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.

Causes of the Civil War Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 12/17/2008 - 12:15
Description

Wes Cowan of PBS's History Detectives introduces some of the causes of the Civil War, including arguments over states rights and territorial expansion.

Lincoln's Policital Leadership: An Overview Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/08/2009 - 12:48
Description

William C. Harris of North Carolina State University describes the qualities Lincoln possessed that directed his leadership decisions during the Civil War.

The Constitutional Rights Foundation's Seminar with a Scholar, Part Three: A War for Union Becomes a War Against Slavery Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 11/18/2008 - 13:36
Description

John Lloyd of California State Polytechnic University looks at the transition of the ideological and political conflicts that led to the Civil War and that continued during the war from conflict over the maintenance of the Union to conflict over the existence and continuation of slavery.

Lincoln's Biography, Part Eight: The Campaign of the Century, 1859-1861 Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/21/2008 - 15:07
Description

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, examines several years of Abraham Lincoln's life, including Lincoln's continued opposition of Stephen Douglas's political views; his rise to presidential candidacy; the fevered presidential race that followed; the secession of Southern states in reaction to his election; and his First Inaugural Address. This lecture continues from the lecture "Lincoln's Biography, Part Seven: Debating Douglas on the National Stage, 1857-1858."

To view this documentary, scroll to "Multimedia Slideshows," and select "The Campaign of the Century, 1859-1861."

North Carolina and the Civil War: Virtual Tour Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 03/25/2008 - 22:21
Description

Historian Tom Belton guides viewers through the North Carolina Museum of History exhibit "North Carolina and the Civil War." Progressing through the war chronologically, Belton describes both military and civilian life in North Carolina during the war, briefly highlighting several of the major battles in which North Carolina was involved. This presentation is divided into 31 short subchapters, which can be accessed separately.

The Causes of the Civil War, Part Two Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 01/04/2008 - 14:04
Description

Professor James M. McPherson analyzes the many different causes of the Civil War, including slavery, leadership decisions, and cultural differences. He focuses on the question "Why did secession lead to war?" as a framework for discussion. This lecture continues from the lecture "The Causes of the Civil War, Part One."

The Causes of the Civil War, Part One Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 01/04/2008 - 14:04
Description

Professor James M. McPherson analyzes the many different causes of the Civil War, including slavery, leadership decisions, and cultural differences. He focuses on the question "Why did the South secede?" as a framework for discussion.

The Rights and Wrongs of Secession

Description

Professor Mackubin T. Owens looks at the issue of the Southern states' secession prior to the Civil War. He considers whether Lincoln was justified in declaring war on the seceding states and what the arguments were both in favor of and against secession.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Wednesday, June 23rd, 10:45 am-12:15 pm session; and select the corresponding RealAudio link to the left.

Older versions of this lecture, from newer to older, can be found here and here.

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