Last modified: 22 October 2002 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr.
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 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 25 February 2000 |
This proposal by Robert C. Gilchrist of Charleston, of South Carolina was sent by express courier to Christopher G. Memminger on 4 February 1861, the day the Montgomery Convention which created the Confederate States was openned. Retaining the idea of the Stars & Stripes, Gilchrist removed the canton and placed the stars on a blue cross which spread across the red and white stripes. |
This early design by the prominent citizen, who had been Commissioner of the United States District Court and the US Court of Claims for the District of South Carolina, received wide publicity. However, in a letter to the South Carolina delegation dated 7 February 1861, signed by Charles H. Moise, the Jewish congregations of South Carolina objected to the adoption of a sectarian symbol as the flag of the new country.
Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr.
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998 |
This design was proposed by an unnamed gentleman of Louisville, Kentucky. He reversed the colours of the US flag, having blue and white stripes, with the white stars on a red union. He wrote that the seven blue stripes represented "the Seven Seceding States, taking the lead. His drawing shows 15 stars in the red canton, but his letter indicated that the number of stars was to equal the number of States in the Confederacy. Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998 |
Almost identical to the above by the gentleman of Louisville, Kentucky, this suggestion was sent to William Porcher Miles in a letter from M. P. O'Connor of Charleston, dated 12 February 1861. O'Connor suggested that the new Confederate flag should "reverse the colors of the old U.S. flag. Blue and white stripes with red union and white stars in the Union." Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998
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Here we see a number of variations on a theme submitted by P. J. Anderson of Montgomery, Alabama.
Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr.
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 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998 |
This design was proposed by Samuel White. As with many other proposals, he reduced the stripes representing the 13 original States of the United States to 7, representing the original States of the Confederate States. Rather than merely copying the rectangular canton of the US flag, however, Mr. White placed the white stars in a large blue oval. The crescent in the center of the oval is a clue that Mr. White may have been from South Carolina. Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998
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These two ideas were sent to William Porcher Miles on March 2, 1861, by L.P. Honour of the Charleston Insurance and Trust Company, No. 8 Broad Street, Charleston, South Carolina.
Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998 |
The author of this designed signed himself (or herself) only as "H", from Charleston, S.C. It was sent to Christopher Memminger on 126 February 1861.
Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998
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This appeal to the revolutionary heritage was sent by P. and Braisted McGuin, 247 Julia Street, New Orleans. It shows 13 stars encilcing a larger central star, with a 15th star (sized the same as the 13) in the upper canton corner.
The first, with the traditional colour format, was sign by both McGuigins. The second, reversing the red and blue, was signed only by P. McGuigin. Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998 |
Sent on 7 February 1861 by John G. Gaines, this is one of several submissions using diagonal stripes.
Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998 |
Sent by Eugene Wythe Baylor of Louisiana on 15 February 1861 to Congressman Walker Brooke of Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998 |
The author of this concept is signed only as "Z".
Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998
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The author of these three designs is unknown. The use of six stars indicates a February 1861 submission date.
Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998 |
Submitted on 20 February 1861 by J. M. Jennings of Lowndesboro, Alabama. The red six-poinmted star repreesnted the Confederate government, while the white star in the blue ring represented the States. Jennings sent this proposal to Alexander B. Clitheral of Montgomery, who was private secretary to President Jefferson Davis.
Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 25 February 2000
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Two designs submitted by one person. The identity of the person and date of submission are unknown, but the use of six discs in one and six stars in the other to represent the States in the Confederacy indicate a design date before Texas' official secession on 2 March 1861. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 25 February 2000
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Five of the eleven designs submitted by someone identifying himself only as "West". The use of the crescent in several designs hint that "West" was from South Carolina, but this could be misleading, as the crescent was also used in Louisiana and Missouri and South Carolina emblems became popular secession badges throughout the South. His other submission are in the section titled Other Simple Designs.
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 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 25 February 2000 |
Another "Stars and Stripes" modification of unknown origin. The pattern is very similar to that sent by the "Ladies of Charleston" on 13 February 1861, shown below, indicating either a similar source, or evidence that similar designs can be independently achieved.
