Confederate National Anthem

[OpnDownfall]

I always thought the 'Bonnie Blue Flag' was the 'Unofficial' anthem of the Confederacy.


P.S. Was not the Union version of this song "Rally 'round the Flag' ?

[hoosier]

No, the tune of "Rally 'Round the Flag" is not the same as the tune of "The Bonnie Blue Flag."

The tune of "Rally 'Round the Flag" was popular in both the Union and the Confederacy. While the words used in the Union and Confederacy were different, the final line of the refrain, "Shouting the battle cry of freedom," was the same in both instances, as each side considered itself to be fighting for the cause of freedom.

I'm not sure, but I think "Rally 'Round the Flag" was the title used by the Union, while the Confederates used a different title for the song. It would have been a little harder for them to picture an image of the flag 'round which they would have wanted to rally, considering how many times they changed the design of their national banner.

[unionblue]

hoosier's got this one right.

There are Northern and Southern versions of the same song.

There's even a Northern version of 'Dixie.'

Just type in Civil War Songs in your search engine and you'll find sites that have the music and lyrics of each version.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

[william42]

I always thought the Union version was called "Battle Cry of Freedom". When you open McPherson's book with that title, he's got the lyrics printed on the next page, with the title of "Battle Cry of Freedom".


Terry

[larry_cockerham]

Originally Posted by hoosier

It would have been a little harder for them to picture an image of the flag 'round which they would have wanted to rally, considering how many times they changed the design of their national banner.

You would have found the people of the South were quick learners. They could adapt. The 'Bonnie Blue Flag' by the way has a very distinct and quite nice melody.

[ole]

Now I have a question about the Bonnie Blue: Who carried it? What did it mean to the Confederacy? Do we know anything about it beyond the song?

Serious questions.
Ole

[unionblue]

For those who are interested:

Music of the War Between the States.

http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/music/index.html

For those who wish to compare songs:

The Battlecry of Freedom (Union).
http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/union/songs/battcry.html

The Bonnie Blue Flag (Confederate).
http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/confed...gs/bonnie.html

Reply to The Bonnie Blue Flag (Union).
http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/union/...on-bonnie.html

Battle Cry of Freedom (Confederate).
http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/confed...n_battcry.html

And one of my personal favorites.

Union Dixie.
http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/union/...ion-dixie.html


Here is another good website for Civil War music and others. Check it out.

Public Domain Music.
http://pdmusic.org/

Sincerely,
Unionblue

[hoosier]

Originally Posted by ole

Now I have a question about the Bonnie Blue: Who carried it? What did it mean to the Confederacy? Do we know anything about it beyond the song?

Serious questions.
Ole

Before the latest format change, we used to have a good article in the Resource Center here at CWT about all the different flags of the Confederacy, but that article currently seems to be wandering about in some inaccessible area of cyberspace. Maybe Mike will bring it back one of these days.

As far as I can remember, the Bonnie Blue Flag, consisting of a single white star in the center of a flag that was otherwise entirely blue, originated as the flag of one particular state's militia (I can't remember which state). It was sort of adopted as the unofficial flag of the Confederacy until they came up with the Stars and Bars.

Even though the Bonnie Blue Flag was carried into relatively few Civil War battles, it seems to have remained a sort of sentimental favorite in the South right through and even beyond the end of the war, with its popularity no doubt enhanced by Harry Macarthy's rousing song of the same name.

[hoosier]

Unionblue, thanks for the lyrics to both the Union and Confederate versions of the Battle Cry of Freedom.

Obviously, the South did, indeed, sing the praises of the flag 'round which they rallied. I stand corrected on that point.

[ole]

As far as I can remember, the Bonnie Blue Flag, consisting of a single white star in the center of a flag that was otherwise entirely blue, originated as the flag of one particular state's militia (I can't remember which state). It was sort of adopted as the unofficial flag of the Confederacy until they came up with the Stars and Bars.

Thanks for the info Hoosier. In the corner of the cobwebs I thought I had a glimmer that PGTB designed and had the flag made just before Shiloh. Don't remember why, or even if. Just hoped someone would know. Guess I should look into that book on Confederate Flags.
Ole