Alabama Secession Flag
Unfortunately, the only accurate description of this flag is the one that appeared in the newspaper shortly after the flag was raised. After the war the flag was taken to Iowa where it deteriorated and eventually fell to pieces. In 1939, the flag was returned to Alabama . The fragments had been glued to a sheet and sewn into a protective netting. Fragments (the few that remained ) from both sides had been arranged into what might best be describe as a collage. So there is no one alive today who has actually seen the flag intact. Any illustrations that you may have seen are all conjectural and may be traced to the description which appeared in the Montgomery Weekly Advertiser on January 16, 1861. This description was reprinted and widely distributed when the flag was returned in 1939. Almost immediately, drawings based upon this description began to appear and to evolve. Ultimately your supposition is as good as any. We do know however that the background is dark blue, there is only one cotton plant/rattlesnake motif and the flag that she is holding has the word ALABAMA printed above the star. The rattlesnake had 15 rattles representing the slave states.
