The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #69454 Message #1179112
Posted By: Bee-dubya-ell
06-May-04 - 12:20 AM
Thread Name: Stars & Bars at Bluegrass Festivals
Subject: RE: Stars & Bars at Bluegrass Festivals
It's really not in my nature to be a contrary, pedantic know it all, but the "Stars and Bars" is not the same as the Confederate battle flag. The "Stars and Bars" was the CSA's first national flag which closely resembled the US flag except that it had broad red and white bars instead of narrow stripes. It proved to be problematic as a battle flag because it so closely resembled the Union flag that troops, particularly on smokey battlefields, couldn't tell the difference and would sometimes "retreat" right into the enemy's hands. So, they designed a special flag (based upon the British Union Jack) for use as a battle flag only.
Subsequently, the CSA's national (non-battle) flag was redesigned twice and the third national flag did incorporate the battle flag's design in the same area where the US flag has a field of stars. But it was adopted so late in the war that few were ever made or flown.
The Confederate battle flag never acquired a nickname during the war and has not picked one up during the ensuing 140+ years.