has sealed her fate, And spurred by her example, now other states prepare To hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star. (Alternately: Now here's to Virginia, the Old Dominion State, Who with the young Confederacy at length has linked her fate. Impelled by her example, let other states prepare To hoist high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.) Chorus 6. Then cheer, boys, cheer, raise a joyous shout For North Carolina and Arkansas now have both gone out, And let another rousing cheer for Tennessee be given, For the single star of the Bonnie Blue Flag has grown to be eleven. Chorus 7. Then here's to our Confederacy, strong we are and brave, Like patriots of old we'll fight, our heritage to save; And rather than submit to shame, to die we would prefer, So cheer for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star. Chorus Historical inaccuracies 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: South Carolina (December 20, 1860) Mississippi (January 9, 1861) Florida (January 10, 1861) Alabama (January 11, 1861) Georgia (January 19, 1861) Louisiana (January 26, 1861) Texas (February 1, 1861) Virginia (April 17, 1861) Arkansas (May 6, 1861) North Carolina (May 20, 1861) Tennessee (June 8, 1861) Thus, Alabama took South Carolina by the hand only figuratively but actually delayed her secession until the departure of Mississippi and Florida. Union versions 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: We're fighting for our Union, We're fighting for our trust, We're fighting for that happy land Where sleeps our father dust. It cannot be dissevered, Though it cost us bloody wars, We never can give up the land Where floats the stripes and stars. Chorus: Hurrah, Hurrah, For equal rights hurrah, Hurrah for the good old flag That bears the stripes and stars. We trusted you as brothers, Until you drew the sword, With impious hands at