<P> This flag was used by the soldiers of the Army as the official flag . At times it was seen as too similar to the Union's flag . </P> <P> The flag's stars represented the number of states in the Confederacy . The distance between the stars decreased as the number of states increased, reaching thirteen when the secessionist factions of Kentucky and Missouri joined in late 1861 . </P> <P> At the First Battle of Manassas, near Manassas, Virginia, the similarity between the "Stars and Bars" and the "Stars and Stripes" caused confusion and military problems . Regiments carried flags to help commanders observe and assess battles in the warfare of the era . At a distance, the two national flags were hard to tell apart . In addition, Confederate regiments carried many other flags, which added to the possibility of confusion . </P> <P> After the battle, General P.G.T. Beauregard wrote that he was "resolved then to have (our flag) changed if possible, or to adopt for my command a' Battle flag', which would be Entirely different from any State or Federal flag ." He turned to his aide, who happened to be William Porcher Miles, the former chairman of the Confederate Congress's Committee on the Flag and Seal . Miles described his rejected national flag design to Beauregard . Miles also told the Committee on the Flag and Seal about the general's complaints and request that the national flag be changed . The committee rejected the idea by a four to one vote, after which Beauregard proposed the idea of having two flags . He described the idea in a letter to his commanding General Joseph E. Johnston: "I wrote to (Miles) that we should have' two' flags--a' peace' or parade flag, and a' war' flag to be used only on the field of battle--but congress having adjourned no action will be taken on the matter--How would it do us to address the War Dept . on the subject of Regimental or badge flags made of red with two blue bars crossing each other diagonally on which shall be introduced the stars,...We would then on the field of battle know our friends from our Enemies ." </P>

What did american flag look like during civil war