The notes accompanying this design indicate that the six red stripes represent the original States which formed the Confederacy. The large central star represented the Constitution. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 25 February 2000 |
Another "Stars and Stripes" modificaiton of unknown origin. The stars in the arch represent the States of the Confederacy, and the larger central star represents "The Confederacy as a Rising Star." |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 25 February 2000 |
Another "Stars and Stripes" modificaiton of unknown origin. The six stars on the grey chief of the shield and the six stars arched over the shield indicate a February 1861 submission date. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. October 10, 2002
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Robert M Stiles sent this proposal to Georgia congressman Francis S. Bartow on 17 February 1861. Like many others, he has retained the 13 red and white stripes of the US flag. The blue canton, however, has been converted to an ornate blue shield and moved to the centre of the field of stripes. Seven stars represent the seven seceded States at that date.
Mr. Stiles also submitted an alternate suggestion, reversing fo the red and blue colours, creating a flag of blue and white stripes,, with a red shiled containing seven white stars. Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998 |
A. Bonand of Savannah sent this design to H.F.S. Barton on 12 February 1861. Like many others, he reduces the 13 stripes of the old flag to 7, with stars in the blue union to represent the States. He has modified the Union from a canton, to a Texas style vertical bar. He suggests six-pointed stars to represent the six States which created the Confederacy. (Texas sent observers to the convention and congress, but her secession was not formally effective until 2 March 1861, at which time Congress admitted her as the seventh Confederate State.) Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998 |
This design by an unknown proponent is virtually identical to several other suggestions that the new flag merely reduced the number of stripes on the US flag from 13 to 7. Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 10 October 2002 |
This design by an unknown proponent again repeats the 13 stripes of the US flag, but has no canton. In the center is an arrangement of seven blue bordered stars, the unknown author suggesting that the stars be blue around white or gold, with one star for each State of the Confederacy.
Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 10 October 2002 |
This flag was design by women identified only as "Ladies of Charleston", and sent to delivered by Mr. William M. White to Christopher Memminger for relay to Chairman Miles on 15 February 1861. It has a central horizontal blue bar equal to one-third the width of the flag, with horizontal stripes of red, white and red both above and below the blue bar. Centred on the blue are seven white stars.
Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 10 October 2002 |
This flag was sent to Chairman Miles by an unknown designer. Again, it retains the traditional elements of the US flag, but reverses the blue and white colours. The six stars indicate that this design dates from February 1861, when only six States were represented in the Provisional Congress.
Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 10 October 2002 |
This design could have been classified with those in the section on Elaborate Designs. The field retains the 13 stripes of the US flag, but has seven white and six red stripes. The blue canton is also retained, but it has been enhanced with a Masonic "all seeing eye" in the upper hoist corner. The eye looks over an arm holding an inverted wreath which encircles a portion of a partly cloudy evening sky, peeking through the clouds, barely visible in this images, are seven stars.
Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 10 October 2002 |
This rather more complex design was sent to President Davis on 21 February 1861 by Mr. Kirkwood Otey of Lynchburg (Virginia?). The seal in the canton of the flag contains a stack of three muskets over a drum and accoutrements. Arched over the stack of arms is the Latin motto NOUS NOUS SUPPORTENS, meaning "Supporting Each Other". Below is the national name "Confederate States of North America" which was the name proposed in the original draft of the Provisional Constitution.
Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998
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These designs were sent to Congressman Lawrence M. Keith of Orangeburg, South Carolina on 24 February 1861 by Julia Bonetheau, of Charleston.
The first of these is a concept one would expected to date from 1961 rather than 1861. Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. |
 by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 12 July 1998
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These variations on a theme were sent on 19 February 1861. The point of origin was Brooklyn, New York, but the designer, May Thorpe of 87 Pineapple Street, Brooklyn, was a Louisiana native.
Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr.
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 Other Simple Designs |
 Elaborate Designs |
