Bonnie Blue Flag

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Bonnie Blue Flag

, in 1810.]]

The Bonnie Blue Flag, a single white star on a blue field, was the flag of the short-lived Republic of West Florida. In September 1810, settlers in the Spanish

Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
territory of West Florida

West Florida

West Florida was a region on the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico, which underwent several boundary and sovereignty changes during its history....
revolted against the Spanish government and proclaimed an independent republic. The Bonnie Blue Flag was raised at the Spanish fort in Baton Rouge on September 23, 1810. In December, West Florida was annexed by the United States

United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
and the republic ceased to exist, after a life of 74 days.

Influence on Texas flag
.]]

In 1836, The Bonnie Blue served as the inspiration for the first flag of the Republic of Texas

Republic of Texas

The Republic of Texas was a sovereignty nation in North America between the United States and Mexico that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the nation claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S....
, known as the Burnet Flag

Flag of Texas

File:Flag of Texas.svgFile:Texas Capitol Flags.jpgThe flag of Texas is defined by law as follows:The Texas flag is known as the "Lone Star Flag"....
.

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Encyclopedia

, in 1810.]]

The Bonnie Blue Flag, a single white star on a blue field, was the flag of the short-lived Republic of West Florida. In September 1810, settlers in the Spanish

Spain

West Florida

United States

Influence on Texas flag

.]]

In 1836, The Bonnie Blue served as the inspiration for the first flag of the Republic of Texas

Republic of Texas

Flag of Texas

File:Flag of Texas.svgFile:Texas Capitol Flags.jpgThe flag of Texas is defined by law as follows:The Texas flag is known as the "Lone Star Flag"....
. It was replaced in 1839 by the currently used Lone Star Flag

Flag of Texas

File:Flag of Texas.svgFile:Texas Capitol Flags.jpgThe flag of Texas is defined by law as follows:The Texas flag is known as the "Lone Star Flag"....
, which also bears a single star.

Civil War usage

The Bonnie Blue Flag was first used by the Republic of West Florida when they declared their independence from Spain. The original territory of West Florida was divided up among four Southern state

Southern United States

The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive region in the southeastern and south-central United States....
s: Louisiana

Louisiana

The State of Louisiana is a U.S. state located in the U.S. Southern States of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans....
, Mississippi

Mississippi

Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Deep South of the United States. Jackson, Mississippi is the state capital and largest city. The state's name comes from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, and takes its name from the Anishinaabe language word misi-ziibi ....
, Alabama

Alabama

Alabama is a state located in the Southern United States of the United States of America. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west....
, and Florida

Florida

Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
. When Mississippi

Mississippi

United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
on January 9, 1861, as a sign of independence, the Bonnie Blue Flag was raised over the capitol building

Old Mississippi State Capitol

Originally called the State House, the Old Mississippi State Capitol, also known as Old Capitol Museum or Old State Capitol, is the former capitol building for the Mississippi state legislature from 1839 until 1903....
in Jackson

Jackson, Mississippi

Ulster

Ulster is one of the four Provinces of Ireland of Ireland, in addition to Connacht, Munster and Leinster. The name is sometimes informally used as a synonym for Northern Ireland, one of the countries of the United Kingdom, although Northern Ireland covers only two thirds of Ulster....
immigrant named Harry McCarthy

Harry McCarthy

Harry McCarthy was born in 1834 in Brussels, Belgium, where he became a variety entertainer and comedian in the mid 19th century. In 1861 he wrote the song "The Bonnie Blue Flag," about the unofficial first Flags of the Confederate States of America, using the tune from "The Irish Jaunting Car." The song was extremely popular, rivaling "Dixi...
was present, and later wrote The Bonnie Blue Flag
The Bonnie Blue Flag

"The Bonnie Blue Flag", also known as "We Are a Band of Brothers", is an 1861 marching song associated with the Confederate States of America....
("bonnie" being a Scottish word meaning "beautiful") which became a popular marching song, and led to the flag being used as an unofficial flag of the Confederate States of America

Confederate States of America

The Confederate States of America formed as the government set up from 1861 to 1865 by eleven Southern United States U.S. state of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S....
during the Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several Naming the American Civil War, was a civil war in the United States....
. Typically, the refrain is:

Hurrah! Hurrah! For Southern Rights, Hurrah! Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag That bears a Single Star!

The Bonnie Blue Flag holds special significance to the Texas brigade. The song was premiered by lyricist Harry Macarthy during a concert in Jackson, Mississippi, in the spring of 1861 and performed again in September of that same year at the New Orleans Academy of Music for the First Texas Volunteer Infantry regiment mustering in celebration. The New Orleans music publishing house of A. E. Blackmar issued six editions of The Bonnie Blue Flag between 1861 and 1864 along with three additional arrangements. The tune was so popular that Union General Benjamin Butler was said to have arrested and fined Blackmar for daring to publish it.

