The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-02

number OF prisoners we captured that
day Generals Johnston and Beaure-
gard me. at Fairfax Courthouse, In
the latter part OF August or early in
ofptember. and determined to have a
hattls flag for every regiment or de-
tached command. that could be easily
recognized and easily carried, was
telagraphed TO come at once to Fair.
far Courthouse, found Generals
Johnston and Bcnurcgard in the latter's
once discussing the kind of nag that
should be adopted.
General Johnston,s nag was In the
shane Of an elipse--a red flag with
hiuc st. Andrews cross and stars on
the cross (wh.te) 10 represent the dit.
ferent Southern States, {Ho border of
any hind waa attached TO this crosse
General Reaurcgard's was a. rectangie--
white stars similar TO General John
ston's Both were discussed and
thoroughly examined by all.
after we had fully discussed tho
two styles taking into considera ton
the cost OF the material and of maxi
Ing the flags. It was decided the elipti-
cal flag would be the harder 10 make !;
that II would take more cloth and that
IT could not pe seen so plainly at a
distance; that the rectangular flag.
drawn by and suggested by General
Beauregard should be adopted; General
Johnston yielded and at once, when
the reason given by General Beaure-
gard and myself waa SO good and sub
stantial
.'No enc else was present but we
three. No one knew abou, this flag
but we three until an order was issued
adopting the Beauregard flag az it
was called. and directing ME as chief
qlartermaster to have the flags made
as soon as 1t could he done i'm
mediately issued an address TO the
good ladies' OF the South to give me
their red and blue silk dresses and to
send them to Captain Collin McRae
seiph. duartermaster. at Richmond, Va.
where lie was assisted by two young
ladies, tho Misses Carey. Of Baltimore
and two married ladies'. Mrs. HennIng-
sen, Of Savannah, an1 Airs. Hopkins OF
Alabama. The Misses Carey made aagx
Tor General Beauregard and General
Van Dorm. and. think, for General J.
y. johnston, They made General
BeaureEard's flag out of their own silk
dresses, The flag is now in Memorial
Hall. New Orleans, with a statement of
that fact from General Beauregard.
General Van Dorn's flag was made OF
heavier material, but very pretty.
Captain sselph, who afterWard lived
at New Orleans Tor many years, had Il
number Of the flags made and sent to
ne at Manassas. and they were dis
tF'butcu by order OF General Benure-
gard. My wife, who was In Rich
mond, made beautiful flag out of her
own dresses {slk} and sent IL 20 a
cousin of hers who commanded an
Arkansas regiment. This flag was lost
at elk Horn, but was later recaptured
by Missouri division under General
Henry Little
1T being Impossible to get silk
enough 10 mako the large number of
1laEs needed had number mado out
OF blue and red cotton cloth. I then
ISSUED circular letter TO the quarter
master Of all regiments and brigades
IN the army to make flags and to use
any ROD and blue cloth suitable that
they could get. General BeaureEard
and General Johnston, being good
craftsmen, drew their own designs,
Tho statement formerly made that
the Confederate nag was first made by
Federal prisoner is false, not one
word OF truth in it. No living soul
excepting General Reauregard, General
ohnston aud myself knew anything
ABOUT this flag until tho order was
given directing me to have them made
as soon rs It could be done
General Beauregard's battle flag Is
IN Memorial Hall. New Orleans, where
tue superintendent In charge takes de-
light In showing 1t to visitors. The
W washington Artillery flag, which nre
sented TO that regiment because or
my admiration of it's gallentry, bravery
ana patriotism. can BIO seen at anv
tilpc at the Washing ton Artillery Hall Il