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The more than 3,500 full-text documents available on this website address the legal, economic, political, diplomatic, and government history of the U.S. Documents are divided into five time periods—pre-18th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries—and include treaties, presidential papers and addresses, and colonial charters, as well as state and federal constitutional and legal documents.

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The Reason Behind the "Stars and Bars"

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sheet music cover, origin of the stars and bars
Question

Why does the Confederate battle flag have 13 stars on it, instead of 11 stars, one for each of the seceding states?

Answer

A Confederate battle flag distinct from the flag of the Confederacy, the "Stars and Bars," was created following the first major battle of the Civil War, at Bull Run near Manassas, Virginia, in July 1861, because in the heat of battle soldiers and commanders confused the Stars and Bars with the Union army's "Stars and Stripes."

After General Pierre Gustav Toutant Beauregard, commander of the Confederate forces at Manassas, demanded a change, the Virginia army's high command, meeting in the Fairfax Court House in September, agreed to a design that earlier had been proposed for the flag of the Confederacy, but rejected in favor of the Stars and Bars. The new battle flag, a perfect square of red with a diagonal St. Andrew's cross of blue punctuated with white or gold stars, was produced by women in Richmond and first issued to soldiers by the end of October. The number of stars, representing the number of seceding states, increased to 13 after Missouri was admitted into the Confederacy on November 28, 1861 and a Kentucky secessionist provisional government that had formed on November 18 was voted into the Confederacy on December 10.

Despite the fact that a pro-Union government replaced the secessionists in Missouri and the Kentucky government voted to end their status of neutrality and stay in the Union, the 13 stars remained on most Confederate battle flags throughout the war, although flags with 12 stars also were produced. Beauregard attempted to standardize the battle flag throughout the Confederacy, but individual units resisted, insisting on retaining their own distinct designs.

Bibliography

John M. Coski, The Confederate Battle Flag: America's Most Embattled Emblem. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2005.

Henry Woodhead, ed. Echoes of Glory: Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy. Alexandria, Va.: Time-Life Books, 1991.

Fort Pulaski National Monument [GA]

Description

"The Battle of Fort Pulaski in April 1862 marked a turning point in military history. It featured the first significant use of rifled cannons in combat." In addition to surprising military strategists worldwide, the battle marked a major Union victory along the coast of Georgia. This was an immensely significant development towards the success of the Union naval blockade - one of the key points of the Civil War. The fort has been restored to its pre-Civil War condition, and offers a variety of interpretive and educational programs in order to show visitors what life was like in the fort during the Civil War prior to its fall.

The site offers detailed historical information regarding the fort, visitor information, an online version of the park newsletter, an events calendar, and an online bookstore. In order to contact the park by email, use the "contact us" link located on the left side of the webpage.

Burying the Dead but Not the Past

Description

Dr. Caroline Janney discusses her book, Burying the Dead but Not the Past: Ladies' Memorial Associations and the Lost Cause, about the role of Southern women in creating the first Memorial Days to honor fallen Confederate soldiers after the Civil War. While Memorial Day is now a one-day celebration, Janney argues that the concept began in the spring of 1866 when Southern women began memorials, not only to honor the dead, but also as political statements in the post-Civil War South.

Confederate Memorial State Historic Site [MO]

Description

The Civil War may have ended in 1865, but vivid memories of the "Lost Cause" lived on for decades at the Confederate Soldiers Home of Missouri. Opened in 1891, the Confederate Home provided refuge to more than 1,600 veterans and their families for nearly 60 years. These veterans hailed from points throughout the South and served in every major battle of the Civil War. Foot soldiers, artillery and cavalrymen, marines, guerilla fighters, and even spies found a place of rest here in their old age. The very last of these former rebel soldiers, John T. Graves, died at the home in 1950 at the age of 108, thus bringing an end to an era in Missouri history. Today, visitors to the Confederate Memorial State Historic Site can venture to the locations of the former home buildings and stroll through the restored 106-year-old chapel and historic cemetery. Three other historic buildings can be viewed from outside. Interpretive exhibits tell the story of the state's Confederate Soldiers Home.

The site offers exhibits and tours.

Alexander Dickson House/Orange Co. Visitors Center [NC]

Description

The Alexander Dickson House and Orange Co. Visitors Center are both owned and operated by the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough. The Alliance is made up of seven members, and is dedicated to preserving the local history. The visitors center operates out of the Dickson House, and gives visitors a taste of historic Hillsborough. In addition, the location functions as a historic house museum, featuring an office used by Confederate General Johnston.

The site offers very basic visitor and historic information regarding the home. In addition, the site offers all of the resources of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, including a virtual walking tour and information about educational programs offered by the alliance.

Lost Museum

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Photo, Fejee Mermaid, Lost Museum
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P. T. Barnum's American Museum burned down under mysterious circumstances in 1865 after nearly a quarter century of patronage. The original museum tried both to entertain and educate with exhibits on natural history, American history, and reform efforts along with attractions of a sensational nature. With the exception of African Americans, who were barred from entry until the Civil War, New Yorkers of diverse ethnic, gender, and class identities mingled in the museum's shared cultural space.

Visitors to this website can explore an interactive 3D recreation of the museum or an archive of images, documents, accounts, and essays on 16 original Barnum exhibits, including the Fejee mermaid; Joice Heth, a former slave advertised as George Washington's nursemaid; "Swedish Nightingale" Jenny Lind; John Brown; Jefferson Davis; the Lincoln assassination; the Civil War in New York; and phrenology. The website allows visitors to immerse themselves in the popular culture of Barnum's era.

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The Battle for Burnside Bridge, the Union Advance, Antietam National Battlefield

Description

This audio tour follows the opening attack on the Confederate right flank during the Battle of Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862. The focal point of the attack and the tour is the Burnside Bridge, one of the most famous Civil War landmarks. The Confederate defenders managed to hold out here for more than four hours against repeated Union assaults.

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