The flags of the Confederate States of America have a history of three successive designs during the American Civil War. The flags were known as the "Stars and Bars", used from 1861 to 1863; the "Stainless Banner", used from 1863 to 1865; and the "Blood-Stained Banner", used in 1865 shortly before the Confederacy 's dissolution.

The Confederate States of America had three different national flags over the course of four years. The most recognizable Confederate flag, however, is not one of the South’s national flags but the Confederate battle flag, also known as the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Jan 16, 2025 · During the American Civil War (1861–65), the Confederate States of America began to use its first flag, the Stars and Bars, on March 5, 1861.

There were several flags of the Confederate States of America used during its existence from 1861 to 1865. Since the end of the American Civil War, personal and official use of Confederate flags, and of flags derived from these, has continued under some controversy.

Therefore, the third Confederate national Civil War flag was introduced on March 4, 1865. The new flag was called the "Bloodstained Banner (above)." It was the same as the "Stainless Banner," except a vertical red bar was added to the end of the flag.

During the American Civil War (April 12, 1861, to April 9, 1865), they used the First National Confederate Flag.

Jan 31, 2025 · It was used in battle from November 1861 to the fall of the Confederacy. The battle flag of the Confederacy is square, of various sizes for the different branches of the service: 48 inches square for the infantry, 36 inches for the artillery, and 30 inches for the cavalry.

The battle flag is the most recognized Confederate flag—the most widely recognized of all flags of the Civil War apart from Old Glory—and has become the single most identifiable symbol of the Confederacy.

The first Confederate national flag, known as the “Stars and Bars,†often proved indistinguishable from the Stars and Stripes in the thick of battle. The battle flag, created in 1861, became the icon of the Confederacy.

The most recognizable graphic symbol to emerge from the American Civil War was a flag bearing a star-studded blue diagonal cross on a field of red. Show that symbol to most Americans (and even to many non-Americans) and they will identify it as “the Confederate flag,” “the Confederate battle flag,” or the “Stars and Bars.”