Presentation of Bonnie Blue Flag

Confederate Veteran
Volume 3, Number 7, Page 216
July 1895

Just before the reunion at Houston a report was circulated through the Texas press that a Birmingham, Ala., woman claimed the authorship of the Bonnie Blue Flag, and that she would sing it at the Houston reunion. Wm. Fort Smith, of Brazoria, Texas, wrote the following thrilling story to the Houston Post:

Well, well, well! For more than thirty years those old fellows have sling and heard that dear old song and tune, and have believed it to be the creation of the gallant little Irishman, Harry McCarthy, and I still believe so.

Memory carries me back to September, 1861, when the Terry Rangers were mustered into the Confederate service at Houston, in the old Bearce hide house, and commenced their long and weary march overland to New Orleans. Companies B, H and K, commanded by Captains Wharton, Holt and Walker, being mounted, arrived in that city some days in advance of the other companies, commanded by LieutenantColonel T. S. Lubbock. When we arrived in the city, it was full of Arkansas and Louisiana troops, hurrying to the front. About September 18, I attended the Academy of Music, at that time one of the most popular places of amusement in the city. The house was packed from floor to gallery with the "boys" of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, on their way to the battle front. Harry McCarthy appeared on the stage, accompanied by a young lady, who bore a flag of dark blue silk, with a white star in the center. He commenced singing the "Bonnie Blue Flag," and before the first verse was ended the audience was quivering with excitement.

He sang:

When our Northern brothers attempt our right to mar,
We will hoist on hih the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

(At this point the young lady waved the flag.)

Hurrah. hurrah. For Southern rights hurrah
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

Then the boys rose and yelled and for some minutes Harry waited for the excitement to subside. He then sang the second verse and when he commenced the chorus the audience joined and sang it over and over again, amid the most intense excitement. It was wafted to the streets, and in twenty four hours it was all over the Southern army, and then caught up by the Yanks and was sung of hummed in every hamlet, town and city in the United States. It was from that night the Marseillaise of the South.

Then came a scene ever to be remembered. Every Texan in the room went to the rescue and a fierce hand to hand fight ensued. Blows were given and returned, the combatants rolled and tumbled, while the audience left the room in order to give fair play. At this juncture Col. Frank Terry and the mayor appeared. The mayor called off his police and the Rangers, led by Col. Terry, marched sullen and defiant off to their camp.

This is my recollection of the Bonnie Blue Flag, in 1861. Many of the gallant "boys," who were present on that eventful night, now sleep their last sleep in Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina, but men are in Houston who were present on that night, viz: B. F. Weems, Sam Ashe, A. L. Steele and others. I wonder if those old fellows have forgotten that night and Harry McCarthy. I believe this was the first time it was ever sung. Poor Harry McCarthy was killed at Chickamauga.

Comrade Smith did not give his signature to the article, but the liberty is assumed here. In a note about how to help the VETERAN, he incidentally states that Col. Frank Terry was killed at Woodsonville, Ky., and that his brother, Clinton Terry, was killed at Shiloh. There was no command of the Confederate army more popular in Tennessee than Terry's Texas Rangers.

The H. M. Ashley camp of Pikeville, Tenn., take formal action upon the death of Comrade James Worthington, and requests that his record as a true and faithful soldier be published in the VETERAN.

I.F.W.

---