Arkansas Secession Cockades

Arkansas's electoral votes went to Breckenridge for president in 1860. A large minority favored Bell and a small minority went for Douglas. No one voted for Lincoln because there weren't any Republican ballots in the state!

When Lincoln won the presidential election, the stage was set for Arkansas to secede. But events proved it wasn't that easy.

Wheeling Into Line

South Carolina seceded on December 20, sparking secession fervor across the South. Though a man's loyalty was first to his own state, the Southern states shared a feeling of unity in their culture, their ambitions and their sense of persecution by the Northern states.

A South Carolina newspaper reported on secession feeling in Arkansas:

Arkansas. – The following dispatch shows that Arkansas is wheeling into line with her Southern sister States:
Little Rock, Dec. 21. –The bill for calling a State Convention has passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 81 to 30, and all parties, especially the Bell and Everett party, are for it. The Convention will meet in February, and I can tell you that if the secession feeling increases in intensity from now until then as it has increased within the last two weeks, an ordinance of immediate secession will be passed at once. Even the so called “moderate men” are for action with the Cotton States. There is nobody for unconditional submission.

Blue cockades are to be seen everywhere in abundance. If a man wants a fight, he has only to abuse South Carolina in the streets, and if the Palmetto State should need assistance, be assured she can rely on Arkansas sending her 10,000 men, able and willing to fight for her and maintain the cause of the South.

1860s view of the Arsenal

The Convention and the Arsenal

However, before the secession convention could be held, rumors began to fly. Back in November, Captain James Totten and 65 men of the 2nd U.S. Artillery quietly arrived to garrison the previously unguarded Federal Arsenal in Little Rock. Now the report was that more US troops were being sent. The message from the Federal government was clear: Arkansas was going to remain in the Union - by force if necessary.

As tempers flared and rumors spread, men from around the state converged on the city with the purpose of taking the arsenal. In order to prevent bloodshed, the governor requested Capt. Totten to surrender - and he did.

The convention to vote on secession met in March. Despite the large secession vote and a vast deal of speech-making, Arkansas ended up voting down secession by a narrow margin. Many still feel loyalty to the Union, though almost everyone - Unionist and Secessionist - agreed that concessions needed to be made by the Federal government to the Southern states.

A Declaration of Hostilities

In spite of the surrender of the Arsenal, things seemed to be going smoothly for the Unionist cause - and then the blow came. South Carolinians fired on the U.S.-garrisoned Fort Sumter. President Lincoln promptly called for troops from each state - 780 from Arkansas - to suppress the secessionists.

That was going too far.

Arkansians refused to be forcibly coerced into remaining in the Union. And they absolutely refused to be the tool to forcibly coerce anyone else to remain either. Southerner would not fight against Southerner.

The Governor explained:

Immediately following the proclamation issued by the President, I had the honor of receiving from the Hon. Simon Cameron, secretary of war for Mr. Lincoln's government, a requisition for seven hundred and eighty men to be raised from my fellow-citizens of Arkansas, for the very humane and christian purpose of "wiping out" and desolating the south by fire and sword...To the communication of Mr. Cameron, I returned the following reply—brief but clearly indicative of what I, as the executive of this free people, conceived to be a fitting response to such a piece of presumption and ignorance....

Hon. Simon Cameron,
Secretary of War, Washington City, D.C.
In answer to your requisition for troops from Arkansas, to subjugate the southern states, I have to say, that none will be furnished. The demand is only adding insult to injury. The people of this commonwealth are freemen, not slaves, and will defend to the last extremity their honor, lives and property, against northern mendacity and usurpation.
HENRY M. RECTOR,
Governor of Arkansas.

The Side of Truth and Liberty

On May 6, 1861, the Arkansas secession convention reconvened and voted nearly unanimously to secede from the United States. Three days later, a report appeared in a Little Rock newspaper: 

Neat and Appropriate.-We have received, from a young lady in Burrowsville, Searcy county, a tasteful presentation in the shape of a rosette. It is so simple and pretty that we will endeavor to describe it. A grain of corn is fastened, by means of a hole drilled through it, to a floss of cotton, spread so as to form a circle; this is also attached to a light blue circle, and the whole to a deep blue, of the usual size of a rosette. By using a grain of red corn, we have the colors of the Confederacy flag; red, white and blue, while the corn and cotton are emblematical of the Confederacy. The design and execution are both excellent. –The present was sent with a patriotic note from the true hearted donor. In the revolution of ‘61 as in ‘76, the women are on the side of truth and liberty and, if need be, will show themselves to be  heroines as did their foremothers. God bless them and the Southern Confederacy.

