The Bonnie Blue Flag
In 1763, the Seven Years War in North America, better known to modern Americans as the French and Indian War, came to an end. One result of this conflict was the cession by France of the portion of Louisiana west of the Mississippi River to Spain. The territory east of the Mississippi was ceded to England and included the southern part of Mississippi and Alabama. It was renamed "West Florida."
Few Americans today are aware of the fact that, during the American Revolution, Spain was an ally of America and after that war, Spain took possession of the territory. When, in the late 18th century, France acquired Louisiana from Spain, there was disagreement between the two nations as to whether West Florida was or was not included in the settlement. In 1803, President Jefferson completed the Louisiana Purchase, inheriting the running debate between France and Spain. The inhabitants of the region, largely composed of English speaking people, chafed under the revolving door of government that spoke languages that they didn't understand and ruled by monarchs who they would never see. They became very angry.
In 1803, the first revolt took place. It was known as the Kemper Rebellion and was led by three brothers: Nathan, Reuben and Samuel Kemper. It was unsuccessful, but it placed Spain on alert. In an attempt to avoid further bloodshed, that country allowed a smattering of common English liberties to the residents of the area. It was too little - too late. On September 11, 1810, a second revolt took place, led by Major Isaac Johnson, who led a march to the capital in Baton Rouge. They captured the town on September 23 and raised a flag over the fort. It consisted of a single white five-pointed star on a field of dark blue. On September 26, A Declaration of Independence from Spain was passed in convention and the Republic of West Florida was founded. The same flag was adopted as their national emblem. The Republic didn't survive for long. On October 27, United States President James Madison proclaimed that West Florida was, in fact, a part of the Louisiana Territory. The Stars and Stripes was raised over the fort, but the "Bonnie Blue Flag" had etched itself in the consciousness of many southerners as a symbol of liberty at all costs.
When the Republic of Texas was founded in 1832, a similar flag was adopted, and Texas is still well-known as the "Lone Star State." On January 9, 1861, Mississippi seceded from the Union, establishing the Republic of Mississippi. A blue flag with a single star was raised over the capitol in Jackson. A member of the audience on that day was an Irish born comedian and actor named Harry McCarthy, who composed lyrics and set them to a tune from his birthplace, The Irish Jaunting Car. He called his creation The Bonnie Blue Flag. The banner later became the first flag of the Confederate States of America..
We are a band of brothers,
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:
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For Southern rights, Hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star!
Located near present day Columbus, Ohio, Camp Chase was originally a training base for Union soldiers. It was named after Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury and Ohio governor. In November of 1861, it became a prison camp for the containment of Confederate prisoners of war. A portion of the original camp is now the site of the Confederate Cemetery and 2260 soldiers were interred there. Well over 10,000 captured soldiers passed through its gates prior to Lee's surrender at Appomattox. The high death rate was due largely to a smallpox epidemic that occurred during the winter of 1863-64.
Born in Alabama, Colonel William Stewart Hawkins was the captured commander of the 11th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion. He was captured in January, 1864, and was imprisoned at Camp Chase Military Prison. A true gentleman, he was well respected by prisoners and guards alike. In an attempt to cheer up his fellow prisoners, Col. Hawkins composed the lyrics to the Bonnie White Flag:
Another captured colonel, but this time from the Union side, was confined to a Cahaba or Cahawba Prison near Selma, Alabama which had an extremely low death rate due to the considerate direction of its superintendent, Capt. H.A.M. Henderson. Since Bonnie Blue Flag was second only to Dixie in popularity, Col. J.L. Geddes often heard it sung by rebel soldiers at the camp. He couldn't let it go unanswered, so he composed new lyrics called The Bonnie Blue Flag with the Stripes and Stars. With its new words, the song was often played and sung on the Union side.
We're fighting for our Union,
We're fighting for our trust,
We're fighting for that happy land
Where sleeps our Father's dust.
It cannot be dissever'd,
Tho' it cost us bloody wars.
We never can give up the land
Where float the Stripes and Stars.chorus:
Hurrah ! hurrah!
For equal rights hurrah !
Hurrah! for the brave old flag
That bears the Stripes and Stars.We treated you as brothers
Until you drew the sword,
With impious hands at Sumter
You cut the silver cord,
So now you hear our bugles;
We come the sons of Mars,
We rally round that brave old flag
Which bears the Stripes and Stars.chorus:
Hurrah ! hurrah!
For equal rights hurrah !
Hurrah! for the brave old flag
That bears the Stripes and Stars.Whenever modern historical musicians declare an absolute pedigree for a particular tune, they are probably wrong. Any time a tune becomes popular, new lyrics and consequently, a new name, are attached. Proceed with caution!
ŠE.W.Boyle, 2001 (All Rights Reserved)