Mississippi's Magnolia Flags (U.S.)

Last modified: 2016-03-05 by rick wyatt
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Mississippi's Magnolia Flags
by Clay Moss,
Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Vexillological Research Volunteer
June 21, 2015

• Introduction
• Flag captured by the 2nd Iowa Cavalry
• Standard for the 3rd Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers
• Standard for Company K of the 18th Mississippi Regiment
• Standard for the Wayne Rifles
• Flag found in Mississippi's old capitol building
• Standard for the 1st Mississippi Cavalry
• Flag used by United Confederate Veterans units

See also:

• Mississippi
• United States of America

Introduction

Mississippi has a long, rich and eclectic flag tradition dating back to Hernando De Soto's trek through territory that would eventually become the Magnolia State. The magnolia tree and blossom had long been associated with Mississippi when the southern states of the US seceded from the Union. Mississippi quickly adopted language describing a new secessionist flag that would represent first the Republic of Mississippi, and later the State of Mississippi both as a Confederate state and then later a readmitted US state. As such, the Magnolia flag in some form served as Mississippi's state flag from 1861 to 1894.

Although the vexillographic language was fairly clear, at least seven stylistically different Magnolia flags would be sewn together for various uses during and after the Civil War.

As the current Mississippi flag has burdened controversy, particularly through the last quarter century, there has always been the idea that Mississippi's Magnolia flag might again some day be adopted as the state's flag.

This page briefly details the seven Magnolia flags that are known today. More might be discovered in the future, but as of June 21, 2015, these are the ones that are known.

Historically, several of these flags are well known, while others are somewhat veiled in mystery. Some are plausible historical designs that could serve Mississippi well as state flags, while others, although popular, were never actually sanctioned or used as state flags or state military colors.

This article is not meant to advocate any change to Mississippi's state flag, as our current flag is very popular state-wide and also has a splendid and robust history. It is simply meant to be informational, educating fellow Mississippians and vexillologists that there was more than one state Magnolia flag, and what a readopted Magnolia flag might look like if readopted by popular consent in the future.

Flag captured by the 2nd Iowa Cavalry

This flag was captured by the 2nd Iowa Cavalry on May 30, 1962 just north of Booneville, Mississippi. It is currently in the possession of the State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa.

This surviving Civil War era flag matches the 1861 Mississippi state Magnolia flag description more closely than any other currently discovered surviving Magnolia sample.

"A Flag of white ground, a Magnolia tree in the centre, a blue field in the upper left hand corner with a white star in the centre, the Flag to be finished with a red border and a red fringe at the extremity of the Flag."

image by Clay Moss, 15 June 2015

Above is an idea of what a new Mississippi flag might look like if modeled from the "Iowa" flag.

As the fringe can not technically be included in the description of a general usage flag, it is not included in this illustration.

Standard for the 3rd Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers

Source: Collection of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, Mississippi

This flag was created as a military colors or standard for the 3rd Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers. It was captured by the 9th Connecticut Regiment during the Civil War. The 9th Connecticut was the first Union regiment to return captured Confederate colors at the New Orleans Exposition (Worlds Fair), on Connecticut Day, February 27, 1885. Thus the word "restored" as gilded on the flag.

image by Clay Moss, 15 June 2015

Above is an idea of what a new Mississippi flag might look like if modeled from the 3rd Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers colors.

As a fringe can not technically be included in the description of a general usage flag, it is not included in this illustration.

Standard for Company K of the 18th Mississippi Regiment

Source: Collection of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, Mississippi

This flag was created as a military colors or standard for Company K of the 18th Mississippi Regiment, more affectionately known as the Burt Rifles, named after Erasmus Burt, who organized the regiment.

The Burt Rifles saw action in numerous theatres of battle during the Civil war. Erasmus Burt himself was killed in action at the Battle of Ball's Bluff in northern Virginia.

image by Clay Moss, 15 June 2015

The image above is an idea of what a new Mississippi flag might look like if modeled from the Burt Rifles colors.

Standard for the Wayne Rifles

Source: Collection of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, Mississippi

This flag was created as a military colors or standard for the Wayne Rifles who were attached to the 13th Mississippi Regiment.

Among other places, the Wayne Rifles saw action at Cold Harbor, Virginia, Fredericksburg, Virginia, Malvern Hill, east of Seven Pines, Virginia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

image by Clay Moss, 15 June 2015

The image above is an idea of what a new Mississippi flag might look like if modeled from the Wayne Rifles colors.

As fringe can not technically be included in the description of a general usage flag, it is not included in this illustration.
Clay Moss, 15 June 2015

The only thing in our files that says what the words are [around the star] is a drawing of the flag from "Emblems of Southern Valor" by Joseph Crute. In his drawing, "Wayne Rifles" is above the star (which can be discerned from the photo). Beneath the star he has drawn "Tutor et Ultor" which he says translates to "Protector and Avenger". His description doesn't say how he determined that those were the words, though.
Nan Prince, 21 July 2015
Asst. Director of Collections, Museum Division, Mississippi Department of Archives & History

Flag found in Mississippi's old capitol building

Source: Collection of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, Mississippi

This flag is a bit of a mystery. It was discovered stored in Mississippi's old capitol building, but had no written history with it, and there are no archival references to it being commissioned or purchased by the State of Mississippi. Its physical properties make it appear to be an indoor flag.

It was likely the post-Civil War Mississippi flag displayed in either the House or Senate chambers in the old capitol building from 1866 to 1894 when the current Mississippi flag was adopted.

Since there is no red border on this flag, it does not meet the original 1861 description of Mississippi's flag. Nevertheless, here it is, an actual surviving Magnolia flag. Why the red border was removed is currently not known.

image by Clay Moss, 15 June 2015

The image above is an idea of what a new Mississippi flag might look like if modeled from the Magnolia White flag.
As fringe can not technically be included in the description of a general usage flag, it is not included in this illustration.

Standard for the 1st Mississippi Cavalry

This flag was possibly created as a military colors or standard for the 1st Mississippi Cavalry. The unit saw action in numerous theatres of battle during the Civil War.

This flag has often been described as Mississippi's Magnolia state flag, flown from 1861 to 1894. It is erroneous to assume that this was Mississippi's flag as it does not adequately meet the 1861 description of Mississippi's flag;

"A Flag of white ground, a Magnolia tree in the centre, a blue field in the upper left hand corner with a white star in the centre, the Flag to be finished with a red border and a red fringe at the extremity of the Flag".

image by Clay Moss, 15 June 2015

The image above is an idea of what a new Mississippi flag might look like if modeled from a possible 1st Mississippi Cavalry colors.

As fringe can not technically be included in the description of a general usage flag, it is not included in this illustration.

Flag used by United Confederate Veterans units

Although the most popular and recognized of all Mississippi Magnolia flags, this flag ironically has no sanction relative to the Civil War itself.

While this flag has been described by many as the official secessionist state flag of Mississippi, it does not technically meet the state's written description of the flag in 1861 as a red border does not continue around the flag;

"A Flag of white ground, a Magnolia tree in the centre, a blue field in the upper left hand corner with a white star in the centre, the Flag to be finished with a red border and a red fringe at the extremity of the Flag".

image by Clay Moss, 15 June 2015

The image above is what a new Mississippi flag might look like if modeled from a possible post war Mississippi UCV flag.
Clay Moss, 15 June 2015