In 1865, a lot of people were still unsatisfied with the blood-stained banner, even though few examples of it actually flew in OTL. The St. Andrew's cross canton based on the battle flags was already overwhelmingly popular and well regarded, and it went on to be the basis for the "rebel flag" that we still (don't) love. Could that have actually come to be the CSA's national flag at some point? Or would it have remained the canton for some other design?
Would the Confederacy have continued to change its flag?
- Thread starter NolanFoster
- Start date
Ficboy
Banned
The battle flag would be adopted as the official flag of the Confederacy. The stars would change depending on how many states join whether it be 11 or 13 (Kentucky and Missouri).
That broad red stripe down the fly was a clumsy device. Perhaps replace it with a St Georges Cross, so that overall it looked a bit like a White Ensign.
They'd eventually have to bow down to popular opinion and adopt the battle flag or a variation thereof as the national flag as it was already the unofficial flag of the CSA even back then. They were willing to throw away the Stars and Bars because nobody liked it and its replacements weren't really any more popular so it's only a matter of time before the government decides that the flag everyone's already flying might as well be the official one.
That's definitely an option, but the St. George's Cross was rejected from the battle flag because it was perceived as too specifically religiously charged and offensive to southern Jews and some Christians. Would something like the eventual (and as of June former) Mississippi flag be well-received?
Ficboy
Banned
Mississippi probably wouldn't have their state flag to have the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia emblem and they would stick with the Magnolia Flag (blue background in the upper left corner with a star, white field with Magnolia tree and red outline).
I mean as the national flag. It may still be too close to the US flag for comfort, but it does seem to solve the battlefield identification and flag-of-surrender issues, while being more attractive than the blood-stained banner.
Ficboy
Banned
Probably not. It would be the standard Army of Northern Virginia battle flag with 12-13 stars. Mississippi used to have this nice-looking flag.I mean as the national flag. It may still be too close to the US flag for comfort, but it does seem to solve the battlefield identification and flag-of-surrender issues, while being more attractive than the blood-stained banner.