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Stainless Banner: Confederate States of America

Second National flag of the Confederacy

image by Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 8 July 2013

Stainless Banner
Naval Ensign

See also:

Stainless Banner (Second National Flag)

Because of its similarity to the Stars and Stripes, the Stars and Bars were replaced with the Second National, also called the Stainless Banner on May 26, 1863. This flag had a square canton with the familiar Southern Cross on a white field. The specs were not very strictly adhered to and in many cases the canton was rectangular. William M. Grimes-Wyatt, 29 April 1996

On May 1, 1863 the Confederate Congress authorized the 1863 Pattern National Flag. Officially it was to be in a ratio of 1:2 with the canton to be 2/3 the hoist of the flag. On May 26, 1863 Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen Mallory authorized the Jack, Ensign and Commission Pennant. The ensign of the Confederate States of America was prescribed to be in the ratio of 1:1.5 , thus creating a second "official" flag.
James J. Ferrigan III, 4 June 1999

Naval Ensign

image by Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 8 July 2013

I have drawn the CSA second Naval Ensign, which was the same as the Second National or "Stainless Banner" but in a 3x5 rather than a 1x2 proportion.
JT Tate, 9 October 2005

image located by William Garrison, 29 November 2023

Civil War: Confederate Flag Captured at the Fall of Petersburg [Virginia, April 3, 1865]. 47" x 34" Second National flag. It has finished edges at top & bottom and is hemmed on the fly. It is entirely hand-sewn and made of cotton, with the exception of the blue stripes in the St. Andrew's pattern canton, which are made of wool. The canton with its thirteen stars appears on both sides, placed over the cotton support fabric, sandwiched in-between. There are remains of red thread cord attachments on the hoist end. There is a period ink inscription just below the canton on one side that reads: "Captured at Petersburg Va. April 3rd 18[65]." This historic flag was captured following the evacuation of Confederate armed forces and government officials from both Petersburg and Richmond. Union forces entered both cities without opposition of any kind on April 3, 1865, effecting spelling the death knell of the Confederacy. Condition: Some mothing to blue wool stripes, concentrated on one side. Some threadbare areas to background in canton.
Source: https://historical.ha.com/itm/civil-war/civil-war-confederate-flag-captured-at-the-fall-of-petersburg/a/6279-40027.s?ic4=ListView-Thumbnail-071515
William Garrison, 29 November 2023