The Bonnie Blue Flag T-Shirt

The Bonnie Blue Flag was first used by the Republic of West Florida when they declared their independence from Spain.[dubious – discuss] 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! The Bonnie Blue Flag holds special significance to the Texas brigade.[citation needed] 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. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_Blue_Flag