"The Bonnie Blue Flag", also known as "We Are a Band of Brothers", is an 1861 marching song associated with the Confederate States of America. The words were written by the entertainer Harry McCarthy, with the melody taken from the song "The Irish Jaunting Car". The song's title refers to the unofficial first flag of the Confederacy, the Bonnie Blue Flag. The left flag on the sheet-music is the Bonnie Blue Flag.
The song was premiered by lyricist Harry McCarthy 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 "band of brothers" mentioned in the first line of the song recalls the well known St. Crispin's Day Speech in William Shakespeare's play Henry V (Act IV, scene ii).
The first verse of the song goes: <blockquote></blockquote>
These lyrics appear in a version held by the Library of Congress. It was published by A. E. Blackmar and Brother in New Orleans in 1861. The second line is sometimes given as "fighting for the property we gained by honest toil." University of San Diego professor Steve Schoenherr and the library of Duke University record the "property" version which also has a publication date of 1861. When Major General Benjamin Butler captured New Orleans, he allegedly arrested Blackmar, fined him $500, destroyed all copies of the music, and ordered that anyone caught whistling or singing "The Bonnie Blue Flag" would be fined $25 (roughly $500 in the 2010s). Eleven other editions of the song were published with different lyrics.
Annie Chambers Ketchum, a Confederate widow who risked her liberty to publish new verses to be sung, published a new version of the song under the title "The Gathering Song." The following verses were published in a eulogy by Gilberta S. Whittle in the 1904 Richmond Times Dispatch: <blockquote></blockquote>
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The song is a useful mnemonic for the list of states that seceded, although for reasons of meter the third verse re-arranges the order of secession. The actual dates on which the states seceded are as follows:
Thus, Alabama took South Carolina by the hand only figuratively but actually delayed her secession until the departure of Mississippi and Florida.
As with many songs from the time of the American Civil War, this song had multiple versions for both the Union and Confederate sides. One Union version, written by J. L. Geddes, in 1863, a British-born colonel who immigrated to the U.S., was called "The Bonnie Flag With the Stripes and Stars". Singing of Unionism and equality, it went: <blockquote></blockquote>
Another version by one Mrs. C. Sterett and published by S.T. Gordon of 538 Broadway Street in New York went: <blockquote></blockquote>
Additionally, the Song of the Irish Volunteers, an anthem of the famous 69th New York regiment of the Irish Brigade, was sung to the same tune.<blockquote>My Name is Tim McDonald, I'm a native of the Isle
I was born among old Erin's Bogs when I was but a child
My Father fought in '98 for liberty so dear;
He fell upon old Vinegar Hill, like an Irish Volunteer!
Then raise the Harp of Erin, boys, The flag we all revere!
We'll fight and fall beneath its folds, Like Irish Volunteers!
Then raise the Harp of Erin, boys, The flag we all revere!
We'll fight and fall beneath its folds, Like Irish Volunteers!
When I was driven from my home by an oppressor's hand
I cut my sticks and greased my brogues and came o'er to this land
I found a home and many friends, and some that I love dear;
Be jabbers! I'll stick to them like bricks and an Irish Volunteer!
Then fill your glasses up, my boys, and drink a hearty cheer!
To the land of our adoption and the Irish Volunteers!
Then fill your glasses up, my boys, and drink a hearty cheer!
To the land of our adoption and the Irish Volunteers!
Now when the traitors in the south commenced a warlike raid
I quickly then laid down my hod, to the devil went my spade!
To a recruiting office then I went, that happened to be near
And joined the good old 69th, like an Irish Volunteer!
Then fill the ranks and march away! No traitors do we fear!
We'll drive them all to blazes, says the Irish Volunteer!
Then fill the ranks and march away! No traitors do we fear!
We'll drive them all to blazes, says the Irish Volunteer!
Now, when the Prince of Wales came over here, and made a hullabaloo
Oh, everybody turned out, you know, in gold and tinsel too;
But then the good old 69th didn't like these lords or peers
They wouldn't give a damn for kings, the Irish Volunteers!
We Love the Land of Liberty, its laws we will revere!
"But the devil take the nobility!" says the Irish volunteer!
We Love the Land of Liberty, its laws we will revere!
"But the devil take the nobility!" says the Irish volunteer!
Now if the traitors in the south should ever cross our roads
We'll drive them to the devil, as Saint Patrick did the toads;
We'll give them all short nooses that come just below the ears,
Made strong and good of Irish hemp, by Irish volunteers!
Then here's to brave McClellan whom the army now reveres!
He'll lead us on to victory, the Irish volunteers!
Then here's to brave McClellan whom the army now reveres!
He'll lead us on to victory, the Irish volunteers!
Now fill your glasses up, my boys, a toast come drink with me
May Erin's Harp and the Starry Flag united ever be;
May traitors quake, and rebels shake, and tremble in their fears,
When next they meet the Yankee boys and Irish volunteers!
God bless the name of Washington! that name this land reveres;
Success to Meagher and Nugent, and their Irish volunteers!
God bless the name of Washington! that name this land reveres;
Success to Meagher and Nugent, and their Irish volunteers!</blockquote>