In addition to the national flags, a wide variety of flags and banners were flown by Southerners during the War. Most famously, the "Bonnie Blue Flag" was used as an unofficial flag during the early months of 1861. It was flying above the Confederate batteries that first opened fire on Fort Sumter. The Van Dorn battle flag was also carried by Confederate troops fighting in the Trans-Mississippi and Western theatres of war. In addition, many military units had their own regimental flags they would carry into battle.