Army of Northern Virginia Battle Flag

After several incidents of battlefield confusion at Manassas, the staffs of Generals  Joseph Johnston and Pierre Beauregard submitted designs for a distinctive banner to fly over the Confederate Army in Northern Virginia to set it distinctly apart from the U.S. Stars and Stripes. 

The design submitted by General Beauregard's staff was selected as the official banner, due mainly to its simpler design. 

Conceived on the field of battle for the noblest of reasons, to save the lives of their comrades, the Confederate Battle Flag flew proudly over every battlefield for the next four years, until being furled finally at Appomatox ( VA ) in April 1865.