This was a fun cockade to reproduce! Appropriate for both gentlemen and ladies, it's full of Southern pride and sure to be a fun conversation starter. 

Secession Cockades in South Carolina

On December 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the United States. This was the opening step in a movement that would end with new country formed - and America's bloodiest war. Ripples from that event are seen even today. People who feel marginalized by our system still threaten to go back to the first remedy for bad government that our Founders conceived: Secession.

We hold these truths to be self-evident.... That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Secession fervor reached its height in South Carolina during November and December 1860. And naturally, the cockades were seen everywhere! Here's a fun sampling of the descriptions mentioned in the newspapers.

"Black Cockades."
These insignia of Treason are being worn in South Carolina. They are among our early remembrances, and are suggestive of every thing unpatriotic. They were worn by the opponents of Jefferson, Madison, and the Republican Party in 1808-9, as they are in hostility to Lincoln and the Republican Party in 1860. They then preceded and foreshadowed the “Hartford Convention’ of 1814, as they are now precede and foreshadow the Treasonable Gatherings of men who seek to Dissolve the Union.

Ashtabula (OH) Weekly Telegraph, 08 Dec. 1860

Business at Charleston.
The Charleston correspondent of the New York Tribune writes that Jeff. Davis continues to be the favorite candidate for the Presidency of the Southern Provisional Government. Charleston is in the most perfect tranquility; it is really painful to see this beautiful harbor entirely deserted by shipping; the quays destitute of all commercial activity; other indications of gloom seem to daily increase, in the calamities which befall the several traders, the interruptions of the pleasures of the season, and the diminution, I may say cessation, of travel from the North.

The shops which have made the most profit out of the political troubles of the time are those which sell arms, powder and cockades. Of these last articles nearly 25,000 have been sold at prices varying from 25 cents to 50 cents each, and the demand still continues, not only from the South, but for exportation to the Northern States also.

Cleveland (OH) Morning Leader, 28 Jan. 1861

South Carolina.
The cockade is made of three layers of very dark cloth, stitched at the edges and fastened together by a gilt button, on which the following appears in relief: In the center is the "Palmetto," with two arrows (crossed,) and fastened together at the point of crossing with a bow knot of ribbon. The following is the motto around the button: Animous opibusque parati - "Ready with our minds and means."

Glasgow (MO) Weekly Times, 27 Dec. 1860

The Minute Men.
We are glad to see the people of our State everywhere preparing for the crisis which is at hand. As an offset to the "Wide-Awakes" of the North, "Minute Men" are organizing in all the principal districts of South Carolina. Their object is to form an armed body of men, and to join in with our fellow-citizens, now forming in this and our sister States as "Minute Men," whose duty is to arm, equip and drill, and be ready for any emergency that may arise in the present perilous position of the Southern States. In Kershaw, Abbeville and Richland Districts the organization is already complete and powerful, embracing the flower of the youth, and led on bv the most influential citizens. The badge adopted is a blue rosette – two and a half inches in diameter, with a military button in the centre, to be worn upon the side of the hat. Let the important work go bravely on, and let every son of Carolina in prepare to mount the blue cockade. – Charleston Mercury

The Camden (SC) Weekly Journal, 23 Oct. 1860

THE BADGES OF LOYALTY.
The scarlet cockade and steel button, of which we spoke yesterday, has, we learn, been unanimously adopted by the Edgefield Riflemen, and is now a pledge by them to resist Black Republican rule in or out of South Carolina. The motto is "Blood and Steel"—a reliable cure for present troubles. We noticed yesterday quite a number of gentlemen wearing a plain blue silk ribbon on the coat lappel. The Palmetto tree, the lone star and the coiled rattlesnake, appear in gold upon the face of the badge….

A new style of cockade has made its appearance in Charleston. It is made of Palmetto leaves plaited with a border of blue ribbon. Also another pattern - a scarlet rosette with steel button in the centre.

