Flags of the Civil War Era: Bonnie Blue

the Bonnie Blue flag, from LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®

In 1865 the final chapter of the American Civil War was unfolding. General Lee made his surrender, and by June of that year the fighting finally came to an end.

The end of the Civil War was a welcome beginning to a new era. Many flags and banners came and went with the Civil War, and the Bonnie Blue is among them. Here are seven facts about the Bonnie Blue flag.

Seven interesting facts about the Bonnie Blue flag

  1. The Bonnie Blue flag was the official flag of the Confederate States of America when the Civil War began in 1861.
  2. The Bonnie Blue flag resembles the flag of the short-lived Republic of West Florida. The Bonnie Blue flag also inspired flags in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.
  3. Today, there are only six known Bonnie Blue flags from the Civil War era.
  4. In 2007, one of those flags was sold at auction for nearly $48,000.
  5. In Gone with the Wind, Rhett Butler nicknames his daughter "Bonnie Blue Butler" after Melanie Wilkes remarks that her eyes will be "as blue as the Bonnie Blue flag."
  6. In 1861, Harry McCarthy wrote the song, “The Bonnie Blue Flag,” also known as “We Are a Band of Brothers,” as a marching song for Confederate soldiers.
  7. A Union version of the song was written by J.L. Geddes, and was titled “The Bonnie Flag with the Stripes and Stars.”

Where can I purchase a Bonnie Blue flag?

Liberty Flags offers desktop and outdoor sizes of a full line of replica historical flags, including the Bonnie Blue flag. Click to purchase an outdoor historic U.S. flag.

Photo Call!

We would love to hear about your historic U.S. flags, American flags, flagpoles, ropes, or other accessories! We would be honored to feature your story and photography in our blog or on Facebook. Remember, photos of damaged flags and accessories help to tell a story, too!

Do you have suggestions for information you'd like to see here? If so, please send them our way!

Please send all of your suggestions or questions to service@LibertyFlags.com. We want to hear from you!

Have a great day, from your friends at LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®.

Back to blog