From: wwarf@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Wayne J. Warf)
Subject: Re: Union Army recruitment song (lyrics)
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 23:39:22 GMT

In article <1993Jan22.102949.1@ssrl01.slac.stanford.edu> cowan@ssrl01.slac.stanford.edu (P.L. Cowan) writes:
>A couple of months ago Mark Jerome posted (on alt.war.civil.usa) the
>lyrics of my favorite Civil War song, _The_Battle_of_Shiloh_Hill_. I
>think my second favorite song of that era is a Union-Army recruitment
>song. I am sure the words strike my post-1960s ears differently
>than they did the soldiers who promptly signed-up.
>
>I have transcribed the words from a tape by Jim Morgan. Morgan lives
>in Martinsburg WVa. and is often present at re-enactments at the
>eastern battlefields. (He's an artillery sergeant in a Union
>battery). His tapes are also sold in most of the battlefield book
>stores. 
>
>                     The Question Song
>
>
This in included on a compact disc "Tennessee Ernie Ford Sings Songs
of the Civil War". It's entitled "The Why and the Wherefore"

>I have a few questions about this song. I assume "Washington's Flag" 
>means Geo. Washington's flag rather than the flag of the administration
>in Washington. 

That's my assumption, It never occurred to me as meaning DC until
you mentioned it.
>
>The reference to "ten-thousand" when hundreds of thousands were called
>puzzles me. This song might have originated during the recruitment in
>a particular state, but it also may just be poetic licence. 

I always thought it was referring to a very large number. The Bible
often uses 10 thousand as a literary term-of-art for a large number.

>The emphasis on "THEY'D" is mine. As Jim Morgan sings the song, it
>seems "they" refers to the "lads" who would relent and enlist, but
>after listening to the words many times, I think "THEY" are the girls
>themselves.

I think your first interpretation is correct but could be.

>It's too bad I can't transmit the tune. 

The CD I mentioned is on the Capitol label and is a digital remaster
issued Nov. 1990 <# CDP 7 95705 2> c. 1991.

One of my favorites is an obviously boastful and sarcastic song titled:

		"The Fall of Charleston"
		(tune comes from a minstrel song, "Whack Row De-Row")

Oh, have you heard the glorious news?
Is the cry from every mouth!
Charleston is taken and the rebels put to rout,
And Beauregard the chivalrous, He ran to save his bacon,
When he saw General Sherman's Yanks and Charleston is taken!

With a Whack Row De-Row
A honky boy is General Sherman!
Whack, Row De-Row
Invincible is he!

The South Carolina chivalry, they once did loudly boast
that the footsteps of a Union man should ne'er pollute their coast.
They'd fight the Yankees 2 to 1, who only fought for booty
But when the mudsills came along, it was "legs do your duty"

With a whack! row de-row
Babylon is fallen!
whack! row de-row
the end is growing near!

And from the sacred city, this valiant warlike throng, 
skedaddled in confusion, although 30 thousand strong,
Without a shot, without a blow, or least sign of resistance,
leaving their poor friends behind...with the Yankees for assistance!

With a Whack! Row de-row
how are you, southern chivalry?
Whack! Row de-row
Your race is nearly run!

And again o'er Sumter's battered walls, the stars and stripes do fly!
while the chivalry of '61 in the last ditch does lie,
With Sherman, Grant and Porter too, to lead our men to glory,
we'll squash poor Jeff's Confederacy and then get honky-dory!

With a Whack! Row de-row
how are you, neutral Johnny Bull?
Whack! Row de-row
We'll settle next with you!
-- 
 +--------------------------------------------------------------------+
 | Wayne J. Warf -- WWARF@ucs.indiana.edu -- I speak for myself only  |
 | If the media interpreted the 2nd Amendment the way they do the 1st |
 +----------------we would be REQUIRED to own guns!-------------------+
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