The (Baltimore) Daily Exchange, 19 Nov. 1860

The Carolina Cockade.
The cockade most used by the Carolinians, just now, is a little larger than a Spanish dollar, made of light-blue ribbon, with a small brass button in the center, on which is a palmetto tree surrounded with an inscription signifying: "Prepare with our fortunes, and in our minds. We pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor."

Cincinnati (OH) Daily Press, 19 Dec. 1860

Cockades are as plentiful as heads.
They are worn by the old and the young. Across all the streets, and from the doors of nearly all the business houses Palmetto and Lone Star flags are flying. They are to be seen upon the stage coaches, and from the heads of the omnibus horses and full length across the depot horses. It is impossible to turn any way without seeing some indication of the prevailing sentiment. Corps of Minute Men are organized in every neighborhood. The patent leather caps with the ominous "M. M," on the front, are nearly as frequent as the cockade. I give you these things that you may form some idea of the state of feeling in South Carolina.

Nashville (TN) Union and American, 23 Nov. 1860

Sturdy Patriots
The Charleston Mercury has the following:
Sturdy Patriots.—A number of charcoal dealers, from the interior of this district, were yesterday
here on business, wearing—not the blue silk cockade—but plain strips of brown paper, bearing such mottoes as "Resistance," "Remember Harper’s Ferry," etc. We could not but admire the stern simplicity of this unpretending badge of devotion to South Carolina:—

The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor,
Is king of men for a' that.

Semi-Weekly Mississippian, November 23, 1860

I Have South Carolina Cockades!
All of my South Carolina cockades are based on originals and original descriptions. Not only are these beauties colorful, they are authentic! The wide variety and the fascinating stories behind each South Carolina cockade have made it a fun topic to research.

SHOP NOW

Wide Awakes and Minute Men

Many historians talk about the rush to enlist that occurred when the Civil War started. But not as well known is the fact that a good number of men were already organized in quasi-military groups long before the war broke out. Newspapers of the time recognized two general categories: "Wide Awakes" (Northern sympathizers) and "Minute Men" (Southern sympathizers).

And yes, both groups had badges!

As political hostilities grew during Lincoln's 1860 presidential campaign, friction between Northern and Southern sympathizers also grew. The Wide Awakes and Minute Men were ostensibly created to keep the peace, but with tensions running high, they were often embroiled in clashes. And little wonder - does this Wide Awake mission statement sound like the makings of trouble, or what!

Wide Awake Mission

• To act as a political police. 
• To do escort duty to all prominent Republican speakers who visit our place to address our citizens. 
• To attend all public meetings in a body and see that order is kept and that the speaker and meeting is not disturbed. 
• To attend the polls and see that justice is done to every legal voter. 
• To conduct themselves in such a manner as to induce all Republicans to join them. 



A Wide Awake marcher with his badge. Seen on eBay.

• To be a body joined together in large numbers to work for the good of the Republican Ticket. 

Of course, the Minute Men's mission doesn't sound exactly peaceful either!

The Minute Men are for the protection of the State as well as to resist any attempt on the part of the Federal Government, to coerce those States which may determine upon secession, as, in their judgment, the proper remedy for a violated Constitution.

A Noisy Crowd

Naturally, friction was inevitable in Baltimore, that hotbed of conflicting political views. But the Wide Awakes were there to "keep the peace." Here's an account of one event:

Baltimore. Nov. 2. –The procession of the Wide Awakes last night, encountering great demonstrations of indignation throughout the whole route. The members were greeted with constant hissing and groans, and in some localities rotten eggs were plentifully showered upon them by women. Their transparencies were smashed with stones, but no personal injuries inflicted. They were protected throughout by a strong police force.

At the theatre the galleries were taken possession of by a noisy crowd, who, with groans and hisses, drowned the voices of the speakers. The Hon. E. Joy Morris, of Philadelphia, was cried down amid a scene of excitement. The Wide Awakes made several moves to clear the galleries, and finally the police forced all to leave except those wearing the Wide Awake badges. The meeting, however, was effectually broken up. Three-fourths of the Lincoln men were Germans. After the meeting, the remains of the procession were escorted by the police to their headquarters.

