Confederate Flag

Confederate Flag. Bicentennial Flag Memorial. , As secession swept the South, various state banners were created to symbolize the "independence" movement. Soon the Confederacy found it necessary, however, to adopt an appropriate "national" flag. The first was the famous Stars and Bars. During the Battle of Bull Run it was found that this Confederate Banner looked too much like the Stars and Stripes., After some experimentation, the Battle Flag, or Southern Cross, became the best known and generally recognized symbol of the South until April 9, 1865 when the war was over. Lincoln's prophecy on the divided nation had come true. "I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.", On April 14, 1865, the Stars and Stripes were ceremoniously raised once again over the South. Ironically, the event commanded little public press, for a few hours later Abraham Lincoln was assassinated as he sat in the President' s box at the Ford Theater in Washington.