Texas, the former republic and second largest state, is home to millions of proud citizens. But how many of them have ever thanked Louisiana for hosting its capital for forty-three years and inspiring their famous Lone Star Flag?
In the early 18th century, the boundary between Spanish Texas and French Louisiana was ill-defined. When the French established an outpost at Natchitoches in 1714, Spanish officials became concerned that their sometimes enemy might encroach on Texas soil.
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Thus, in 1721, the Spanish army was sent across the Sabine River to turn a small church mission into a fort named the Presidio Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Los Adaes. Generally referred to as Los Adaes (“LOS uh-DICE”), it was named for the Adais Indians who lived there and was located just fifteen miles west of Natchitoches near the modern-day town of Robeline, Louisiana.
Situated at the eastern end of the El Camino Real, the fort was perched atop a piney hill. It had a traditional log palisade but also included a Medieval-style moat around the fort, complete with a drawbridge. Today, the Louisiana Office of State Parks owns the property and maintains it as an archaeological site.
Los Adaes became a settlement of several hundred people, and from 1729-1772 it served as the capital of Texas and was the home of the Texas governor. The Spaniards there and the French at nearby Natchitoches usually got along but there were occasional frictions.
During one conflict, Louis Juchereau de St. Denis, the commandant of Natchitoches, raided Los Adaes. When he discovered there were only three Spanish soldiers at the fort, however, he was content to just steal their chickens and return home, ending what became known as the “Chicken War.”
The rebels captured Baton Rouge, raised their flag over the fort on September 23, and declared independence three days later. The newly formed Republic of West Florida then adopted the Lone Star Flag as its official banner.
On another occasion, a Frenchman fell in love with the Spanish commandant’s granddaughter and ran off with her to get married. The Spanish thought she was kidnapped and threatened to attack Natchitoches, but St. Denis proved the girl had willingly eloped, and the crisis passed.
After Spain acquired Louisiana in 1763, officials realized Los Adaes was superfluous because there was no longer any need to guard the border, and Natchitoches had become a larger and more thriving community. Thus, the capital of Texas was moved to San Antonio in 1772, and Los Adaes was abandoned the following year.
Thirty-seven years later in 1810 the Anglo settlers living in West Florida rebelled against their Spanish rulers. When the rebels raised a small force to capture the Spanish fort at Baton Rouge, Melissa Johnson, the wife of one of the soldiers, made a flag for them to carry. With a five-pointed white star on a blue background, it was soon dubbed the Lone Star Flag.
The rebels captured Baton Rouge, raised their flag over the fort on September 23, and declared independence three days later. The newly formed Republic of West Florida then adopted the Lone Star Flag as its official banner.
President James Madison annexed West Florida a few weeks later and incorporated part of it into Louisiana. That area is still known as the Florida Parishes.
When Texas rose up against Mexico twenty-five years later, some of the rebels adopted their own versions of the Lone Star Flag. One that was used in the first battles was identical to the West Florida flag except it had the word “Independence” emblazoned across the bottom. Other Lone Star Flags showed up later when Louisiana volunteers began to arrive.
Various Lone Star Flags of different designs continued to be used during Texas’ revolutionary period, including its first official flag. It was a copy of the West Florida banner except the star was yellow rather than white.
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When Texas’ modern-day flag was designed in 1838-39, the committee members incorporated the white star on blue background that flew over Baton Rouge, and the Texas Lone Star Flag was born.
West Florida’s Lone Star Flag eventually became known as the Bonnie Blue Flag and was adopted by secessionists during the Civil War period. It was, in fact, the first flag raised over the Mississippi capitol building when that state seceded in 1861. Harry McCarthy was so moved by the scene that he penned a song titled “The Bonnie Blue Flag.”
As a result, the Bonnie Blue Flag became almost as popular as the Confederate battle flag during the Civil War and is even referred to in the movie “Gone with the Wind.” When Rhett Butler holds his daughter for the first time, he names her Bonnie because “her eyes are as blue as the Bonnie Blue Flag.”
Dr. Terry L. Jones is professor emeritus of history at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and has received numerous awards for his Civil War books and outdoor articles.
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