Preparing for the Crisis

While the Wide Awakes were "keeping the peace" up North, the opposition Minute Men were organizing and arming themselves too. This newspaper notes:

The Minute Men. - We are glad to see the people of our State everywhere preparing for the crisis which is at hand. As an offset to the “Wide-Awakes” of the North, “Minute Men” are organizing in all the principal districts of South Carolina. Their object is to form an armed body of men, and to join in with our fellow-citizens, now forming in this and our sister Stales as “Minute Men,” whose duty is to arm, equip and drill, and be ready for any emergency that may arise in the present perilous position of the Southern States. In Kershaw, Abbeville and Richland Districts the organization is already complete and powerful, embracing the flower of the youth, and led on by the most influential citizens. The badge adopted is a blue rosette, two and a half inches in diammeter, with a military button in the centre, to be worn upon the side of the hat. Let the important work go bravely on, and let every son of Carolina in prepare to mount the blue cockade. -Charleston Mercury.

Crimson Ribbons and Blue Badges

Not all political events involved violence. This account of a Wide Awake event from the Massachusetts Berkshire County Eagle sounds not only peaceful, but fun.

Speaking of the illumination, the Berkshire Courier says: the finest display of this kind, was at the Maplewood Institute, which was one complete blaze of light. The words “LINCOLN & HAMLIN,” were prominently displayed in bold letters, and even at the peak of the tower of Gymnasium hall, the initials of our ever worthy successful candidates could be plainly observed.

The Wide Awakes were here greeted by cheers, waving of handkerchiefs, and the smiling faces who had lent largely to the features of the occasion; the “wide awake” Republican young ladies being easily distinguished by a crimson ribbon, with the words “LINCOLN & HAMLIN” inscribed thereon, while the other parties wore blue badges.

Drilling Daily

Many chapters of the Wide Awakes and Minute Men ended up enlisting en masse into the regular armies when the war started. Their military drilling and organization had already been in place for months.

This South Carolina newspaper noted in November 1860:

A gentleman who arrived here [Washington D.C.] from the South to-day, states that Minute Men and Committees of Safety are organizing all over the South. In Virginia they are enrolling men all over the State, and the regular volunteers drill daily. The four batteries of rifled cannon, twenty pieces, lately ordered by Col. Smith, will arrive in Richmond next week, with five thousand revolving pistols, and 25 hundred carbines. Eight hundred barrels of powder have already gone on. There is no exaggeration in all this. Governor Letcher declares openly that its object is to sustain any sovereign State against federal coercion. Letters from Georgia say all parties are united for secession on Lincoln's election. No doubt is entertained here that in less than sixty days several of the Southern States will have dissolved their connection with the government.

The Civil War did not occur in a vacuum. As the badges and rallies multiplied during 1860, the Wide Awakes and Minute Men became well-prepared powder kegs ready to be touched off. Both sides felt their convictions deeply. As tensions rose, each side vowed to defend the right - even to the death.

Wide Awake Rallying Song:

Wide awake! wide awake!
This is no time for sleep!
Let every friend of Freedom now,
His wary vigils keep.
The foe is on his march again,
His council fire aglow;
Then rally now, my gallant boys.
To battle with the foe.

The Boys With the Blue Cockade

No stranger or insolent foeman shall tread
O'er the graves where the dust of our heroes is laid.
Our mothers and daughters - our living and dead
We'll trust to the Boys with the Blue Cockade.


If you need Union badges or Secession cockades, I have them in my shops! Or feel free to email me with a custom order - no extra charge.

Below is a link to the reproduction Wide Awake badges in my shop. 

African Americans & Civil War Cockades

Did African Americans wear cockades during the Civil War? There is a lot of evidence that white people did, but what about black folks?

Though the evidence is more scarce, there are a number of fascinating stories involving both free and slave black Americans wearing cockades during the Civil War.

Dead Out For Secession

Many slaves were very aware of the political scene in 1860. They had opinions and they were willing to publicly declare those opinions. An interesting December account in a Tennessee newspaper observes the state of affairs in Mississippi:

A gentleman of this city, now travelling in Mississippi, says the Nashville Gazette, writes back to a friend as follows:

The further down I get, the more secession I see. Not content with wearing the blue cockade themselves, the people put them up on wagons, carriages, riding horses, etc. At one place where I stopped, all the negroes had them on. You may safely put Mississippi down as dead out for secession.

