Historical Flags of Our Ancestors - Civil War - Southern Regimental and Unit Flags

Image by Rick Wyatt

Image by Dave Martucci

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Chart of Southern Regimental and Unit Flags

This Chart shows more examples of the hundreds of different Unit flags used by the Southern Armies during the Civil War. By no means is inconclusive of all the flags, colours, and standards that survive or once existed.

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| Northern Irish Regiments and Units | Southern Irish Regiments and Units | Return to main Civil War Page |

Flags of Civil War - Southern Regimental and Unit Flags

In 1861 the Confederate generals ordered silk battle flags for issue to the units of the Confederate army. In Richmond the quartermaster bought the entire silk supply of Richmond for making the flags. Since the only red-like colors available in bulk were either pink or rose, these first battle flags were a lighter shade of pink rather that the red envisioned by the Confederate general staff. The actual flag making was contracted to whole groups of Richmond sewing circles. Because of shortages, many gold fringes became yellow or white borders, as well as blue hoist sleeves added for the flag pole. Many of these flags were crudely made and lacked the edging along the sides of the cross. The dyes used were of so poor quality on some that the blue cross soon faded to almost tan. This early issuing of battle flags has been named the "Silk Issue."

Image by U.S. Flag Service

Chart courtesy of FOTC (Flags Of The Confederacy)

     Noted vexillologist Greg Biggs said "The first 120 silk battle flags were issued in November, 1861. They had 12 gold painted stars on blue bars edged with white on fields of pink or rose. The exterior borders of the flags were yellow. The materials used were dress silk bolts purchased from Richmond area merchants in bulk. Since these colors were popular for ladies dresses (the latter red color of these flags would not be available in silk since that color was for the 'ladies of the evening') they were what the later issues of this famous flag were to be. Some Confederate officers did not care for the colors and were told by Beauregard, in no uncertain terms to, 'dye it red sir, dye it with your blood!'"
     Later when cotton replacement flags were issued, entire divisions at a time would get them to replace older or worn out and captured colors. The production of these variants would continue through May of 1864, and there were around 6-8 actual versions, or "buntings" before the war's end.
     This said, the colors on the flags illustration here are based on the colors that the generals wanted, not what they got because of available materials. Hard core flag scholars of CSA flags will probably be unhappy with this decision.


1st Florida Infantry Regiment Flag	1st Tennessee Infantry Regiment Flag	1st and 3rd Florida Volunteers Regiment Flag

2nd Louisiana Cavalry Regiment Flag	2nd Maryland Infantry Regiment Colours	2nd Texas Cavalry Regiment Guidon

3rd Tennessee 1862 Regiment Flag	5th Louisiana Company "Washington" Battery Flag	5th Florida Infantry Regiment Flag

6th Florida Infantry Regiment Battle Flag	6th Texas Cavalry Regiment Colours	6th Virginia Infantry Regiment Battle Flag

8th Virginia "Leesburg" Regiment Battle Flag 1864	15th Mississippi Infantry "Oktibbeha Plow Boys" Regiment	17th-18th Texas Infantry Regiment Flag

20th Texas Volunteers Regiment Flag 1864	20th and 22nd Arkanas Regiment Flag 1864	Company A, 21st Virginia Infantry "Maryland Troops" Flag 1861

Company B, 21st Virginia Infantry "Maryland Troops" Flag 1861	25th Virginia Infantry Regiment Flag	27th South Carolina Infantry Regiment Flag

28th North Carolina Infantry Regiment Battle Flag	31st Alabama Infantry Regiment Flag	37th Alabama Infantry Regiment Battle Flag

"Caroline Greys" North Carolina Regiment Flag 1861	"Duncan Riflemen" Mississippi Scottish Regiment Flag 1862	Company F, 13th Georgia Infantry "Fayette Rangers" Flag

Florida Independent Blues Volunteer Regiment Flag 1861	Hardee´s Corps of Tennessee Regiment Flag 1861	Hillard´s Alabama Legion Volunteer Regiment Flag 1862

Lebanon Greys Tennessee Volunteer Regiment Flag 1864	Maryland Winder Cavalry Regiment Flag	Maryland Line Headquarters Major-General Bradley Johnson Guidon

Missouri Battle Flag "Latin Cross" Regiment Flag 1862	Missouri Battle Flag "Belle Edmondson" Regiment Flag	Missouri Battle Flag "Van Dorn" Regiment Flag 1862

Rappahannock Cavalry Virginia Regiment Flag 1864	Polk's Corps of Tennessee Regiment Flag 1863	Princess Anne Cavalry Virginia Flag 1864

Terry's Texas Rangers Regiment Flag 1861	Terry's Texas Rangers Regiment Flag 1861	Tyler's Texas Guards Regiment Guidon

- My thanks to Hugh Warner and United States Flag Service for their invaluable help on this page -

| Top of the page | Northern Regimental and Unit Flags | Southern Regimental and Unit Flags |
| Northern Irish Regiments and Units | Southern Irish Regiments and Units | Return to main Civil War Page |