University of Virginia Library

THE "BONNIE BLUE FLAG."

The following interesting communication was
printed in the Houston, Texas, Post during the Confederate
Veterans' Reunion in that city, in May, 1895.
The erroneous statement having been published, in
some paper, that a lady of Birmingham, Alabama,
was the author of "Bonnie Blue Flag" the writer,
who signs himself "Company B," says:

"Well, well, well! For more than thirty years
those old fellows have sung 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 mustering 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 Lieu

tenant-Colonel 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 center. He commenced
singing the 'Bonnie Blue Flag,' and before the first
verse was ended the audience was quivering with
excitement. He sang:

"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 or hummed in every hamlet,
town and city of the United States. It was, from
that night, the Marsellaise of the South.

"Before the song was ended, 'Old Virg.,' of company
B, was so excited that he rose and gave vent to
his pent-up enthusiasm in a series of Texas yells and
continued after the others had ceased. A policeman
standing in the aisle tapped him on the shoulder and
ordered him to be quiet. Quick as a flash 'Old Virg.'
struck out straight from the shoulder and the policeman
tumbled. In an instant police rattlers were
heard in the room and were re-echoed all over the city,
and were answered by the police and their assistants,
who pushed their way into the Academy and attempted
to seize and carry 'Old Virg'. to the calaboose.

"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. Dr. A., of company B, was caught by his long
hair and felt the heft of a policeman's club. Seeing
this fight, Sam A., of company B, went to the rescue,
and with his long knife artistically sliced the policeman's
ear and rescued Dr. A. It was a furious fight,

and for some minutes it seemed destined to have a
sad and bloody ending. At this juncture Colonel
Frank Terry and the Mayor appeared. The Mayor
called off his police, and the Rangers, led by Colonel
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 sung on American soil.

"Poor Harry McCarthy was killed at Chickamauga.

"Give Harry his dues. Old Confederates should
see that the rights and memories of their comrades
are protected. This is the duty of the United Confederate
Veterans."