cross, border
ed with white, and charged with thirteen
white. fye-pointed stars.
This was adopted in general orders
from army headquarters. and became the
hattle-aag Of the Confederacy. which
should blaze in many a coming trial.
showing its followers the way TO duty
and 10 death.
Three flags were made by "the three
Cary girls out Of their own silk frocks
ons for Joe Johnston, Beauregard. and
Van Dorm each, and were always foated
at the headquarters of these generals and
on the march and in the battle showed
where they were.
, This was Beauregard's battlefiag!
ACT OF MAY /. 1868.
May /, 1863, an act Of Congress was
passed TO establish the flag Of the Con-
federate States. and II provided that the
~.
nag, and that the field should be
white / never saw this flag with troops.
General Lee had one in front of his head
quarters. The first time this flag was
ever used, and i suspect the first that
was ever made, was used as pail over
the bier OF Stonewall Jackson as he lay
In state In the Governors house at Rich
mond, In May. 1853. But this flag looked
too much like flag of truce, and did not
show at sea, SO the story went. and con-
sequently on March 4, 1865, just twenty
eight days before the death OF the Com
federacy, Congress passed another act.
adding a broad red bar across the end
Of 1t. never saw this flag. nor have
ever seen a man who did see it-or who
saw man who did see it
with this exception: Colonel Louis
Euker tells me that riding down 10
General Gusts Lees quarters In Novem-
her OF December, 1864. he saw this flag
flying over Howard's Grove Hospital, and
his companion. a German gentleman.
then serving in the Ninth Virginia Cav
airy. asked him what flag that was, and
this incident impressed itself on his
memory.
NEARLY CERTAIN TO BE RIGHT
There Is no possibility Of doubling the
accuracy OF Colonel Euker's memory. lie
IL as nearly certain 10 be right as any
man know, but there Is confusion here
The flag was not adopted until March 4
1866. and he saw II several months before
explain this by thinking the design fol
the new flag was known and canvassed
have a colored Autograph now, made by
Hoyer a Ludwig. at the time, for Major
Arthus L. Rogers. who designed this
alteration. and gave me the picture in
December, 1864. SO. ] take it, the doc
tors at the hospital had made themselves
O new nag to set the fashion. But thai
was not q flag authorized by law and ]
hava yet to see a man who saw such
flag or saw any man who saw a man who
saw one. After March {. 1855, we were
not making flags. Please print the acts
Of Congress establishing the flags. The
last act has never heeh printed
BRADLEY r. JOHNSON.
From the Records.
We comply with General Johnson's re.
quest by printing the act OF May /. 1863
and the amendment thereto, passed
March 4. 1855:
An act to establish the flag Of the Con
federate States:
The Congress Of the Confederate State.
OF America do enact. That the flag Of In,
Confederate States shall be as follows
The ned 10 be white. the length double
(now used as the batte-hag) TO be 3
square OF two thirds the width OF the
flag. having the ground red; thereon a
broad saltier OF blue. bordered with white
and emblazoned with white mullets OIL
five-pointed stars. corresponding in mum
Der 10 that OF the Confederate States
G1rst Congress. third session. Approved
May l. 1852
The foregoing was amended by the fol
lowing act:
The Congress OF the Confederate state,
f America do enact. That the flag of tn,
Confederate States shall be as follows
The width, two thirds OF its length, witt
he union {now used as the battle
nae) TO be In width three fifths OF tn
width OF tho flag. and so proportioned a,
10 leave the length OF the field on IN,
side OF the union twice the width OF tn
held below II: TO have the ground red
and broad blue saitler thereon bordere,
with white. and emblazoned with mullet
" iysrpointed stars, corresponding il
number 10 that OF the Confederate States
the field TO be white. except the cute
ha.f from the union TO be a red bar ex
tending the width Of the flag. tSecon,
conA.ess. second session Approve,
March 4. 1862
oaicIal statement furnished to the edi
nor OF the Richmond Dispatch.
by authority OF the Secretary of War
i. c. AfNsWoRTH,
Colonel United States Army, Chief Re
cord and Pension Once.
1iaster Roll Of the uoIcembe Guards
The following is furnished by Mr.. w.
Parrot. Of McMulien. Greene county: Tn
Xsloombe GUARDS. afterwards Company