(EDITOR’S NOTE:  The Bugle welcomes letters from its readers. Many Kentuckians have ancestors who fought for both the Union and Confederacy during the Civil War and, in view of that, this publication attempts to present both sides with fairness and honesty.)

Letters to Editor…
Historical truth about Confederate flag,
its stars concern for West Point reader

Sept. 22, 2011

Dear Mr. Ford:

I enjoyed your web site; and especially its pictures. But I can’t help but wonder, if you were writing as a Confederate Kentuckian in 1863, what ‘Confederate State’ would you say was represented (according to the Confederate Congress itself) by that center star on the Southern Cross Confederate Battle Flag???

Oh, I’m aware that the ‘representatives’  from 68 of Kentucky’s then 110 counties who met in  Russellville, Ky., from Nov. 18 to the 20th, and adopted what amounted to an ordinance of secession (on the 20th) were not actually elected representatives from those 68 counties, but were Confederate soldiers, and some civilians, from the Commonwealth, who sort of self appointed themselves to represent those Kentuckians who were pro-Confederate. (You must be aware of the official design of a ‘Great Seal’, and motto, etc. adopted by Kentucky’s ‘Confederate’ government on Jan. 16, 1862.)

But I’m also aware that the Kentucky-born Confederate President (who personally accepted the actions taken by that convention at Russellville) requested the Confederate Congress to vote Kentucky’s pro Confederate government into the Confederate States of America as the 13th, full Confederate State; which the Confederate Congress did do (as I’m sure you must also be aware of) on December 10th, 1861; adding a 13th Confederate Star to their flags; and in the case of the most well known of the Confederate Battle flags, this means that 13th star went into the very junction, or middle, of the starry cross (or St. Andrew’s Cross) on that flag; making it the central star on the Naval Ensign; as well as the ‘union’ on the last two official Confederate Flags which flew over all official Confederate government buildings and forts, etc.

Thus, the central star on the Confederate Flag represents the 13th Confederate State until this very day; and always will; and that Confederate State was and is Kentucky! But you must be aware of these things as well as any other Confederate minded Kentuckian; so, since your site professes to be a representation of Confederate information from a Kentucky perspective, why would you present the official Union (or ‘Yankee’) position on this matter, rather than using your site to present the historical truth of the matter AS the Confederate Government would have done in, say, March of 1862?!

Sir, you have a grand opportunity to help educate a great many people around the world as to the events of those times from a Confederate perspective; so why wouldn’t you proudly accept that responsibility and privilege, and DO so?! After all, if the re-enactors go to so much trouble and expense to accurately represent the truth about their uniforms, and battle arms, and flags, etc; shouldn’t your site also want to accurately represent the truth about their ‘cause’?! A good many Kentuckians died while fighting for the cause of the original American governmental system; considering themselves to be as much citizens of a true ‘Confederate’ State as were the men who followed General Robert E. Lee; and you have the chance to honor them and their “Lost Cause” as they would have wanted to be represented and remembered, I’m sure.

I sincerely hope I have not offended you, Sir, and I hope you will keep up your good work; while considering the possibility of making your site even better (from a Confederate perspective) and thus even more useful as a teacher of historical events of that most horrible and unfortunate time of War, as forced upon the American people and States by another native born fellow Kentuckian, the last elected President of the United States as a Federal Union, Abraham Lincoln! (I am personally embarrassed that he was born as a native of our once proud and independent Commonwealth!)

Thank you for your time and consideration on my behalf by reading this little note; and I do hope I have not offended you; and Sir, may I continue to consider myself Confederately your servant, in the hope of God’s grace in Christ, Larry L. Burton, past commander and chaplain of the Captain Thomas Henry Hines Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, West Point, Kentucky. If you wish to contact me, I may be located here:

Larry L. Burton
Dixie Haven
107 South 6th Street
West Point, Kentucky   40177-1315
burtondixiehaven@insightbb.com