Location: South Carolina, United States

Surnames/tags: us_civil_war flags stickers
Contents |
Purpose
I created the Civil War flags of South Carolina in Adobe Illustrator after looking at sources. My illustrations are for use by anyone and have no copyright. My primary reference for South Carolina Civil War flags is: Glenn Dedmondt, "Flags of Civil War South Carolina," Pelican Publishing Company, Inc. Gretna, LA. 2000
Why are some of these flags pink?
See Also: Space:Civil_War_Flags
Flags List
State Flags
- South Carolina's First Official Flag (Representation) - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-10
- South Carolina Sovereignty Flag "Palmetto Pride" (Columbia - Stanley Building) - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-9
Regimental and Company Colors, in order by unit number:
- 3rd South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-8.png
- 4th South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-23.png
- 5th South Carolina Cavalry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-1.png
- 5th South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-3.png
- 6th South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-5.png
- 7th South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-4.png
- 8th South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-7.png
- 11th South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-11.png
- 12th South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-12.png
- 13th South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-13.png
- 14th South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-14.png
- 15th South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-15.png
- 21st South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-17.png
- 24th South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-19.png
- 25th South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-22.png
- 25th South Carolina Infantry Regiment (1862 Version, Eutaw) - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-20.png
- 26th South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina-21.png
- 27th South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Civil_War_Flags_of_South_Carolina.jpg
The Curious Case of the Pink Flags
The Confederate battle flag is widely recognized for its bold red, blue, and white design. However, not all versions of this iconic flag adhered to that color scheme during the Civil War. A fascinating and lesser-known chapter of history reveals that some Confederate units carried pink battle flags into battle—a reality that challenges modern conceptions of Confederate iconography. These flags resulted from resource shortages and a reliance on available materials, leading to the use of unconventional shades of red, such as magenta, solferino, and pink.
The story begins in 1861 when the Confederate Army struggled to distinguish its "Stars and Bars" pattern flags from Union banners during the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run). The confusion on the smoky, chaotic battlefield led to the adoption of a new design for battle flags: a banner featuring a blue St. Andrew’s Cross adorned with white stars on a red field. Proposed by William Porcher Miles, the design was approved for military use and would become the Confederate battle flag’s signature look.
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The Stars and Bars pattern. |
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A pink silk issue of the Saltire Cross design. |
However, when Second Lieutenant Colin McRae Selph was tasked with acquiring materials to produce 120 flags, he faced a significant challenge. Silk was in short supply in wartime Richmond, Virginia, with shades of red silk extremely rare. Colors acquired ranged from magenta to pink. Ladies’ sewing circles, working tirelessly to produce the flags, used it all, including these unconventional colors. As a result, some flags presented to regiments on November 28, 1861, in Centreville, Virginia, bore a striking pink hue.[1]
This unexpected color drew mixed reactions from Confederate soldiers. Colonel Robert E. Withers of the 18th Virginia voiced his concerns directly to General Pierre G. T. Beauregard during the flag presentation ceremony. Upon receiving his regiment's pink banner, Withers quipped, “I have but one objection to it. Its color is indicative of fear and looks too much like a flag of truce.” General Beauregard, known for his sharp wit, immediately replied, “Dye it red, sir! Dye it in blood, sir!” Withers, undeterred, retorted, “It shall be, sir. It shall be in the blood of the enemy, General!” Beauregard shot back, “In your own [blood], sir, if necessary!” This dramatic exchange underscored the determination of Confederate soldiers to fight under whatever colors they were given, even if those colors included pink.[1]
The pink battle flags saw significant action during the war, carried by units such as the 1st Virginia, 15th Alabama, the 16th Mississippi, and the 4th and 5th North Carolina regiments. The flags, often pierced by bullets and stained with blood, became enduring symbols of their regiments’ sacrifices. Some flags, like the pink banner of the 15th Alabama, survived the war and are now preserved in museums, though many have faded or been lost to history.
This unique chapter in Civil War history sheds light on the Confederacy’s struggle to make do with limited resources while preserving its soldiers’ morale. Although pink flags are absent from popular memory, their existence reminds us of the complexities and challenges faced by those who carried them into battle. As historian Bryan Cheeseboro notes, these flags defy modern perceptions of masculinity and Confederate iconography, offering a glimpse into a bygone era when the meaning of color was far different from what it is today.
While pink flags were not uncommon in this particular issue of silk flags in the Army of Northern Virginia, South Carolina had quite a few.
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Article: The Pink Confederate Battle Flags: Bryan Cheeseboro, "The Pink Confederate Battle Flags," Emerging Civil War, October 7, 2020, https://emergingcivilwar.com/2020/10/07/the-pink-confederate-battle-flags/, accessed June 18, 2024.
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