General Longstreet writes in his memoirs: "My mind was relieved by information that my resignation was accepted, to take effect on the 1st of June 1861. In our travel next day we crossed the line into the State of Texas. From the gloomy forebodings of old friends, it seemed at El Paso that we had entered into a different world. All was enthusiasm and excitement, and songs of "Dixie and the South" were borne upon the balmy air. But the Texas girl did not ascend to a state of incandescent charm until the sound of the first notes of The Bonny Blue Flag reached her ear. Then her feet rose in gleeful springs, her limbs danced, her hands patted, her eyes glowed, her lips moved, though she did not care to speak, or listen to any one. She seemed lifted in the air, thrilled and afloat, holding to the 'Single Star' in joyful hope of Southern rights."

When Mississippi seceded

Secession in the United States

Attempts or aspirations of secession have been a feature of the politics of the United States since the country's birth. The line between actions based on a constitutional right of secession as opposed to actions justified by the extraconstitutional natural right of revolution has shaped the political debate....
from the Union

United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
on January 9, 1861, as a sign of independence the Bonnie Blue Flag

Bonnie Blue Flag

File:Bonnieblue.svgThe Bonnie Blue Flag, a single white star on a blue field, was the flag of the short-lived Republic of West Florida. In September 1810, settlers in the Spain territory of West Florida revolted against the Spanish government and proclaimed an independent republic....
was raised over the capitol building

Old Mississippi State Capitol

Jackson, Mississippi

Jackson is the Capital and the most populous city of the U.S. Mississippi. It is one of two county seats in Hinds County, Mississippi; the town of Raymond, Mississippi is the other....
. On January 26, 1861, Mississippi officially adopted a new flag, which included the Bonnie Blue Flag in its canton and a magnolia tree in its center field (known as the Magnolia Flag

Flag of Mississippi

The flag of Mississippi was adopted in 1894. It is currently the only United States state flag that incorporates the Battle Flag of the Confederate States of America....
). This flag remained in use until 1894.

Current usage

]] The flag is still used to represent the South

Southern United States

States' rights

States' rights refers to the idea, in politics of the United States and United States constitutional law, that U.S. states possess certain rights and political powers in relation to the federal government of the United States....
. Since the flag pre-dates the Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several Naming the American Civil War, was a civil war in the United States....
and is not associated with slavery, it is considered to be a less-offensive alternative to the Confederate Battle Flag

Flags of the Confederate States of America

File:Our Heroes and Our Flags 1896.jpgThere were several flags of the Confederate States of America used during its existence from 1861 to 1865....
. However there is still stigma against the flag as some view it as a symbol of the South during when slavery was commonplace, and its unofficial use during the Civil War by the Confederacy still makes it a troublesome flag for African American

African American

African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the Black people populations of Africa....
s.

Today, the flag flies in most of the Florida Parishes

Florida Parishes

The Florida Parishes are those parishes in southeast Louisiana which were part of West Florida in the early 19th century. Unlike much of the state of Louisiana, this region was not part of the Louisiana Purchase, as it remained under Spanish control....
of Louisiana

Louisiana

The State of Louisiana is a U.S. state located in the U.S. Southern States of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans....
, and is used on road signs along Interstate 12

Interstate 12

Interstate 12 is an List of intrastate Interstate Highways Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Louisiana. I-12 starts in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at Interstate 10, and travels along the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain before ending at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Interstate 59 near Slidell, Louisiana....
, which has been designated the "Republic of West Florida Parkway."

HMGS-South

HMGS-South

HMGS-South is a Florida, USA based chapter of the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, a non-profit organization devoted to advancing the hobby of miniature wargaming and history....
uses the flag in reference to the organization's location and appreciation of history especially for activities related to miniature wargaming

Miniature wargaming

Miniature wargaming is a form of wargaming that incorporates miniature figures and modeled terrain as the main components of play. Like other types of wargames, they can be generally considered to be a type of simulation game, generally about military tactics combat, as opposed to computer wargame and board wargame wargames which have greater...
.

