In God We Trust

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil: for thou art with me: they rod and thy staff they comfort me." Psalm 23.

The first National Flag of the Confederacy was known as "The Stars and Bars." Its configuration closely resembled that of the Stars and Stripes of the United States. The first National Flag's eleven stars symbolized the seceded states and sometimes contained two additional stars representing the border states of Kentucky and Missouri who supplied men to the Confederate Cause even though they still officially remained part of the Union. Patriotic and religious slogans such as "Our Honor and Our Rights", "Liberty or Death", and "In God We Trust" were often emblazoned on the colors. The ideals embodied in these flags would motivate Southern soldiers through four long years of suffering, sacrifice, and hardship.

These flags instilled in the men a sense of pride in what they had done, what they had stood for, and fought and died for. Failure only ennobled their sacrifice and their cause. Defeat did not mean dishonor. They had fought bravely for a cause, which they had believed, was just. These men had an overwhelming sense of participating in something larger than themselves. They were to be makers of a new band of states, and they would risk their blood and future to protect this newfound nation. They were mostly farmboys, with a sprinkling of lawyers, students, and businessmen. Few were professional soldiers, but they were going to war - a war for their liberty. In this war these men would become brothers in arms. Their Christian faith was unfaltering. In setbacks they saw God's providence; in victories, God's blessing. Through triumph and tragedy these men followed their hearts, minds and their belief in the Almighty. "Blow, Gabriel, blow! My God, let him blow; I am ready to die!" wrote a North Carolina Infantryman, C.S.A. From the first shots these rebel soldiers had a sense of Southern pride and with their belief in the Almighty, they would not yield without a fight.