from General Beauregard. The original design, prepared by Mr. E. C. Hancock, of New Orleans, April, 1861, and presented by Colonel J. B. Walton for adoption, September, 1861, is in possession of the Southern Historical Society of New Orleans :
"Office New Orleans & Carrollton Railroad Company.
"Dear Sir,—In answer to the inquiry contained in your letter of the 3d inst, relative to the origin of the Confederate battle-flag and the devices of the Louisiana State flag flying on the City Hall of New Orleans when Commander Farragut appeared before this city in April, 1862, I give you, with pleasure, the following information:
"At the Battle of Manassas, on the 21st of July, 1861, I found it difficult to distinguish our then Confederate flag from the United States flag (the two being so much alike, especially when General Jubal A. Early made the flank movement which decided the fate of the day); and I then resolved to have ours changed, if practicable, or to adopt for my command a battle-flag which would be entirely different from any State or Federal flag. After the battle it was found that many persons in both armies firmly believed that each side had used, as a strategem, the flags of his opponent. General Joseph E. Johnston, commanding the Confederate State forces, determined to have the troops furnished with their State flag, and I entered into correspondence with Colonel William Porcher Miles, the chairman of the House Military Committee, to have our national flag changed. But that was found to be impossible at the time, and none of the States except Virginia having furnished flags to their troops, General Johnston, in consultation at Fairfax Courthouse, Va., with General G. W. Smith, commanding the Army of the Shenandoah (Second Corps), and myself, commanding the Army of the Potomac (First Corps), decided to adopt a battle-flag for our forces. Many designs were presented, and we gave the preference to one of those offered by Colonel J. B. Walton, commanding the Louisiana Washington Artillery, which corresponded closely to the one recommended to Congress by Colonel
