The American Civil War was a bloody affair, yet despite this, it was very interesting on several fronts. It was the forerunner of modern warfare, and many innovations from it were used in later world wars.

The following are flags from the war that were little known: The Picture Source for the flags is The National Park Service.

 

Montgomery Guards Flag presented by the Sisters of Mercy

Confederate First National Flag

Palmetto Flag Fort Sumter

Garrison Flag Fort Sumter

Storm Flag Fort Sumter

US Treasury Guards Flag

In January of 1999, the FBI arrested a man trying to sell a very rare Civil War relic -- a flag carried into battle by the 12th Regiment Corps d'Afrique, one of the first black Army units formed during the Civil War.In February, during a ceremony at FBIHQ, Director Louis Freeh returned the flag to U.S. Army officials. During the ceremony, he remarked that "there are two ways to steal history: one is to steal a valuable artifact -- a regimental flag which represents so much bravery and sacrifice; the other is not to teach or write about it in a manner that is noteworthy and memorable." (Text Source: FBI)

Many people were displeased by the railroad. The following poster from immediately before the outbreak of the war shows their feelings:

Picture Source: NARA

Here are some Civil War photographs by the famous Matthew Brady, Source: National Archives:

23rd NY Infantry

Pontoon across the Rappahannock River, VA, Cavalry column

Battery in action at Fredericksburg, VA

Wounded soldiers at Fredericksburg, VA

Wounded in a hospital

I must apologize for the hodgepodge but I tend to jump around a lot when I get into the civil war. There are just too many interesting things about it.