Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-07-22
MISCELLAN Y .
National Airs.
Albany, 9th April, 1919.

A correspondent of the New York Courier,
asks what is the origin of the terms Yankee
Doodle, Hail Columbia, and Star Spangled
Banner. The editor ofthe Courier answers as
follows:
&c The air of Yankee Doodle was sung by
the English peasantry three hundred years ago,
and many political songs were written to it
during the days of the Cavaliers. Of course,
the air and the songs were known among the
American Colonies. With regard to the song
as we now have it, the following relation
which we find in Arvine's Cyclopedia Of Anec-
dotes will be found interesting to our cores
pondent, and his friends
During the French war Of 1855, the pro-
vincial army sent against Niagara and Fronte-
mac was commanded by Governor Shirley, of
Massachusetts,, and General Johnson, of New
York. Through the early part of the season,
the army lay encamped on the Hudson little
below Albany. While the troops were in this
position, they were continually receiving re-
cruts from the New England States, in the
form of drafts and volunteers. They came in,
company after company, just as they issued
from their farms and fresides and their appear
ance is said to have equaled any specimen of
the ludicrous ever exhibited, save and except
the famous company of Fallstaff. Some Of
them had long hair, some had short, and some
wore enormous wigs. Some had black suits,
and some had blue, and some had grey. Some
had long coats, some had short, and some had
no coats at all. Their accoutrements were
equally varied, and altogether furnished the
most erotesque and amusing spectacle that can
be imagined, and abundance Of sport for the
British regulars.
The music played by the volunteers was
such as had been out of date in the British ar
my for centuries, and assisted finely to add
point to the amusement afforded by the whole
scene. In the British army at that time was
one DR.. Shackburg, surgeon, who was a
shilful musician and great wag. The doctor
Immediately turned his attention to the Yankee
volunteers, and determined 10 pass off joke
by composing tu ne fol their particular USE
He accordingly remodeed the old air of Nam
kee Doodle, and called it Yankee Doodle, and
with all the gravity imaginable, recommended
it to the new comers as one of the most cele-
brated airs that his country had ever produced.
The volunteers admired the tune; and not
withstanding the hearty laugh and noisy ridi-
cule of the regulars, it soon became general
favorite throughout the whole American camp.
The air of Hail Columbia, is not so old. To
any musician it contains internal evidence that
it was written within the last hundred years.
1t was evidently " rilten for military band by
some inferior composer of military music
During the first year of our national existence,
it was known as the Presidents March, and
did not receive its present name until 1888,
when Mr.. Hopkirson undertook TO write a
patriotic song for young singer, who was 10
sing it on the occasion of his benefit. The
popular Presidents March was the air chosen,
and the words produced were Hail Columbia
The song Immediately attained popularity
which it has since preserved.
The air of the Star Spangled Banner is
again English, aud is known in the mother
country as 'Anacreon in Heaven The words
which gave it its American name were written
by Mr.. Francis Key, not very many years
ago."