1861

Caesar Imperator! or, The American Gladiators. Punch, Volume 40, May 18, 1861, p. 203

In an arena formed of cotton bales, President Lincoln (still shown as clean-shaven) and the newly-elected President of the Confederate States, Jefferson Davis, square off as gladiators before an audience comprised of black slaves, one of whom sits in imperial state [cf. April 29, 1865]. The caption's reference to "Emperor Caesar" may be ironically intended, as Caesar was a popular slave name.

The two combatants are armed with Bowie knives rather than the Roman gladius short swords. Each also has a pistol tucked into his belt, reflecting European perceptions about American violence and lawlessness (in many countries it was illegal for ordinary citizens to carry firearms). Lincoln holds a shield emblazoned with a representation of the national flag of the United States, while Davis' shield bears the "Stars and Bars" flag (with an incorrect number of stars in its circle: the earliest official flag of the Confederate States of America, adopted March 4, 1861, initially had in its field only seven stars, representing the original member states: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas). The more familiar Confederate "battle flag" did not come into general use until after the Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas), fought on June 21, 1861, when troops on both sides reportedly found it difficult under chaotic battlefield conditions to distinguish the "Stars and Bars" from the national flag.

First official flag of the Confederate States of America (the "Stars and Bars"), used from March, 1861 through May, 1863	Confederate "Battle Flag"