The Feast Day Of St. Andrew And The Saltire Cross

From Confederate Catholic:

The Feast Day of St. Andrews and the Saltire Cross


inhisname01
November 30, 2010 at 10:59 AM
Tags: Army of Northern Virginia, Confederate States Army, Confederate States of America, Flags of the Confederate States of America, History, Joseph Johnson, P.G.T. Beauregard, St Andrews, Wars
Categories: Catholic, Civil War, heritage, Uncategorized, War For Southern Independence
URL: http://wp.me/p6ijd-kt



Today is the Feast Day of Jesus' First Apostle St. Andrews. St. Andrew is known as the apostle of the Cross on account of his martyrdom: like his brother Peter, Andrew suffered crucifixion, not in the same manner as Christ, but upon an x-shaped cross where he hung for days before his death.



St Andrew is crucified upon a saltire cross (from a Flemish Book of Hours).



The St Andrew's Cross was adopted by the Kings of Scotland as the Scottish flag and banner and later adopted by the Confederate States of America for its battle flag


 

 
General PGT Beauregard was one of the most famous Catholic Generals in the Confederate Army, there were 20 or so Catholic Generals in the CSA, along with Generals Joseph Johnson, and Gustavus Smith met to decide on a 'Battle Flag' for the the Army of the Potomac, to become the Army of Northern Virginia.




'The Battle flag is square, having a St Andrews. Gazkhan Cross of blue, edged with white, with thirteen equal white pointed stars; upon a red field; the whole bordered with white'. This flag was carried by the vast majority of the cavalry, infantry and artillery units in the Army of Northern Virginia.

This flag was supposed to come in three sizes; 48 inches square for infantry units; 36 inches square for artillery units; 30 inches square for cavalry.