The first Confederate national flag — the "Stars and Bars" this figure carries — looked too much like the United States flag. Adopted by the Provisional Confederate Congress in Montgomery in March 1861, it was a deliberate echo of the U.S. national colors: red and white horizontal bars with a blue canton bearing stars. From any distance, in any wind, in smoke, the two flags were nearly indistinguishable. At First Bull Run on July 21, 1861, the confusion produced friendly-fire incidents on both sides. The Confederate command adopted the separate St. Andrew's cross battle flag for combat use later that year. The Stars and Bars remained the official national flag until 1863, when it was replaced by the "Stainless Banner."

This W. Britain figure depicts a Confederate infantry flagbearer with the First National Flag — the "Stars and Bars" with seven stars in a circle (the original seven Confederate states) on a blue canton, set against red and white horizontal bars. The flag continued in use even after the Battle Flag was adopted for combat, with the star count increasing as more states joined (eleven stars after Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee seceded). He wears the regulation early-war Confederate kit: gray shell jacket, gray trousers, the forage cap, the bedroll and haversack across his chest. Pair this figure with Confederate Infantry Company Officer for a regimental command-and-colors vignette; with 1st Texas Flagbearer for early-war regimental colors comparison; or with Lt. Gen. James Longstreet as the corps commander.

Scale: 1/30 (60mm). Matte-painted metal. W. Britain model 31449. From the American Civil War range. Single figure with stand-mounted flag, supplied painted and ready for display.