2nd Official Flag of the Confederacy
On February 22, 1862, a Permanent Confederate Congress was seated. This Congress adopted a second national
flag, placing the Battle Flag (also known as the "Southern Cross") as the canton on a white field. It is
sometimes referred to as the "Stainless Banner" because of its solid white field. The first flag made in
this design was sent by Confederate President Jefferson Davis to enfold the body of General Thomas
Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson, CSA, who had just died after receiving wounds at the Battle of
Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863 and died of pneumonia on 10 May. Thus, it is also known as the
"Jackson Flag".The Southern civilians were also generally unhappy with the similarity between the
northern and southern flags. The Second National Flag became official on 1 May 1863. But the new design
still caused problems on the battlefields, because the commanders said it looked too much like a flag of
surrender. Efforts to secede failed in Kentucky and Missouri though those states were represented by
two of the stars. The flag now had 13 stars having been joined officially by four more states:Virginia (April 17, 1861) Arkansas (May 6, 1861)
Tennessee (May 7, 1861) North Carolina (May 21, 1861).