8^th Virginia Battle Flag

By Gill Thompson

                                                              Authentic                                         Replica

The Battle Flag of the 8^th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, was presented to the unit by General P.G.T. Beauregard in recognition of the valor displayed by its members at the Battle of Balls Bluff (Leesburg), Virginia, October 21, 1861.

 The volunteer units that joined the Union and Confederate armies in 1861 came dressed and equipped according to their personal taste and expense account.  Neither side had established a standard uniform.  One New York unit was made up largely of Scotsmen kilts, although they changed into trousers for the battle.  Some Union troops wore gray uniforms; Confederate units wore blue.  In the confusion, dust, and smoke the engulfed the battlefield, nobody could tell friend from foe.  Many soldiers shot their comrades, thinking they were the enemy.  When fighting in the open, as Civil War units did, regimental battle flags were extremely important markers for soldiers.  At Manassas, even the flags were of no use to either side.  The original Confederate battle flag was red, white and blue and commonly called the “Stars and Bars.”  There was no wind on the battlefield that day, so the U.S. and Confederate flags looked exactly alike.  Troops from both sides ran together under what they thought was their unit flag, only to find themselves in the midst of the enemy.  After battle, the Confederacy adopted a new battle flag based on the cross of St. Andrew so that it would not be mistaken for the U.S. national flag.  The new battle flag became the most famous symbol associated with the Confederacy.

 Three months following the Battle of Manassas was the Battle of Balls Bluff near Leesburg, Virginia.  General P.G.T. Beauregard observed  the valiant efforts of the 8^th Virginia during this battle and he commissioned his wife to sew a battle flag based on the newly adopted cross of St. Andrews design for presentation to the unit.  The Generals wife was not able to locate an adequate amount of red silk to complete the flag.  So in an effort to complete her task in a timely manner she dismantled a dress from her wardrobe which happened to be pink.  Respectable women in the south seldom wore a red dress unless their occupation was a “Lady of the Evening.” Records show that approximately 100 flags were produced by women in the south using pink fabric.  Once completed, General P.G.T. Beauregard presented the flag to members of the 8^th Virginia in November 1861, which was proudly carried into battle until this first flag was retired after the Battle of Sharpsburg in 1862.  The honors inscribed on the flag were installed all at the same time after the flag was retired.

 The authentic flag is currently protected within the inventory of the “Museum of the Confederacy” in Richmond, Virginia.  The replica seen above is one of two flags that can be observed at Civil War reenactment battles and Living History events as being proudly flown by the 8^th Virginia Reenactment Unit.