Van Dorn battle flag

The Flag of the Army of the West, also known as the Van Dorn battle flag, was a Confederate battle flag with a red field depicting a white crescent moon in the canton and thirteen white stars; and trimmed with gold cord. In February, 1862, Confederate general Earl Van Dorn ordered that all units under his command use this flag as their regimental colors.^[1] The 4th Missouri and 15th Arkansas infantry regiments carried this flag into battle, as well as some of Van Dorn's old units in the Army of Mississippi and East Louisiana.^[2]

The Van Dorn battle flag

The original flag was designed by Mrs. Constance Harrison and presented to Van Dorn during his time in Virginia in 1861.^[3] The thirteen stars in the Van Dorn battle flag reflect the thirteen states admitted to the Confederacy, including Kentucky and Missouri.

See also

• Flags of the Confederate States of America