Love and Contempt

Cockades were seen on slaves further north as well. Three days after South Carolina seceded, a Nashville newspaper carried the following story.

Tennessee Darkies and the Blue Cockade. - The Bolivar (Tenn.) Southerner of the 14th instant says: "The negroes of A.S. Coleman, Esq., of this place, created quite a sensation in that town yesterday, by appearing on the streets with blue cockades on their hats. It learns from Mr. Coleman that they requested the privilege of wearing them, as they said, to show their contempt for the abolitionists, and their love for their native South."

Cockades vs Flags

The Secessionist flag flying over Yale

Sometimes the black folks wore blue cockades to show love for the South. But sometimes they were put up to it by others as a joke. There are multiple accounts of the following interesting incident. It involved an African American in Connecticut who was prompted to taunt secessionists at Yale with his cockade. The Southern students retaliated and the whole college was thrown into an uproar. This newspaper carried a short version of what happened:

Secession at Yale.—The Yale College boys raised a Palmetto flag on the alumni tower of that institution, on Sunday, and barricaded all approaches to the top of the building. This was done in retaliation of the supposed insult offered by persons who employed negroes to wear the secession cockade before the Southern students.

The tower was eventually accessed when a door was broken open, and the offending flag was taken down.

The Tricolor on Colored Troops

Black folks wearing secession cockades was considered newsworthy and reported. Accounts of them wearing Union cockades are less frequent, but a Washington D.C. newspaper carried this story in 1863:

FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE NEGRO SOLDIERS. – Company I of the colored regiment of  this District made their appearance on our streets this forenoon. They numbered some forty or fifty, and wore a red, white and blue badge. Some of them, however, in addition to the badge, wore also a cockade composed of the same colors. They seemed to bear their honors well, notwithstanding the derisive remarks they met with as they marched along – coming in several instances from those of their own color. Their drillmaster – as we presume – a colored man, seemed to appreciate the dignity of his position to the fullest.

These stories and many others are included in my two books on cockades in the North and South during the war. For some fun and informative reading on where and why people wore cockades in the 1860s, check them out!

Louisiana's Pelican Cockades

One hundred and fifty-five years ago to the day, Louisiana voted to secede from the Union. In researching Louisiana's secession, I came across a number of interesting quotes. Here are a couple you'll enjoy.

From the New Orleans Daily Crescent, 22 Dec. 1860:

There is no occasion for any very lengthy report of what took place in this city yesterday. The event was one which absorbed the attention of the entire city; for it was not only interesting, but important and portentous.

It was nothing more nor less than the unfurling to the breeze of the Pelican Flag - the new flag of Independent Louisiana.

A brief announcement in two or three of the morning papers that the Pelican Flag would be spread to the breeze at noonday, from the Headquarters of the Southern Rights Association, No. 76 Camp street, (just above the Crescent office), had the effect of filling the street long before the hour named.

From the central window of the second story of the building obtruded a board, on which was a bust of John C. Calhoun, begirt with a blue ribbon and the cockade of Independent South Carolina. This attracted much attention, and contributed not a little to warm the feeling of the multitude long before the hour arrived for unfurling the Flag of Independent Louisiana.

At 12 o'clock, Camp street was densely jammed. We may here state that the crowd was of a respectable and highly important character; it was one of those multitudes which cannot assemble at mid-day without a very extensive suspension of the heavy business of the city; it was conspicuous not only for its genteel appearance and demeanor, but for the wealth and business status of the great part of it.

The solitary telegraphic tap on the bells, indicative of noonday, had hardly died away, when, from an upper window of No. 76 Camp street, a white flag shot out upon a mast previously prepared, and gracefully spread itself out on the warm South breeze which was blowing, disclosing in its center a large red star, in the center of which star was pictured the shield of Louisiana, a pelican feeding in her young.

The heads of the whole multitude uncovered at this first sight of the flag of Independent Louisiana; and the cheers and huzzas that arose, we can liken only to the roar of the sea in a gale.

As the flag came out, and as the people shouted, a brass band in the street greeted it with that stirring air which recent events have made so popular in the South, the "Marseillaise." At the same moment the Washington Artillery, at the foot of Canal street, let forth a thundering jubilee salute of one hundred guns.

