The first official flag of the confederacy came in existence from March 1861 to May 1863. It was a bit similar to the Union flag and caused much confusion on the battle field and so needed to be changed
The second official confederate flag with a different design that showed the southern cross came in existence on May 1st, 1863. It had a lot of white in it and when the air was calm and it hung limp, it was mistaken as a white flag of surrender. It too needed to be changed.
The third official flag of the confederacy came in existence on March 4th, 1865 just a short time before the collapse of the confederacy. It had a broad bar of red that was placed on the fly end of the white field.