A nearly identical yet unrelated flag, portraying a single star on a blue field, is normally displayed during U.S. military ceremonies

Military of the United States

The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified armed forces of the United States. The United States military was first formed by the second Second Continental Congress to defend the new nation against the British Empire in the American Revolutionary War....
indicating the presence of a United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the navy of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy currently has approximately 331,682 personnel on active duty as of 31 December 2008 and 124,000 in the United States Navy Reserve....
rear admiral (lower half)

Rear admiral (United States)

The Uniformed services of the United States of the United States have two grades of rear admirals....
or an Air Force

United States Air Force

The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Military of the United States and one of the uniformed services of the United States....
brigadier general

Brigadier general (United States)

A brigadier general in the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, is a 1 star rank general officer, with the U.S....
. Marine Corps

United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing Military power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to rapidly deliver Marine Air-Ground Task Force....
or Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for Army operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S....
general officers display a similar flag with a red background and an appropriate number of white stars corresponding to their rank (brigadier general, one star; major general

Major general (United States)

In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a 2 star rank general officer rank, with the U.S....
, two stars; lieutenant general

Lieutenant General (United States)

In the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force, lieutenant general is a 3 star rank general officer rank, with the U.S....
, three stars; general

General (United States)

In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a 4 star rank general officer rank, with the U.S....
, four stars). These flags are generally displayed separately from the United States flag by means of attachment to a secondary flag staff. Smaller flags for Army generals are also known as "personal" flags and are displayed in their office spaces.

The Bonnie Blue Flag is also nearly identical that of Somalia

Somalia

Somalia , officially the Republic of Somalia and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is a country located in the Horn of Africa....
, whose Somalia

Flag of Somalia

File:Flag of Somalia.svgThe flag of Somalia was adopted on October 12, 1954. It was designed by Mohammed Awale Liban, intended to be used for pan-Somali....
is a lighter shade of blue, with a smaller star.

Popular culture

In the 1936

1936 in literature

The year 1936 in literature involved some significant events and new books....
novel by Margaret Mitchell

Margaret Mitchell

Margaret Munnerlyn Mitchell Marsh , popularly known as Margaret Mitchell, was an United States of America author, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1937 for her novel Gone with the Wind....
and the 1939

1939 in film

The year 1939 in film involved some significant events....
film Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind (film)

Gone with the Wind is a 1939 in film Cinema of the United States drama film-romance film-film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's 1936 in literature Gone with the Wind and directed by Victor Fleming ....
, Rhett Butler

Rhett Butler

Rhett Butler is a fictional character, and one of the main protagonists of Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell....
decides to call his newborn daughter "Bonnie Blue Butler" when Melanie Wilkes

Melanie Wilkes

Melanie Hamilton Wilkes is a fictional character first appearing in the novel Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. In the Gone with the Wind she was portrayed by Olivia de Havilland....
remarks that her eyes are "as blue as the Bonnie Blue Flag."

In the 2003

2003 in film

The year '2003 in film' involved some significant events. Releases of sequels took place with movies like 2 Fast 2 Furious, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King , Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Freddy vs Jason, X2: X-Men Uni...
movie Gods and Generals

Gods and Generals (film)

Gods and Generals is a 2003 film based on the novel, Gods and Generals, by Jeffrey Shaara. It is considered a prequel to the 1993 film Gettysburg , which was based on The Killer Angels, a novel by Michael Shaara, Jeff Shaara's father....
, the ode to the Bonnie Blue Flag is sung in front of the Confederate Army.

In the 2005

2005 in film

The year 2005 in film involved some significant events. Releases of sequels took place with movies like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,The Devil's Rejects, Saw II, Cheaper by the Dozen 2, ''The Ring Two, ''Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, ''xXx: State of the Union, ''Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous...
movie Sahara
Sahara (2005 film)

Sahara is a 2005 in film Action film/adventure film directed by Breck Eisner and based on the best-selling Sahara by Clive Cussler.Though it opened at number-one, grossing $18 million on its first weekend, Sahara is considered one of the biggest financial failures in Hollywood history....
, a Confederate ironclad warship
Ironclad warship

An ironclad was a steam engine warship in the latter part of the 19th century, protected by iron or steel iron armour.The ironclad was developed as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships to explosive or incendiary shell ....
is said to be steaming up the Niger River
Niger River

The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending about 4180 km . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea....
under a "banner of a single star," likely a reference to the Bonnie Blue Flag.

The tune has also been used often for over 30 years by NFL Films
NFL Films

NFL Films is a Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based company devoted to producing commercials, television programs, feature films, and documentaries on the National Football League, as well as other unrelated major events and awards shows....

See also

Flags of the Confederate States of America
Flags of the Confederate States of America

File:Our Heroes and Our Flags 1896.jpgThere were several flags of the Confederate States of America used during its existence from 1861 to 1865....
"The Bonnie Blue Flag
The Bonnie Blue Flag

"The Bonnie Blue Flag", also known as "We Are a Band of Brothers", is an 1861 marching song associated with the Confederate States of America....
" - song

External links

at the Republic of West Florida Historical Museum.