Confederate States 11 Star Bible Flag.

Confederate States of America - Bible Flag, 1861-1863.
Flags like this small, 11 star Confederate Flag are often referred to as bible flags. They were common to both Union and Confederate sides during the American Civil War. Often made for a soldier by a mother, wife, sweetheart or sister, these smaller flags were often carried by soldiers in pocket bibles as a reminder of loved ones at home. Slightly larger flags were used as bookmarks for passages of scripture in family bibles as a way to remember those serving at the front.

Religion was very meaningful to both sides, especially after 1863, when both the Union and the Confederacy underwent a religious revival and each began to liken their cause to a crusade. In the North the fight to free the slaves was added to the campaign to save the Union, while in the South it became a fight to defend hearths and altars. It is regrettable that the soldier or family with which this flag was associated is unknown, but the flag itself is symbolic of the religious fervor with which many Southern soldiers embraced the Lost Cause.

The flag, which is in its original frame, was probably captured by Richard W. Smith of Baltimore, the Union soldier whose US Army induction papers are framed on the reverse of the flag.

This flag, whose exact history is unknown, was formerly part of the collection of The Flag House & Star-Spangled Banner Museum. Founded in 1927, it is one of Baltimore's oldest museums open to the public. The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Association, Inc. was dedicated to the story of Mary Young Pickersgill who made the large 30' x 42' Star-Spangled Banner that flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that later became the United States National Anthem. Mary Pickersgill's flag still survives and now hangs at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. As one of the earliest institutions dedicated to the study of flags, The Flag House & Star-Spangled Banner Museum also became a repository for flags from other eras, amassing one of the most impressive flag collections in the nation.

Interesting relic from the Civil War: a 'Bible' flag from the Confederate States of America. Framed, one side the flag the other side a Notice of Induction into the Federal Army from the Baltimore Provost Marshal's Office. Circa the flag 1861-63 the document 1864.

Exhibition History:
Chicago Meeting December, 2003
(ZFC0002)
11-Star Confederate States of America, First National Bible Flag

Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0002) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD.
Deaccessed at auction via Bonham's 21 November 2023, Auction #BOK23110NY, - 28447 -
Lot #102

ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed

Sources:

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Leidner, Gordon, Religious Revival in Civil War Armies,
Great American History, 1 November 2011, from:
http://www.greatamericanhistory.net/revival.htm

Bible Flags, Military History, Journal of Kentucky History and Genealogy, 1 November 2011, from:
http://jkhg.org/bible_flags.htm

THE "STARS AND BARS" - THE FIRST CONFEDERATE NATIONAL FLAG , Flags of the Confederacy, 1 Niovember 2011, from:
http://www.confederate-flags.org/confederate%20national%20flags.html

Flags of the Confederate States of America, Wikipedia, 1 November 2011, from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	12
Length of Fly	18

Stars
Comments on Star Measurements	single ring

Frame
Is it framed?	yes
Frame Height	12
Frame Length	18
Comments on Frame	Golden yellow painted wood frame glazed with glass on both sides.

Stars
Number of Stars	11
Are there stars on obverse?	yes
Are there stars on reverse?	no
Star Pattern	single ring of 11 stars

Stripes
Number of Stripes	3
Color of Top Stripe	Red
Color of Bottom Stripe	Red
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Nationality
Nation Represented	Confederate States

Fabric
Fabric	Silk

Stitching
Stitching	Hand

Attachment
Method of Attachment	None

Applica
Applique Sides	Single Sided = Design on one side only

Documentation
Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Drawings	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Research Documents
Public Copy & Signs

Condition
Condition	Good
Damage	Used
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1861

Exhibits

Exhibition Copy

Exhibition Copy: Chicago Meeting December, 2003 (ZFC0002) 11-Star Confederate States of America, First National Bible Flag Date: 18611863 Medium: Hand Sewn Silk Comment: These small flags are often referred to as bible flags. They were common to both North and South during the American Civil War. Often made for a soldier by a mother, wife, sweetheart or sister, smaller flags were often carried by soldiers in pocket bibles as a reminder of loved ones at home. Slightly larger flags were used as bookmarks for passages of scripture in family bibles as a way to remember those serving at the front. Religion was very meaningful on both sides, especially after 1863, when the Union and the Confederacy each began to equate their cause with a crusade. In the North the fight to free the slaves was added to the campaign to save the Union, while in the South it became a fight to defend hearths and altars. It is regrettable that we do not know the soldier or family with which this flag was associated, but it is representative of the religious fervor with which many Southern soldiers embraced the Lost Cause. The flag, which is in its original frame, was probably captured by the Union soldier whose army induction papers are framed on the reverse of the flag. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0002) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD. University of California - Santa Cruz Board of Councilors Meeting, Rare Flags Exhibit Santa Cruz, CA 7 June 2012 Santa Cruz, CA, June 7, 2012: The Zaricor Flag Collection exhibited 34 flags and artifacts at the University of California Santa Cruz Campus for the Board of Councilors Meeting. 11 Star Confederate States of America, Bible Flag & Union Draft Notice Date: 1861-1863 Media: Hand sewn silk and paper. Comment: This small flag were referred to as "bible flags." They were common to both the North and the South during the American Civil War. Often made by a family member or sweethearts, some were smaller flags often carried by soldiers in pocket bibles as a reminder of loved ones at home. Slightly larger flags were used as bookmarks for passages of scripture in family bibles as a way to remember those serving at the front. Religion was meaningful on both sides, especially after 1863, when the Union and the Confederacy each began to equate their cause with a crusade. In the North the fight to free the slaves was added to the campaign to save the Union, while in the South it became a fight to defend hearths and altars. It is representative of the religious fervor with which many southern soldiers embraced the Lost Cause. This 1st National flag, which is in its original frame, was probably taken as a trophy by Richard H. Smith, the Union soldier whose army induction papers are framed on the reverse side of the flag. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0002) in 1996 from the Star Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD. www.FlagCollection.com