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Shop Creative Cockades "Fire-eaters of the South" January 154 years ago was filled with secession fervor in the South. No less than five states sece
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"Fire-eaters of the South"
January 154 years ago was filled with secession fervor in the South. No less than five states seceded from the Union that month, and secession cockades were everywhere.
Here's a roundup of the January news involving cockades, from predictable to surprising and even pretty funny. |
The Fayetteville Arkansian carried a report on January 5, 1861 concerning cockades "now so extensively worn by the fire-eaters of the South."
South Carolina, who had been the first state to secede back December, was reported as wearing cockades "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.'" |
The Arkansian continued, "Virginia.—This consists of a double rosette of blue silk, with a pendant of lemon color, the whole fastened together by a gilt button on which appear in relief the arms of Virginia, with the name of the State and its motto encircling it. Its motto is 'Sic Semper Tyrannis.'"
This Virginia cockade is plain blue, but notice the one in the masthead - it has the lovely "lemon colored" pendant described. |
Maryland never managed to secede but they had a significant secession element. Per the Arkansian, "The cockade is formed of a double rosette of blue silk, with blue pendants, and fastened the same as that of Virginia, with the State button, and the single world 'Maryland' beneath the arms." |
Texans didn't officially secede until February, but secession cockades abounded. Once again, the Arkansian documents that, “We have observed, for a few days past, a number of blue cockades, surmounted by metallic five-pointed stars, worn on the hats or coats, of many of our citizens. The cockade is the badge common to the citizens of the Southern States. The star is peculiar to Texians. The combination of the two emblems seems particularly appropriated to the times.” |
Secession cockades made it as far north as Maryland - they were seen as far south as Florida. The January 2, 1861, diary entry by Susan Bradford tells of the Florida secession convention.
“The ambassador from South Carolina had evidently made an impression on his audience of yesterday and somebody had been busy last night, for in every direction could be seen Palmetto cockades, fastened with a blue ribbon; there were
hundreds of them. When at last the hall of representatives was opened and Father and I took seats, Judge Gwynn came in and pinned a cockade on Father and one on me. Oh, I was so proud." |
A popular misconception is that all white Southerners were in favor of secession and all black Southerners opposed it. This may have been true in some instances, but the National Republican reported something different on January 31, 1861.
"TENNESSEE. - The Bolivar (Tenn.) Southerner says that the negroes of A.S. Coleman, Esq., of that place, created quite a sensation in that town a few days ago, 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." |
 Andrew Jackson's statue in Washington, D.C. |
Not everybody liked secession cockades, however. A January 25 report from Washingon, D.C. told an amusing story. "At Washington, Sunday morning, the statue of Gen. [Andrew] Jackson, before the President’s house, was found with the Stars and Stripes in his hand, and the Secession cockade tied under his horse’s tail, much to the indignation of the Secessionists." |
January may be a cold month in the South, but things were pretty hot in January 1861! |
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Regards,
~Heather Sheen
Owner,
Creative Cockades |
DATES TO WATCH IN JANUARY |
Every Cockade Has A Story To Tell!
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