Picture Courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Picture Courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Picture Courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Picture Courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Top:
The flag most often associated with the Confederate States of America today is the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia. On the battlefield, regimental or divisional battle flags served a variety of functions: they helped the men stay together during the confusion of battle; they acted as a rallying point for retreats or charges; and they allowed observers to follow the course of the battle.

Middle:
After seceding from the Union, many Confederate states adopted state flags. Missouri did not create an official Confederate state flag, but Gen. Sterling Price did adopt a state guard flag for use by militia units in the spring of 1861. The Missouri State Guard did not transfer as a unit to the Confederate Army but some State Guard members enlisted in the Confederate units that became the 1st and 2nd Confederate Brigades.

Bottom:
Many regiments, especially in the western theater, developed their own regimental flags. Sometimes called "Price's flag", this flag was carried by several Missouri regiments fighting for the Confederacy. In recent years, it has come to be called the "Missouri Battle Flag."

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