Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-29
THE CONFEDERATE FLAG,
Description of the Banner-Rensons
for Its Adoption

The following article, which appeared n
Tho Baltimorean, in 1868, is here repro
duced by request
The lowered banner of the Stars and
Bars is furled forever, no longer the
symbol OF a struggling people, nor, as
one day we hoped 10 look upon IT, tie
nag OF a nation-the Confederate States
u America-free and independent But
our nag has a history. and the time mas
come when TO preserve that history FROM
oblivion some record should be made OF
II. The author Of the new design adopt
ed by the Confederate Congress was
Major A. l.. Rogers, Confederate States
artillery. who, while disabled from &C.
tive service in the field, devoted some
OF his leisure hours 10 improving the
national emblem.
DESIGN SUBMITTED TO CONGRESS.
After much attention TO the subject
and the laws OF heraldry, Major Rogers,
IN January, 1866, submitted his design 10
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 Con-
federate 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 fiag) to be in width three fifths Of
the width of the flag. and so proportional
"a to leave the length of the field on the
side Of the union twice the width of the
field below it; 10 have the ground red
and a blue salter thereon, bordered with
white and emblazened with mullets or
fve-pointed stars, corresponding in num-
her 20 that of the Confederate States;
the field TO be white, except the outer
half from the union 10 be a red bar ex-
tending the width OF the flag
GENERAL LEE APPROVED IT.
Before Offering the bill, Mr.. Semmes ad-
dressed a letter 10 General Lee, com
manding the Army OF Northern Virginia.
and requested his views of the proposed
alteration. General Lee replied that he
thought IL every pretty and that II GER
tainly added distinctness TO the flag" but
with his usual modesty said he mis-
trusted his own judgment in such matters,
and that the Naval Committee were
th. proper gentlemen to be consulted.
THE bin was. accordingly, referred to TIE
Committee on Navel Affairs, and after
various plans had been submitted, ana the
opinions of the leading officers or tGe
navy obtained, said committee uhahi-
mously recommended its adoption.
Among the distinguished Confederate
officers who approved the design oil
Major Rogers, and recommended MS pro
U,sed alteration in the national symbol
off the Confederate States, were General
D. Johnston. General 5. Cooper, Lieu
t,rsnt-General Ewell. Northumberland
I..rrstreet inspector general, Major
General FYtz Lee Rosser, and LomaN'
of cavalry; EMBELLISHMENTS Penoleton
and Long. Of artillery; MaJor-IehefAi
H,th: Major General Smith Governor Oh
Virginia; Major-General enith, suPS r
toudent Virginia Military INSTITUTE, Ssp
tain Y w. Baker, acting cher OF sig
nal pureau. CAPTAIN Wilbourn, or Signal
Corre. Rrigadier-General Wharton Colo-
~ : Nfoshv and many other distln-
guished officers of the army
DESCRIPTION OF THE FLAG.
Az descrinfons OF the flag we subJoin
SON. ovtrafts from letter OF MAYOR
pogers,s addressed to Hon. EDWARD
ersrro,y chairman Of the Committee on
Naval Affairs. Confederate states OF
a,r6e norton of the flag proposed 10 pe
changed 10 a red bar is the part wv
most rapidly defaced. 80, oeioers
"It is strangely urged by ha1ai o,,, 80
Of high standing that our nag Is iiaD ,t5o',y
Do mistaken for nag OF truce, POI Seod
IITIF in CGlms Wien - -,
AGAINST the mast and the Nnlon Is Oh
salred bv the white bunting. When seen seen
~ "A distance. flags are usually dlsp'ayeJS
AGAINST the white clouds beyono, an" an
hence want OF distinctness is great ue
feet in the present flag, the union Oe'"s
iae only portion seen. -. cooerai
THE battle-fiag selected py 10
Johnston and recommended py h,iisen
srd General Beauregard. under when 50
much blood has been spilled In our strus
g.s for Independence. is fully dlsplayou
as The union OF the proposed nag VIM" WIZ
can only be done by surrounding II VIZ
White and the red bar, forming the outer
half Of the field from the union. IS sus-
gc.tod as the best design for It's improve
mcnt. / am opposed 10 all stripes, many
or few. red or blue. Instead OF the S.ais
and Stripes" let US have the stars ana
Bars" The colors Of the new nag wouio
De chiefly white and red, with as niue "S
possible OF the Yankee blue.
"The heraldlc significance OF thesi
colors h deemed especially appropriate
Tor tho Confederate States-the white CAR
CENT? being emblamatic OF purity ana III
nocencc. and the red tgules) OF iorutuus
and courage
INITIATED OTHER NATIONS
In the adoption OF ensigns by various
nations Of the world, II Is noticed py |ap-