Birthplace of the Confederate Battle Flag

Photographed by Craig Swain, April 14, 2008

1. Birthplace of the Confederate Battle Flag Marker

Inscription. During the First Battle of Manassas, amid the smoke of combat, troops found it difficult to distinguish between Union and Confederate flags. Generals P.G.T. Beauregard, Joseph E. Johnston and Quartermaster General William L. Cabell met near here in September 1861 and approved the first Confederate battle flag: a square red flag with blue diagonally crossed bars, and 12 stars. This pattern was adapted for use in other battle flags and was incorporated into the Confederate national flag in 1863. Beauregard's headquarters also hosted the 1 Oct. 1861 Fairfax Court House conference, during which Confederate President Davis and his generals plotted strategy.

Erected 2007 by Department of Historical Resources. (Marker Number B-261.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Vexillology, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1861.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 38° 51.005′ N, 77° 19.036′ W. Marker was in Fairfax, Virginia. It was at

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the intersection of Main Street (Virginia Route 236) and Oak Street, on the right when traveling west on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Fairfax VA 22030, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Mount Vineyard (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Richard Ratcliffe's Mount Vineyard Plantation (within shouting distance of this marker); Ratcliffe Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Arlington-Fairfax Electric Railway

Photographed by Craig Swain, April 14, 2008

2. Birthplace of the Confederate Battle Flag Marker

(approx. 0.3 miles away); Manassas Gap Railroad (approx. 0.3 miles away); Confederate Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Confederate Dead (approx. 0.3 miles away); Old Fairfax High School (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairfax.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Richard Ratcliffe’s Mount Vineyard Plantation (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. This "Birthplace of the Confederate Battle Flag" marker and the nearby "Richard Ratcliffe’s Mount Vineyard Plantation" marker are both missing entirely, post and all, due to construction by Pulte Homes. Pulte has demolished the apartment buildings that were in the background of these markers, and most of the trees in the area, for construction of their "Mount Vineyard" development of condos and townhouses. They do have plans to place one new marker at the southeastern corner of the property that will face Main Street, but the agent at the site did not seem to know what that new marker would say.

Also see . . .
1. Flags of the Confederate States of America.

The Battle Flag of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

3. The Battle Flag of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia

This flag was never known as the "Confederate Flag". It was never used on flag poles or draped on buildings and was not the flag of the Confederacy. It was designed and manufactured to be square and used as a battle or regimental flag.

Detailed discussion of the flags of the Confederacy. (Submitted on April 14, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. The Birth of the ‘Stainless Banner’. Part of the New York Times' Disunion series, John M. Coski's article (5/14/2013)on the adoption of the Confederate national and battle flags notes. In reflecting on the flag debate then and the debate now, he draws an interesting conclusion: "... Consider the modern history of the Georgia state flag. In 2004, after decades of debate, Georgians ratified a new state flag that was clearly modeled after the Confederate Stars and Bars. The most vocal protest came (and still comes) from Confederate heritage activists, who steadfastly hold on to the 1956 state flag, which bears the Southern Cross battle flag. African-American leaders, though fully aware that the new state flag is based on the first Confederate national flag, said they did not find it troubling; the real Stars and Bars does not carry the baggage that the battle flag (the one the headline writers so often mistakenly dub the “Stars and Bars”) did, and does....In other words, the real Stars and
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Bars, the original Confederate flag, is acceptable to them for the same reason that it was not acceptable to Confederates in 1863, and to Confederate heritage activists today: it’s not Confederate enough." (Submitted on May 14, 2013.)

Additional commentary.
1. Marker Spotted (Sep/24/18)
This marker was indeed missing for at least year - whenever the new mount vineyard condos were built on the corner of rt. 236 & Oak St.

Battle Flag Marker was spotted again in September of 2018 about 100 yards east of old location.

— Submitted September 24, 2018, by Michael Lyons of Centreville, Virginia.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 14, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 17,549 times since then and 123 times this year. Last updated on February 22, 2017, by Matt Marrazzo of Fairfax, Va, Usa. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 14, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on July 18, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.