Everything about The Bonnie Blue Flag totally explained
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 territory of
West Florida 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 and the republic ceased to exist, after a life of 74 days.
Influence on other flags
In 1836, The Bonnie Blue served as the inspiration for the first flag of the Republic of Texas, known as the
Burnet Flag. It was replaced in
1839 by the currently used
Lone Star Flag, which also bears a single star. The single star of the Bonnie Blue Flag was also the inspiration for the red star in the
1846 Bear Flag of
California.
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 states:
Louisiana,
Mississippi,
Alabama, and
Florida. When
Mississippi seceded from the
Union on
January 9,
1861, as a sign of independence, the Bonnie Blue Flag was raised over the capitol building in
Jackson. An
Ulster immigrant named
Harry McCarthy was present, and later wrote "
The Bonnie Blue Flag" ("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 during the
Civil War. Typically, the refrain is:
» ::
Hurrah! Hurrah!
::
For Southern Rights, Hurrah! » ::
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag
::
That bears a Single Star!
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).
Current usage
The flag is still used to represent the
South, and for some is a way of representing favor for the doctrine of
states' rights. Since the flag pre-dates the
Civil War and isn't associated with slavery, it's considered to be a less-offensive alternative to the
Confederate Battle Flag.
Today, the flag flies in most of the
Florida Parishes of
Louisiana, and is used on road signs along
Interstate 12, which has been designated the "Republic of West Florida Parkway".
HMGS-South uses the flag in reference to the organization’s location and appreciation of history especially for activities related to
miniature wargaming.
A nearly identical, yet unrelated, flag portraying a single star on a blue field is normally displayed during US military ceremonies indicating the presence of a
US Navy Rear Admiral (Lower Half) or
Brigadier General of the
USAF. The Marine Corps,
USMC, or
US Army, General Officers display a simliar flag with a red background and an appropriate number of white stars corresponding to their rank (Brigadier Genral = 1 star, Major General = 2 stars, Lieutenant General = 3 Stars, General = 4 stars). These flags are generally displayed separately from the American Flag by attachment to a secondary flag staff. Smaller flags for Army Generals are also known as "personal" flags and are displayed in their office spaces.
Popular culture
In the
1936 novel by
Margaret Mitchell and the
1939 film
Gone with the Wind,
Rhett Butler decides to call his newborn daughter "Bonnie Blue Butler" when
Melanie Wilkes remarks that her eyes are "as blue as the Bonnie Blue
Flag"
(emphasized by the girl's blue clothes, while Scarlett wears mainly green garments).
[
In the 2005 movie Sahara, a Confederate ironclad is said to be steaming up the Niger River under a "banner of a single star", likely referencing the Bonnie Blue Flag.]
Further Information
Get more info on 'Bonnie Blue Flag'.
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