Confederacy's First Battle Flag, The by Kent Brown

Confederacy's First Battle Flag, The by Kent Brown

Amid the dust and smoke of the First Battle of Manassas, Confederate and Union forces fought and died as commanders rallied them to their banners. The battle was bloody and sobering. In the aftermath, Confederate generals realized the confusion caused by the visual similarities between the Stars and Bars and the Union flag on the crowded battlefield. To avoid such chaos and heavy casualties in the future, Gens. P. G. T. Beauregard and Joseph E. Johnston commissioned a battle flag-without the knowledge or permission of the Confederate government.

This incisive text brings to light the fascinating story behind the myth of the Confederacy's most enduring symbol. With meticulous research, author Kent Masterson Brown reveals the woman who sewed the first battle flag: Mary Henry Lyon Jones, not the Cary cousins as was previously believed. Brown, an award-winning documentarian, traces the historical record through personal letters, official documents, and long-hidden photographs, many of which have not been published previously. This groundbreaking book reveals the true events of the creation of the Southern Cross.

Brown has authored several Civil War titles and was appointed by Pres. George H. W. Bush to serve as the first chairman of the Gettysburg National Military Park Advisory Commission. He earned his JD from Washington and Lee University School of Law in 1974 and practiced law for almost forty years. He is the president and content developer for Witnessing History, LC, for whom he writes, hosts, and produces documentaries. Brown lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with his family.