The Confederacy's First Battle Flag

The original, hand-stitched silk flag with gold-painted stars was designed for the Confederate Army of the Potomac after the first battle of Manassas. It was created as a military necessity, without the authority or knowledge of the Confederate government-however, it filled a dire need. Gens. P. G. T. Beauregard and Joseph E. Johnston recognized that Confederate units needed to have an identifiable banner to unite them on the battlefield. A sketch of this flag design was provided to Mary Lyon Jones of Richmond, Virginia, who stitched the first Confederate battle flag.

The original battle flag of the Confederate Armed Forces, incorporating the heraldic St. Andrew's Cross, remains a symbol of southern strength and resilience to this day. This fascinating account outlines the history of the design and creation of the flag that became the prototype for the iconic banner. Complete with more than fifty rare and previously unpublished photographs, author Kent Masterson Brown delivers a detailed history of the flag, including the generals and seamstresses who were instrumental in bringing the battle flag to life.