Secession-1861

May 20th, 1861, was chosen as the date for the state of North Carolina to secede from the Union. North Carolinians met at a convention on May 20, 1861,  to declare themselves free from the United States government. They adopted this state flag on June 22, 1861, indicating a declaration of independence from the United States government on the 86th anniversary of Mecklenburg's supposed declaration of independence from the British government.

The date, May 20th, 1775, appeared on many battle flags of various regiments, as well as the state flag. Some other Civil War flags that have displayed the date May 20th, 1775 are:

1. Whitford flag
2. Browne flag
3. flag presented to Governor John W. Ellis by the ladies of St. Mary's school in Raleigh - Museum of the Confederacy
4. unidentified flag possibly from New Bern captured in 1862 - North Carolina Museum of History
5. unidentified flag of North Carolina - Cape Fear Museum
6. Chowan Dixie Boys, Co. M, 1st Regiment North Carolina Volunteers - Museum of the Confederacy
7. 6th Regiment North Carolina State Troops - North Carolina Museum of History
8. Topsail Rifles, Co. H, 10th Regiment North Carolina State Troops/ Co. H. 1st Regiment North Carolina Artillery - North Carolina Museum of History
9. 30th Regiment North Carolina State Troops - North Carolina Museum of History
10. 33rd Regiment North Carolina State Troops - North Carolina Museum of History
11. 34th Regiment North Carolina State Troops - North Carolina Museum of History
12. 35th Regiment North Carolina State Troops - North Carolina Museum of History
13. 38th Regiment North Carolina State Troops - North Carolina Museum of History
14. 46th Regiment North Carolina State Troops - North Carolina Museum of History
15. 47th Regiment North Carolina State Troops - North Carolina Museum of History
16. 48th Regiment North Carolina State Troops - North Carolina Museum of History
17. 61st Regiment North Carolina State Troops - North Carolina Museum of History

Research from The Flags of Civil War North Carolina by Glenn Dedmondt, Pelican Publishing Company, Inc., Gretna, Louisiana, 2003.