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Stainless Banner (U.S.)

Second National flag of the Confederacy

image by Rick Wyatt, 20 November 1997

Stainless Banner

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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 hiost of the flag. On May 26, 1863 Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen Mallory authorized the Jack, Ensign ansd Comission 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