During the secession crisis, a blue jlagwith a single white star was the banner for the movement for southern independence. Written in 1861} this piece was one of the best known and widelY sung Confederate songs, second in populari!y onlY to Dixie as a marching song. After the Union captured New Orleans in 1862} Union General Benjamin F. Butler seized the sheet music, confiscated the printingplates, imprisoned the song's publishetj and threatened to amst and lef!JI a fine of $25 on anyone caught singing or otherwise performing it. Its author was an Englishman and he set it to an Irish tune.

The Bonnie Blue Flag

We are a band of brothers, and native to the soil,
We're fighting for our liberty with treasure, blood, and toill.; 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!

As long as the Union was faithful to her trust,
Like friends and like 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.
          Chorus

First gallant South Carolina nobly made her stand;
Then came Alabama, who took her by the hand;
Next quickly Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida-
All raised on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star. Chorus

Yemen of valor, gather round the banner of the right;
For Texas and Fair Louisiana join us in our fight.
And Davis, our brave President, and Stephens, statesmen rate; All rally round the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.
          Chorus

And here's to brave Virginia, the Old Dominion State
Who with the Young Confederacy at length has linked her fate; Impelled by her example, no others States prepare
To hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star. Chorus

Then cheer, boys, cheer, raise die joyous shout,
For Arkansas and North Carolina now have bodi gone out; And let anodier rousing cheer for Tennessee be given,
The Single star of die Bonnie Blue Flag has grown to be eleven! Chorus

And 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.
          Chorus

Harry Macarthy

i This line, which was soon altered to d1e above wording, originally read: "Fighting for d1e property we gained by honest toil," an oblique reference to slavery.