The Bonnie Blue Flag

Bonnie Blue Flag is a marching song, which is associated with the Confederate States of America ( CSA).

History

The lyrics of the song was sealed on January 9, 1861 by Harry McCarthy, after the state of Mississippi had left that day from the Union (USA). On this date Mississippi hoisted a blue flag with the single white star, as a sign of separation from the Union. This flag was used but already in 1810 the short-lived Republic of West Florida.

This song was one of the most popular songs in the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, and was, next to " Dixie", something like the unofficial national anthem of the Confederacy. It was for the first time by Marion McCarthy, sister of the composers presented.

Soldiers of the New Orleans Military Academy sang this song for the first time in September 1861. From there on, it was sung mainly by Confederate Soldiers and performed in various shows.

Text

Music: The Irish Jaunting Car

For the first two lines of the song there is an alternative version:

This version puts the struggle for national rights in the foreground, while the other version indicating more on property rights ( ie slaves ).

It is still controversial, which is now the historically correct version. Fans of both versions accuse each other of revisionism

Version of the Northern States

There was also a text, the soldiers of the Northern States were singing to the same tune:

Chorus:

Chorus

Chorus

Trivia

• In the film Gods and Generals, the song is sung by southern soldiers in the camp. Also in the award-winning television series The American Civil War, the melody is used in numerous places as background music.
• In the movie "The Last Command " is sung during a march of the Southern soldiers.
• In the novel Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell called Rhett Butler 's daughter " Bonnie Blue Butler"

• The musician Billy Idol called his daughter Bonnie Blue.