Customer Reviews

3ft x 5ft US Confederate Flag - Polyester

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I am rather surprised to discover that all of the Confederate Battle Flags available here are rectangular in shape, as is the case with this 3 foot x 5 foot nylon version. The flag originally proposed by Confederate generals P.G.T. Beauregard and Joseph Johnston had a square design. Most of the surviving battle flags at the Georgia capitol are square in design, although it is true that when Johnston assumed command of the Confederate Army of Tennessee in the spring of 1964 he ordered uniform rectangle battle flags averaging 36 x 52 inches in size be issued to the infantry regiments in his command. This would make the dimensions comparable to the Confederate Naval Jack adopted in May of 1863. However, when flag companies began producing souvenir versions of the Confederate Battle Flag towards the end of the 19th-century, the stuck with the rectangular design, presumably to give it the same dimensions as the U.S. flag. By the turn of the century this became the only format commercially available, and while you can find square Confederate Battle Flags for purchase, you do have to look elsewhere for them.

This flag was originally designed as an alternative to the Stars & Bars, the first flag of the Confederacy, because at the First Battle of Manassas (known as Bull Run by the Union side, but I go with the idea that the winning side gets to name the battle) it was difficult to distinguish the Stars & Bars from the Stars & Stripes on the battlefield. Keep in mind that at the first major military engagement of the Civil War there were soldiers wearing blue and gray on both sides. The 33rd Virginia in Stonewall Jackson's brigade also wore blue uniforms, while Howard's brigade wore gay on the Union side, so that did not help settle the question of who was on which side either. Hence, the new flag design.

Also known as "The Southern Cross," the Confederate Battle Flag consisted of a blue saltier which resembles the St. Andrew's Cross (a.k.a. the Greek Cross), on which there are arranged 13 stars, with the saltier edged in white, all on a red field. Commercially made Battle Flags generally have the central tip of each star pointing up, but surviving flags sometimes show the central tips arranged so that they run parallel to the saltier (e.g., the battle flag of the 45th Regiment of the Georgia Volunteers). Although it was never officially adopted by the Confederate Congress, when the Second National Flag was formally recognized in May of 1863 it consisted of a white field with the battle flag as the union. The debate over what constituted a Confederate Battle Flag was settled in 1904 by a special Committee on Flags of the United Confederate Veterans, which reported that an infantry battle flag was 4 feet by 4 feet (but they rendered no verdict on which way the stars should point).

Today the Confederate Battle Flag has become a controversial symbol, because while it is seen by some Southerners as a symbol of Southern pride it has also been used by racists to represent white domination of Africa-Americans. When flown by Southern states from public buildings or incorporated into the designs of their state flags, as was the case with the Georgia state flag until recently and is still true of the Mississippi state flag, it has been controversial as well. The flag was flown prominently at the football games of the University of Mississippi, whose team name is the Rebels, until the university banned it from the stadium. However, when flown by Civil War re-enactors or anybody else reflecting the historical context of the Civil War, it is clearly on safer ground. This is a nylon version of the flag, which makes it appropriate for outside display, and it has a pair of grommets for running it up a flagpole.

I wish I could find a "True" Confed Flag (Square not Rectangle) but for any fan of the South or the Civil War, this is a damn good buy.

My lawyer is a Civil War NUT and has this hanging in his cabin up in Michigan. He is writing a book about the Civil War and says this flag inspires him to write it in an unbiased (North or South) manner.

I am VERY happy with my purchase and he is very happy with his gift.

Looks good in my room. The colors on it look nice as well. It is a full size flag at a great price. Would buy again, and most likely will! Great

Flags arrived today in great shape, well ahead of estimated arrival date. One has been hung and the other will be as soon as done typing this review..Thanks and will be ordering at least two more as gifts.

I just wanted to buy something for my theme party that would at least last throughout the party but the quality of the flag surpassed that for the price.

very thin material,almost transluscent, but the colors are bright (for now). not for outdoors and would probably fade in a few weeks if hung in a window, but for indoors and special events it's great

I LOVE IT
IT's sooo great
I hung it up in my room as soon as i opened it
Perfect condition

This is a good flag to display, as on a wall or other protected place. If one wishes to fly it outside, it may soon fray at the unattached border if there is more than a bit of wind.

i love this flag and fly it everyday for southern pride. those that are buying this just to burn it for some hateful reason need to let go of your hatred for the south. the material is ok for the price but im also looking to get one made out of cotton.

Flag looks great , nice material good quality , just dont fly it behind your jacked up chevy at 70 mph it will come apart. Fast shipping and love the product will be buying more here soon