Civil War flags were a carnival of sizes, shapes, designs and colors. The primary Union Civil War flags were the Unites States flag, known as the Stars and Stripes, and the regimental colors.

Entwined with a war to redefine the United States and what it should stand for, the flag became the primary icon of national identity and ideals, infused with meanings and memories from all sides of the conflict.

The flags of the Confederate States of America have a history of three successive designs during the American Civil War. The flags were known as the "Stars and Bars", used from 1861 to 1863; the "Stainless Banner", used from 1863 to 1865; and the "Blood-Stained Banner", used in 1865 shortly before the Confederacy 's dissolution.

The United States of America went through four different flags during the Civil War: The 33-star flag, the 34-star flag, the 35-star flag, and the 36-star flag. The original flag used during the attack on Fort Sumter

Designating flags were used to organize army units, whereas other flags directly represented the two warring factions. This section displays objects that were used as flags during the Civil War. Flags signaled other units in battle, but were also a tangible manifestation of the beliefs and spirit of a group of people.

The Confederacy saw the use of three different national Civil War flags during its brief time as the official government of the South. The first Confederate flag , the "Stars and Bars" (top right), was designed by Prussian artist Nicola Marschall.

The 33-star Union flag was the official flag of the United States at the outset of the Civil War. Adopted in 1859 after the admission of Oregon, it was the flag flying over Fort Sumter when Confederate forces attacked on April 12, 1861, marking the beginning of the conflict.

Flags of the United States of America This flag represented the time period between 1859-1861. The thirty-three stars represented the number of states in the Union, prior to the Civil War.

The basic "Stars and Stripes" design of the Civil War Union flag was not altered during the war, but the Union flag did see some other changes during that time. These changes were due to the addition of states to the Union, which caused the number of stars on the flag to change.

In the Union Army, each regiment carried a United States flag and their regimental colors (or battle flag). These flags identified the units to their commander, but they were also very important to the men who fought under them.