The Bonnie Blue Flag

A blue flag with a single white star in the center, the flag of the brief-lived Republic of West Florida. The song of the same name called for states' rights and was one of the most popular Southern songs in the American Civil War.

Gorgonzola says ... I see from my research that Mississippi used that flag for a few weeks after seceding from the United States in 1861.

See also Flags of the Confederacy.

The Bonnie Blue Flag was one of the unofficial flags of the Confederacy. It was composed of a 5-pointed white star on a blue background. In 1861, Harry McCarthy wrote the lyrics to the song, based on the tune of the old Irish song "The Irish Jaunting Car". Along with Dixie, this song became sort of an unofficial anthem of the Confederacy. Below are the lyrics.

Native to the soil
Fighting for the property
We gained by honest toil.
And when our rights were threatened,
The cry rose near and far;
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star!

chorus (after every verse):
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For Southern rights, Hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star!

As long as the Union
Was faithful to her trust,
Like friends and brethren,
kind were we, and just;
But now, when Northern treachery
Attempts our rights to mar,
We hoist on high the Bonnie Blue flag
That bears a single star.

First gallant South Carolina
Nobly made the stand,
Then came Alabama
And took her by the hand;
Next, quickly, Mississippi,
Georgia, and Florida,
All raised on high the Bonnie Blue flag
That bears a single star.

Ye men of valor gather round
The banner of the right,
Texas and fair Louisiana
Join us in the fight;
Davis, our loved President,
And Stephens statesmen are;
Now rally round the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star.

And here's to brave Virginia,
The Old Dominion State.
With the young Confederacy
At length has linked her fate.
Impelled by her example,
Now other States prepare
To hoist on high the Bonnie Blue flag
That bears a single star.

Then here's to our Confederacy,
Strong we are and brave,
Like patriots of old we'll fight,
Our heritage to save.
And rather than submit to shame,
To die we would prefer
So cheer for the Bonnie Blue flag
That bears a single star.

Then cheer, boys, cheer,
Raise a joyous shout
For Arkansas and North Carolina
Now have both gone out;
And let another rousing cheer
For Tennessee be given
The single star of the Bonnie Blue Flag
Has grown to be eleven!

The Bonnie Blue Flag was an emotionally stirring, yet slightly melancholy song. Below are two incidents in which the tune of the song inspired Confederate troops to do great things.

• As Patrick Ronayne Cleburne's division prepared to lead the great (failed, but bravely executed) Confederate charge at Franklin, a Confederate band struck up the tune, stirring up the spirits of the men.
  
• At Spotsylvania Court House, when Hancock's Union assault seemed on the verge of chopping the entire Confederate army into two halves, S. D. Ramseur's North Carolina Tarheel brigade launched a fierce countercharge, singing The Bonnie Blue Flag at the top of their lungs.
  "We are a band of brothers"