An incident which aroused renewed enthusiasm was this: As the flag came out on its mast, the sun was behind one of the white clouds which were fleeting by. The flag had hardly unfurled itself and spread itself out on the breeze, when the sun, emerging from the cloud, shone vertically through it, rendering it as bright and transparent as a bridal veil. The flag, with its scarlet star picture, floated nearly horizontally just at the moment that the sunshine fell upon it; the suddenness and its beauty of the display struck all, and the effect was well expressed in the still more lusty roar of cheering which followed.

Isn't that a cool story?

Another eye-witness of Louisiana's secession recalls:

Who does not remember the epidemic of blue cockades which broke out in New Orleans during the winter of 1860 and 1861, and raged violently throughout the whole city? The little blue cockade, with its pelican button in the centre and its two small streamers, was the distinguishing mark of the “Secessionist.”

The pelican has long been connected with Louisiana's history. Early colonists admired the bird's generous care of its young, and eventually the symbol of a pelican feeding her nestlings would become the state symbol.


By the time of the Civil War, this emblem could be found on everything from buckles to buttons to swords. And naturally, on cockades!

Cockade Treasures at the Relic Room

Me busily photographing - Photo taken by my awesome dad

This week I got to take a fun trip to the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum. During the month of February, there are multiple commemorations of Sherman's burning of Columbia. The Relic Room and the State Museum are co-hosting a History Day on February 14. Since I'm going to be exhibiting there (yay!) I thought it would be cool to create a display showing off the beautiful secession cockades in the Relic Room's collection.

Rachel, the helpful registrar

Rachel, the wonderful registrar, was so friendly and helpful! Besides pulling the museum's cockades out of storage, she and her graduate assistants obliging took display cases apart so I could photograph cockades currently on display. It's rather amusing, not mention slightly unnerving, to stand in front of a display case and watch the back suddenly taken off to reveal museum personnel behind it!

One of my favorite Relic Room displays

This display in particular holds my favorite Relic Room cockade. It's so beautiful and flamboyant! The center is a SC militia button surrounded by intricately woven palmetto fronds. The outer layer was originally bright red. Although the front has faded over time to an orange color, the back of the cockade is still the original fire engine red.

Something particularly fun about this cockade is that the backing of the cockade is apparently pasteboard from a cigarette box by Goowin & Co., a New York tobacco firm! Well... I suppose you just use whatever materials are handiest, eh?

Kristie, the cheerful
graduate assisstant

As we carefully handled and photographed each cockade, I was struck with the amazing detail and intricacy. The Southern ladies of the 1860s were experts in creating palmetto works of art!

If you want to see enlarged photos of all the museum's cockades, come see me on History Day! Meanwhile, I'll leave you with the photos of the "star of the collection," as Rachel called it. Enjoy!

Black and White American Cockades

If you know anything about Secession Cockades during the American Civil War, you know that blue was the most popular color. However, there is a small number of black or black and white Secession Cockades in existence. Like this one:

Where did this color scheme originate?

The black cockade was the color of the Hanoverian kings of England (think of the "King Georges"). When American colonists went to war in 1775, they still felt an affinity for their mother nation. After all, many of them were born there and still had relatives there. In fact, when George Washington's army was camped at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-1778, the officers were still toasting King George. So it was natural that an American cockade would include the Hanoverian color black.

However, Americans also recognized the help that the French nation was giving them in gaining their independence from the mother country. And the color of French royalty was white.

Hence, the Americans adopted a black and white cockade for their emblem. In the painting, "Washington and His Generals at Yorktown" by James and Charles Willson Peale, you can see the black and white cockades on their hats.

This cockade became an emblem of the American War for Independence. In fact, it remained a patriotic statement for some time after the war as well. Not only was it incorporated on the United States Army's regulation shakos, but civilians also wore these patriotic devices. This one has a picture of George Washington in the center.

On July 4, 1798, the Philadelphia Centinel stated: "It has been repeatedly recommended, that our citizens wear in their hats on the day of Independence, the American Cockade, (which is a Rose, composed of black ribbon, with a white button, or fastening) and that the Ladies should add to the attraction of their dress...this symbol of their attachment to the government."

So over 60 years later, when the Civil War broke out, it was only natural for Southerners to revive the black and white cockade as the emblem for their Second War for Independence!