He suggested it in a letter [he claims], I have not seen a copy of this letter. Congress approved the design, but only after adding and subtracting its own ideas. Congress designed and approved the first National as a last minute task at the end of the first session. The 2nd National was implemented by the request of General's in the field, because of the mis-identity of the 1st National flag in battle as a Union flag.

Mr. Thompson was not an official in Confederate Government nor was he tasked with designing flags. He was a political hack who wrote in a paper in one city in the South.

The truth would be found in the debates of the flag committee. If they can be located.