SW L-018 US-3062511 Battle flags of the Confederacy

The Confederate States of America adopted three different national flag patterns between 1861 and 1865.

(1) The First National pattern also referred to as the “Stars and Bars,” flag flew over the Capitol at Montgomery, Alabama, where the Provisional Congress met prior to the bombardment of Fort Sumter in April 1861. 

(2) The Second National pattern is referred to as the “Stainless Banner”.

(3) The Third National pattern shortened the white field and added a vertical red bar to the end of the Second National pattern.

These three National patterns can be seen on the top row of the first postcard.

In addition to the national flags of the Confederacy, there were many battle flag patterns used by the Confederate armies. A lot of information is available on the website of the ‘The Museum of the Confederacy’.

The second postcard shows Dreux’s First Louisiana Battalion flag which is basically the First National pattern with the addition of the State crest (the pelican) and the motto “Non Sibi Sed Suis” (Not For One’s Self, But for One’s Own).

The first postcard came from Dawna K. (26 March 2014) Swap-bot.

The second postcard came from Rose (19 November 2014) Postcrossing.